Living in Ethiopia for many years now, what I've learned is that life here has daily "interruptions."
Power is interrupted. Network is interrupted. Huge cattle run through the streets interrupting forward progress. A donkey can bray outside your classroom for an hour disrupting your teaching. A sudden rain storm can cause blackouts. A sudden feeling of nausea can hit and you are sick in bed for a few hours or days. A lizard gets in your home and you can't catch it.
Tons and tons of interruptions here can have you automatically shifting to a plan B, C, D, E, F, even Z.
It's a culture where you have to just go with the flow, you hurry to wait, and you learn to do your best to relax and just take life as it comes.
And you definitely pray... because you do have many days and times when you remember that God is the One who keeps you safe and alive. And without Him ... life is too hard..
Despite learning to live very adaptable here and prayerful, the past month or so, has seen some MAJOR disruptions that has literally caused shock and has brought days and movement to a standstill.
For me coming back into the new year, I still hadn't found good rhythm just overall with a schedule. My ETC and HUC schedules and positions have changed and are shifting and that still is not set...so I was already feeling a bit of unsteadiness in my pace... when a first major shock came.
For me, the first major news that shook me here and others was an accident that happened. A well known British-Ethiopian.. Caleb Meakins... who was inspirational to many... was injured in a car accident and he was put into ICU for a week. For many who knew Caleb- he literally had such a bright light for God... that it felt like Addis suddenly had the lights turned off and the oxygen depleted. Accidents, even tragic ones, are not uncommon here. Yet, Caleb was a church youth leader, elder, business owner, ..so full of life and humor and creativity and energy...and he was so well known, so well respected, and so well liked and admired.. that the accident brought shock. And though his church family and many globally prayed for a miracle, he ended up passing away. For many here, the shock of that remains and there's still sadness.
Then came the Coronavirus. Goodness. Talk about something that has interrupted life for so many now globally. It's been shocking to see the news. To hear whole cities and now even countries on "lock down." Cruise ships unable to dock and let passengers off. People fighting over toilet paper. What? From here in Ethiopia, it looks like madness.
And people of course have been praying it stays out of this part of the world for so many reasons. But just a few days ago, the first reported case here was confirmed. So now.. there's uneasiness and fear. For here in Ethiopia, the medical facilities and supplies are not enough. It's a group-oriented culture. You share food, you share tables, you shake hands and you kiss cheeks in greeting. And I would also say...you sneeze freely and cough often. It's just part of life here. There's dust, heat, and your throat is often dry. And there are large populations of old people here. Literally, it seems, to stop the spread of it here would be impossible and it could wipe out a huge portion of the population. So what do we do now?
How can we keep hope and even rhythm when life is interrupted?
I think in this time of isolation or self quarantine for many, we can take the space given to really evaluate our lives....
What do we do in our lives and why? Are we maximizing our lives, living in appreciation of our days? Have we done what we've been made to do? If God does call us home now, have we had the conversations we've needed to have? Have we said sorry? Have we told people what they've meant to us? Have we shared with people about Jesus?
And if and when life does return to normal...do we need a new rhythm ...new focus areas, new priorities?
My prayer has been..." God...teach me to number my days...and forgive me God for any time I've wasted or times I've missed. Give me new chances to share..to show you, to love you through my life and the days you give me that remain."
God is the Author of our days. Our time has already been set. We don't have to be afraid. Our life is actually just a short "trip" ... through a world that is not actually our home. Our time here is not the biggest part of our existence. God has created people ...in His own image... to be with Him forever. And when this life ends, our life with Him continues. We don't have to fear the door we pass through. But we do need to be ready. And with the time we're given here, we need to do our best to leave a mark, bring a change...
Caleb said it well ...
With coronavirus, it's bad and dangerous.... But there was and is another "killer" still rampant on planet earth. And what you do NOW..about that...affects your forever. A long time ago, a virus.. sin... came into the world. It disrupted everything. Polluted everything. It was the worst virus without a cure. It caused brokenness, selfishness, greed, pride, and utter destitution and destruction of heart and life. It brought death... eternal separation from God forever. And you can still see it's here. But God gave the cure, the remedy... that can keep you vaccinated and safe with God forever. And that remedy- is a person- God's Son- Jesus Christ. If you don't have this cure from this virus, that is the one you have to fear the most.
Caleb knew this and shared this. So should we...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkMiEQ4Pq68
In the disruptions of life... when we're reminded of it's brevity...we can stand on the hope we find in Jesus. We have been saved from sin and have life forever with God. God is for us, with us, and nothing can separate us from Him, In trouble, He's peace. His hope is living and doesn't change or fade. He's a rock we can climb on and rest on- a refuge and our great joy and portion.
We CAN keep running confidently towards home... inviting as many people as we can to go the same way.
In the disruptions of life...as they continue and even get worse.. may we keep our eyes on Jesus, our hope in Him, our message- Him, our strength- Him. May we keep pace and not lose heart or hope!
When the lights go out, the doors close, in isolation, in quarantine, in panic, in darkness... may the light of God's people... the hope of Jesus... be bright and shine in us for all to see! For our hope remains.
I'm praying for you! Please pray for me here as well.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for many who are still facing tragedy and loss here, that God will comfort
Please pray the coronavirus ..that it will not spread here. For protection of the vulnerable and wisdom for the government. For chances to share the hope of Jesus.
Please pray for ETC and HUC- that I will represent God well at both schools. I have a Health and Sport Class at ETC. And we've just started a new semester at Hope. I'm transitioning to be the full-time Student Dean at the school- pray for that huge chance
Please pray for a good schedule at both schools and continued favor to speak, teach and lead
Please pray for good health and good impact
As the countdown to Easter continues, may we remember...the tomb is empty. Death has been conquered! and Our Savior lives!
Let me know how I can pray for you!
Here are some pictures...
Power is interrupted. Network is interrupted. Huge cattle run through the streets interrupting forward progress. A donkey can bray outside your classroom for an hour disrupting your teaching. A sudden rain storm can cause blackouts. A sudden feeling of nausea can hit and you are sick in bed for a few hours or days. A lizard gets in your home and you can't catch it.
Tons and tons of interruptions here can have you automatically shifting to a plan B, C, D, E, F, even Z.
It's a culture where you have to just go with the flow, you hurry to wait, and you learn to do your best to relax and just take life as it comes.
And you definitely pray... because you do have many days and times when you remember that God is the One who keeps you safe and alive. And without Him ... life is too hard..
Despite learning to live very adaptable here and prayerful, the past month or so, has seen some MAJOR disruptions that has literally caused shock and has brought days and movement to a standstill.
For me coming back into the new year, I still hadn't found good rhythm just overall with a schedule. My ETC and HUC schedules and positions have changed and are shifting and that still is not set...so I was already feeling a bit of unsteadiness in my pace... when a first major shock came.
For me, the first major news that shook me here and others was an accident that happened. A well known British-Ethiopian.. Caleb Meakins... who was inspirational to many... was injured in a car accident and he was put into ICU for a week. For many who knew Caleb- he literally had such a bright light for God... that it felt like Addis suddenly had the lights turned off and the oxygen depleted. Accidents, even tragic ones, are not uncommon here. Yet, Caleb was a church youth leader, elder, business owner, ..so full of life and humor and creativity and energy...and he was so well known, so well respected, and so well liked and admired.. that the accident brought shock. And though his church family and many globally prayed for a miracle, he ended up passing away. For many here, the shock of that remains and there's still sadness.
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| Caleb and his Grandma |
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| Caleb's Mom and Sisters at his funeral. |
And people of course have been praying it stays out of this part of the world for so many reasons. But just a few days ago, the first reported case here was confirmed. So now.. there's uneasiness and fear. For here in Ethiopia, the medical facilities and supplies are not enough. It's a group-oriented culture. You share food, you share tables, you shake hands and you kiss cheeks in greeting. And I would also say...you sneeze freely and cough often. It's just part of life here. There's dust, heat, and your throat is often dry. And there are large populations of old people here. Literally, it seems, to stop the spread of it here would be impossible and it could wipe out a huge portion of the population. So what do we do now?
How can we keep hope and even rhythm when life is interrupted?
I think in this time of isolation or self quarantine for many, we can take the space given to really evaluate our lives....
What do we do in our lives and why? Are we maximizing our lives, living in appreciation of our days? Have we done what we've been made to do? If God does call us home now, have we had the conversations we've needed to have? Have we said sorry? Have we told people what they've meant to us? Have we shared with people about Jesus?
And if and when life does return to normal...do we need a new rhythm ...new focus areas, new priorities?
My prayer has been..." God...teach me to number my days...and forgive me God for any time I've wasted or times I've missed. Give me new chances to share..to show you, to love you through my life and the days you give me that remain."
God is the Author of our days. Our time has already been set. We don't have to be afraid. Our life is actually just a short "trip" ... through a world that is not actually our home. Our time here is not the biggest part of our existence. God has created people ...in His own image... to be with Him forever. And when this life ends, our life with Him continues. We don't have to fear the door we pass through. But we do need to be ready. And with the time we're given here, we need to do our best to leave a mark, bring a change...
Caleb said it well ...
With coronavirus, it's bad and dangerous.... But there was and is another "killer" still rampant on planet earth. And what you do NOW..about that...affects your forever. A long time ago, a virus.. sin... came into the world. It disrupted everything. Polluted everything. It was the worst virus without a cure. It caused brokenness, selfishness, greed, pride, and utter destitution and destruction of heart and life. It brought death... eternal separation from God forever. And you can still see it's here. But God gave the cure, the remedy... that can keep you vaccinated and safe with God forever. And that remedy- is a person- God's Son- Jesus Christ. If you don't have this cure from this virus, that is the one you have to fear the most.
Caleb knew this and shared this. So should we...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkMiEQ4Pq68
In the disruptions of life... when we're reminded of it's brevity...we can stand on the hope we find in Jesus. We have been saved from sin and have life forever with God. God is for us, with us, and nothing can separate us from Him, In trouble, He's peace. His hope is living and doesn't change or fade. He's a rock we can climb on and rest on- a refuge and our great joy and portion.
We CAN keep running confidently towards home... inviting as many people as we can to go the same way.
In the disruptions of life...as they continue and even get worse.. may we keep our eyes on Jesus, our hope in Him, our message- Him, our strength- Him. May we keep pace and not lose heart or hope!
When the lights go out, the doors close, in isolation, in quarantine, in panic, in darkness... may the light of God's people... the hope of Jesus... be bright and shine in us for all to see! For our hope remains.
I'm praying for you! Please pray for me here as well.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for many who are still facing tragedy and loss here, that God will comfort
Please pray the coronavirus ..that it will not spread here. For protection of the vulnerable and wisdom for the government. For chances to share the hope of Jesus.
Please pray for ETC and HUC- that I will represent God well at both schools. I have a Health and Sport Class at ETC. And we've just started a new semester at Hope. I'm transitioning to be the full-time Student Dean at the school- pray for that huge chance
Please pray for a good schedule at both schools and continued favor to speak, teach and lead
Please pray for good health and good impact
As the countdown to Easter continues, may we remember...the tomb is empty. Death has been conquered! and Our Savior lives!
Let me know how I can pray for you!
Here are some pictures...
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| Quiet Time with God... where perspective and hope is found |
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| Health and Sport Class- ETC |
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| HUC...new semester and office renovations |
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| HUC's Student Parliament...so honored to work these student leaders |
