I've learned to really love the rainy season here in Ethiopia.
I've always loved the sun...but having lived here in Addis for almost a decade and for most of the year- the sun shines... the gentle rains of June-July- August... almost feels like the fall season in the USA.
The fall season is my favorite time of year in US. I love the changing colors of the trees, football games, jackets, blankets, pumpkin candles and latte flavors. I miss those days...
Well, the rains finished here in Ethiopia and the sun has been blazing.
With September, came Ethiopia's new year and new school years began for me and it has been a whirlwind. I've meant to to write an update many times, but days have zoomed.
I will do my best to share some of the big highlights in this blog post...
With the new year... I found myself and the three ladies that are like sisters to me (Shali, Hilina and Hidi)... praying over several huge things. My Dad had two hip replacement surgeries...as most people know. The second one had some complications though, with the hip dislocating twice. So, on New Year's Day here (Sept 12)...my Dad had to have an emergency third surgery. That felt so stressful. Also in September.. Shali's sister was due to deliver a baby and Hidi's sister needed emergency surgery in Italy. How do you celebrate life and a new year when your family is literally in hospital beds facing surgeries that could change their lives forever? I felt like we were all holding our breath and praying for miracles.. and we were. And God did bless with huge miracles in September! My dad's third surgery worked! Shali's sister delivered a healthy baby girl in South Africa and Hidi's sister also had successful surgery in Italy! God can take care of our families! Praise God! God hears us when we pray! (ps... a church in Italy... was a great blessing to Hidi's sister...that will have to be written about in a whole other blog post...was so deeply touched by this church!)
Other big things were happening / are happening with Hidi, Hilina and Shali...
Hidi won a place at GMA ...Africa... the Global Music Award competition. She is currently in Nigeria for 6 weeks competing against 30 gospel singers from all over Africa for the chance to win an international recording contract. To see Hidi chase her God dream was a blessing for us all. She's the only one representing Ethiopia. Keep her in prayer! We are so proud of her!
Hilina and her husband Peniel...also gave us great and amazing news the past few months. A baby is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all all screamed in delight and cried and have already experienced with Hilina the illness and changing mood swings of early pregnancy. ha ha. We can't wait to welcome this new little one next year. We got our first photo of him/ her this past week and are still smiling! God is good!
Shali is set to leave this week for Poland for a two year Masters Program. Super excited for this lovely sister and the chance God has opened up for her. We will miss her here too much! Keep her in prayer as these details come together and she jumps with courage into this next chapter of her life this coming week!
On top of all the above family and life events... both schools I work at started and Amharic learning continued...
ETC was first. I began teaching in late August three classes... Communication, Intro to Youth Ministry, and Integral Mission. I love the continued opportunities God has given me through ETC to help build His church here and consider it a great honor to know these students and be part of their stories and equipping for God's Work in and through them!
Hope University College also began and my role for this semester has changed. The Dean of Students is on leave in USA and Management has asked me to cover her role. This has been a huge step up and opportunity. I love the students at our school and feel humbled and honored to work with them in a greater way this year. Please pray for me as I manage a huge work load- to be the Dean of over 1000 students on our campus - that God will give wisdom and favor. Orientations were last week and continue this week. Keep those in prayer.
Amharic learning for me continues as well. Keep that in prayer also. May God help me learn quickly.
When we think of rain, we can often think of storms. And though "rains" have ended here and were cozy and needed... storms continue...bad ones...in other places...storms fueled by hatred and violence and clashes... here and around the world. I'm amazed to see the numbers of cities and countries in conflict with protests in so many places. So many people now feel storms of injustice and poverty and corruption and they want freedom and rights and change and yet it keeps raining for them...with no sun or relief yet in sight.
Even here in Ethiopia, those storms are here as well. This past week, I could see smoke from fires lit on roads of people protesting. It's shocking.
So- what can we do in the storms of life when they continue to rage? One thing God has been teaching me and reminding me is that storms will continue to come and may rage around us, but they don't have to be IN us. God can give peace, joy, a steady hand and heart...that speaks and shines in darkness. God can calm storms and can calm us. God is our light and hope. We need to show people Him... He can bring peace. May God help us all..
In this world, you will have trouble... but take heart, I have overcome the world
John 16:33
One other note on this time of year...it's birthday time. Our wonderful and amazing Mom- Rosie Garrett- celebrates her birthday today- October 27.
And my sister- Noel- Oct 29...Tuesday.
So very honored to have my Mom and Sister to celebrate...two amazing ladies and examples for me. My Mom- she's stylish, classy, funny, caring, she has a pastor's heart and loves us so much... she's a great cook and a great writer. So many things and ways she blessed us. She's a model of a Proverbs 31 woman. Happy Birthday Mom...no words for how much we love you! We will celebrate you here today!
And B...my younger sister by five minutes. ha ha. No words also for Noel Garrett. She's the humblest person I know and always thinks of others before herself. She serves, she gives, she models Jesus and lives Him out in her life. I've watched her in USA, in Czech, in Ethiopia, in Haiti...around the world. She's a missionary and a true Jesus follower. Her obedience has impacted my life and continues to. I really can't believe I'm so blessed to have this Sister and Mom as my own. And then there's the great Jim Garrett. No words for him as well. He's loved us all and has led us so well. Now we also have Mike Martin- my sister's husband. An amazing pastor. So humbled to be part of this tribe. Thank you God! Wishing this tribe a great weekend of birthday celebrations and continued blessings!
Please pray for this week... and the months between now and Christmas. For Shali- Hidi- Hilina...and Nigeria, Poland, Motherhood...for dreams and plans and families and life- that God will be honored through all.
Please pray for ETC and Hope Univ College- that classes and teaching and leading will be done with wisdom and courage
Please pray for Ethiopia- for peace for the leadership and that tension will calm. Next year is an election year and God needs to help here.
For the hard rains of life that people are experiencing globally- that God's light will be seen and felt and that encouragement will come in and through God's church and in and through each of us.
I do need to raise funds to come home for Christmas. Please pray about that if God would lead you to give.
Keep my family in prayer. And Happy B-day again to the Garrett women the next few days.
How can I pray for you?
Blessings this late October / Early November.. may God be our strength!
With Love from Ethiopia
I've always loved the sun...but having lived here in Addis for almost a decade and for most of the year- the sun shines... the gentle rains of June-July- August... almost feels like the fall season in the USA.
The fall season is my favorite time of year in US. I love the changing colors of the trees, football games, jackets, blankets, pumpkin candles and latte flavors. I miss those days...
Well, the rains finished here in Ethiopia and the sun has been blazing.
With September, came Ethiopia's new year and new school years began for me and it has been a whirlwind. I've meant to to write an update many times, but days have zoomed.
I will do my best to share some of the big highlights in this blog post...
With the new year... I found myself and the three ladies that are like sisters to me (Shali, Hilina and Hidi)... praying over several huge things. My Dad had two hip replacement surgeries...as most people know. The second one had some complications though, with the hip dislocating twice. So, on New Year's Day here (Sept 12)...my Dad had to have an emergency third surgery. That felt so stressful. Also in September.. Shali's sister was due to deliver a baby and Hidi's sister needed emergency surgery in Italy. How do you celebrate life and a new year when your family is literally in hospital beds facing surgeries that could change their lives forever? I felt like we were all holding our breath and praying for miracles.. and we were. And God did bless with huge miracles in September! My dad's third surgery worked! Shali's sister delivered a healthy baby girl in South Africa and Hidi's sister also had successful surgery in Italy! God can take care of our families! Praise God! God hears us when we pray! (ps... a church in Italy... was a great blessing to Hidi's sister...that will have to be written about in a whole other blog post...was so deeply touched by this church!)
Hidi won a place at GMA ...Africa... the Global Music Award competition. She is currently in Nigeria for 6 weeks competing against 30 gospel singers from all over Africa for the chance to win an international recording contract. To see Hidi chase her God dream was a blessing for us all. She's the only one representing Ethiopia. Keep her in prayer! We are so proud of her!
Hilina and her husband Peniel...also gave us great and amazing news the past few months. A baby is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all all screamed in delight and cried and have already experienced with Hilina the illness and changing mood swings of early pregnancy. ha ha. We can't wait to welcome this new little one next year. We got our first photo of him/ her this past week and are still smiling! God is good!
 |
| Dad to Be, Mom to Be with Hidi :-) |
 |
| Shali with her Dad- Kenna, New Years Day Sept 2019 |
ETC was first. I began teaching in late August three classes... Communication, Intro to Youth Ministry, and Integral Mission. I love the continued opportunities God has given me through ETC to help build His church here and consider it a great honor to know these students and be part of their stories and equipping for God's Work in and through them!
 |
| Intro to Youth Ministry Class |
 |
| Communication Class |
 |
| Integral Mission Class |
Amharic learning for me continues as well. Keep that in prayer also. May God help me learn quickly.
When we think of rain, we can often think of storms. And though "rains" have ended here and were cozy and needed... storms continue...bad ones...in other places...storms fueled by hatred and violence and clashes... here and around the world. I'm amazed to see the numbers of cities and countries in conflict with protests in so many places. So many people now feel storms of injustice and poverty and corruption and they want freedom and rights and change and yet it keeps raining for them...with no sun or relief yet in sight.
Even here in Ethiopia, those storms are here as well. This past week, I could see smoke from fires lit on roads of people protesting. It's shocking.
So- what can we do in the storms of life when they continue to rage? One thing God has been teaching me and reminding me is that storms will continue to come and may rage around us, but they don't have to be IN us. God can give peace, joy, a steady hand and heart...that speaks and shines in darkness. God can calm storms and can calm us. God is our light and hope. We need to show people Him... He can bring peace. May God help us all..
In this world, you will have trouble... but take heart, I have overcome the world
John 16:33
One other note on this time of year...it's birthday time. Our wonderful and amazing Mom- Rosie Garrett- celebrates her birthday today- October 27.
And my sister- Noel- Oct 29...Tuesday.
So very honored to have my Mom and Sister to celebrate...two amazing ladies and examples for me. My Mom- she's stylish, classy, funny, caring, she has a pastor's heart and loves us so much... she's a great cook and a great writer. So many things and ways she blessed us. She's a model of a Proverbs 31 woman. Happy Birthday Mom...no words for how much we love you! We will celebrate you here today!
And B...my younger sister by five minutes. ha ha. No words also for Noel Garrett. She's the humblest person I know and always thinks of others before herself. She serves, she gives, she models Jesus and lives Him out in her life. I've watched her in USA, in Czech, in Ethiopia, in Haiti...around the world. She's a missionary and a true Jesus follower. Her obedience has impacted my life and continues to. I really can't believe I'm so blessed to have this Sister and Mom as my own. And then there's the great Jim Garrett. No words for him as well. He's loved us all and has led us so well. Now we also have Mike Martin- my sister's husband. An amazing pastor. So humbled to be part of this tribe. Thank you God! Wishing this tribe a great weekend of birthday celebrations and continued blessings!
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| My Mom and Sister |
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| Mom and B, A (me) and Dad |
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| B and Mike |
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| Mike and Dad |
Please pray for this week... and the months between now and Christmas. For Shali- Hidi- Hilina...and Nigeria, Poland, Motherhood...for dreams and plans and families and life- that God will be honored through all.
Please pray for ETC and Hope Univ College- that classes and teaching and leading will be done with wisdom and courage
Please pray for Ethiopia- for peace for the leadership and that tension will calm. Next year is an election year and God needs to help here.
 |
| Ethiopia's Prime Minister, recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; pray for wisdom as He leads here |
For the hard rains of life that people are experiencing globally- that God's light will be seen and felt and that encouragement will come in and through God's church and in and through each of us.
I do need to raise funds to come home for Christmas. Please pray about that if God would lead you to give.
Keep my family in prayer. And Happy B-day again to the Garrett women the next few days.
How can I pray for you?
Blessings this late October / Early November.. may God be our strength!
With Love from Ethiopia
