When It Rains .... It Pours

Well the rains have returned to Addis, rainy season having officially arrived.

I can hear the rains coming down the mountains or see them coming through the city before they get to me. And if I’m not paying attention, when crowds of people start running or street vendors start scrambling to pack up, I know I have seconds to get an umbrella up or to take cover before getting drenched to the bone.

For some reason, the rains seem longer and harder this year. There have been large chunks of ice mixed in.  Sometimes it sounds like my roof will cave in. The rains also change direction quickly and things start to flood. Taxis pull over. Traffic comes to a stop. Roads instantly become rivers.

Even the network and electricity seems tied to the downpours. When it rains, everything goes dark and things disconnect.  This is not new here, yet still remains a mystery to me.

When it rains here, it definitely pours.

For me, it seems, this is also what has been happening globally.  Torrents and torrents of problems have come crushing down on the world …one shoe drops… and then another… people are being crushed by storms and unexpected problems and heavy situations. It’s been shocking to observe.

If one thing hits, you hold your breath, waiting for the next thing. Not only are people masked, but they’re also holding their breath behind their masks.

The ability to breathe freely and easily, to relax, has seemed stolen. When will the next storm come? What bad thing will rain down next on families, communities, cities, countries, and the world?

Here in Ethiopia, we also have not been spared from the crush.

First of course… came coronavirus. What a crazy thing. Here in Ethiopia, it came slowly. But it did start to spread and is continuing to.

As numbers began increasing, things began closing. The storm came and rain fell. People hid in homes and behind masks. They shut schools and shops. Streets grew quiet. We waited and looked out the window. Would the germs reach into our compounds, into our bodies? There was worry and fear, as activity ground to a halt.  It seemed like a bad dream and still does.

As this storm pounded… and this trouble rained on us… then another came from a different direction that no one was expecting. Unrest came to our city.  A popular singer was murdered in Addis and it sparked days of unrest. Things were set on fire, mobs of people roamed the streets. Shocking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53298845

Then the government blocked the internet to try to get control, disconnecting those of us who live here from easy communication from each other and from news. It was like the world went dark and silent.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/outrage-ethiopia-continuing-internet-blackout-190625105401629.html

Internet only now, weeks later, has slowly been turned back on.

And with it coming on, I’ve seen more shocking news from my home country, the USA. Racial unrest and covid cases increasing. So many problems!

And around the world, it seems ... no one has been spared from the pouring and blinding rains of sickness, insecurity, injustice and fear. Madness has arrived to our planet. No where seems unaffected.

What can we do? How can we survive? Even thrive, if that’s possible?

This madness…sickness, anger, racism, etc, has always been part of our planet. I think for many though, it was under cover. We medicate, isolate, insulate, so we don’t see it. But these things have always been part of the world. But these things have exploded now so we have a deep realization of the fragility and brevity of life and the sickness and madness here. We can't control it. And it's spreading. All of this can be overwhelming.

Yet, there's is hope and perspective and even peace and joy to be found!

God has continued to teach me during this time and remind me of so much. I’m so thankful that He’s not surprised by big crazy storms and no rain is too big or wind too strong to push us out of His arms. He has us and He has a plan. Life is about perspective and purpose. It about keeping our hands open.

NOTHING is ours to keep. We cling to things all the time…saying… it’s MINE! Job-MINE. Family- MINE. Health- MINE.  Relationship- MINE! My LIFE- MINE! But all we have is actually HIS. Our very lives are authored and sustained by God. We can’t cling to our lives or our stuff. We have to keep our hands open. He gives and takes away. We can praise Him whether those hands are full or not.

Psalm 100:3
Is is God who made us, we are His

Psalm 54:4
It is God who sustains our lives, He is our helper

Job 1:21
The Lord gives and take away, may the name of the Lord be praised

He’s been reminding me these days- that only with Him is there shelter. Storms come and rage, but He has a place, a rock, that is Him. He covers us. We might lose homes and jobs or other things, but the greatest thing we have, the salvation of our souls given to us in Jesus, can’t be shaken or taken! We guard that deposit in us, we nurture that relationship. Heaven is home. God is our shelter. Our work and purpose through all of our life here on earth is to worship Him and to know Him and to share to Him. We can do that... in masks or not. It’s our honor and our joy and privilege to make Him great!

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with His wings

Psalm 9:9

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed; a stronghold in times of trouble…

Psalm 18:2

The Lord is my rock and my fortress; my deliverer

Psalm 27:5

In the day of trouble, He will conceal me… In the secret place of His tent, He will hide me, He will set me up on a rock

It’s interesting that God has been teaching me more things through where I live. My little one bedroom apartment has felt like a little cave in our gated and guarded compound. I’ve felt safe here.

The funny thing is …for most of my life here- I haven’t been at home much. So…the past months ..of having to do more at home and even work from home- God has taught me much about keeping my house in order- as I wrote about in my last blog.

An interesting thing recently - is a few of my colleagues/neighbors saw my home. And they wanted to help me fix it up. So as I let them in- and I have watched drop jaw as they cleaned and upgraded and decorated my little cave. I've just watched in amazement. That though covid and even when unrest was still around- inside my home ... it was upgrading. 

God has reminded me- the same can happen in us, His people, in me, during this time.

The Holy Spirit lives in you, in me, if you are in Jesus. And if you allow Him free access into every corner of your heart and mind and life- He can clean it, change it, heal it, restore it, redecorate it, YES even now when these storms are still pouring and pounding through the planet. He can do His best work when we’re quiet and humble and willing...NOW!

Many people say to me ..."after coronavirus is gone or calms down, then I will... do this or that or change this or add this." Yet, I believe God wants to do His greatest work in you, in me, NOW.

Will you let Him into every part of your life? Into your closets that you've hidden away? Let Him under your bed, behind your curtains, let Him take out the trash, clean out the cupboards. He can sweep things out, put other things in. Will you let Him? He is the ultimate interior designer. He can remake you from the inside out! NOW

Revelation 3:20
Behold I stand at the door and knock

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know, God's Spirit lives in you?

Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things...I am making all things new

Philippians 1:6
He who begin a good work in you is able to complete it...

When people look at you now, talk to you now, what do you reflect? Do you reflect and project the storm back at people? The stress, the fear? The uncertainty?

Or do you glow from the inside, with a deep humility and realization that your life is not your own, God’s Spirit lives in you?

Do you reflect trust that God indeed is able to work all things for your good and can do immeasurably more than all you can think or imagine?

Do you show others that quiet trust, that confidence in your God, that your life and all of our lives is in His hands?

You can reflect Him and that peace and truth NOW! 

2 Corinthians 3:18
you are being changed to be like Him; you reflect His glory

It’s funny- some people here- I don’t recognize behind the masks. I actually talked to one person one day- thinking it was the President of our school- it wasn’t. Another time, a graduate of our school began talking to me- I had no idea who she was until much later in the conversation, ha ha.  

If people only see your eyes - what do they see? Who do they see? Your eyes can say alot. Fear. Fatigue. Anger. Stress. Or do they see peace? 

If people were to remove your mask- would you rage? Shout? Cry out? Or would there be a smile on your face and praise on your lips because you have peace and joy and God with you?

While the storms rage, may they not rage in me!!!

As storms and rains pour around me and even on me, as the outside shakes, may the inside of me- the most important part- my spirit- be remade, renewed by the Spirit of God! And may others see Him in me! 

If you feel the rains are pounding against you… and it’s not just raining, but pouring. If you feel like you’re getting hit from every direction and you can’t take it anymore… I have good news for you!!!

God invites you deep into the shelter of who He is. There’s peace, joy, hope, love, perspective, all you need in Him.

During the storm, stay with God. Cling to Him, safe in His presence.

And watch- as you are changed for the better!

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him

Psalm 142:5

You are my shelter from the storm, my portion in the land of the living

2 Corinthians 4:16

So we do not lose heart...outwardly we are wasting away, but inwardly we are being renewed day by day...

And when the day comes, when you can go back out, people can be amazed at how different you have become. Stronger, sharper, more humble, grateful, holy, hopeful, trustful, bold, better and more like Jesus than when you went into “lockdown”.

You can become more beautiful WHILE the storm rages. God can upgrade you from the inside out. It’s shocking- His ability to do that. But He is willing to remake you, remake me! Are you willing?

I want this and need this!

Please pray this for me, as I pray this for you.

All things are possible with our God!

Praises/Prayer Requests

-Schools here need prayer and wisdom to finish. With the shutdown of internet and rioting, plus Covid, we're behind schedule.

-ETC is trying to finish. My class's new final deadline is this Wednesday. Pray we can finish.

 -Pray for ETC and wisdom as classes move online for the rainy season and fall season...and how to open that back up when the government gives permission.

-HUC is trying to finish. We are hoping to bring all students back to campus for a month or so of class, then an exam. We still have to have graduation as well, even it's it's virtual.  Pray for wisdom too as we try to get the 2000 plus students finished with their school year.

Some of our graduating class students... some of my best ever, may we help them finish ... 

-I did officially sign to be the Student Dean of HUC, what a huge honor! Please pray as I move my work permit back under HUC, that God will give grace and let the process be easy and also that I can figure out how to continue to help ETC as well.

-Please pray for peace for Ethiopia. It is an election time in the next one year or so and there is still big tension in the country. Pray wisdom for the government, fairness, justice, and wisdom for churches in helping things stay peaceful.

-Please pray health for all from Coronavirus. We're not sure actually how many here are infected. But numbers seem to be rising again. 

-Please pray for the USA- my family and prayer partners/supporters. Everything going on there troubles me deeply. May God help America! My Dad and Mom and Sister- Noel and her husband Mike... all are doing well, thanks to God!

-For everyone globally…for shelter and growth, even renewal – in and through these pouring rains and storms.

Thank you for praying and please let me know how I can pray for you and your families.

Stay encouraged. God is bigger. These rains will end.

Blessings from Ethiopia