FACING GIANTS...

Have you ever faced a giant?

Here in Ethiopia... there are some pretty big things...

...the snake found recently by my door...

a large snake killed by our guards and hung on a tree ... 

...the birds I can see sitting on a nearby fence each morning or on nearby buildings... they are LARGE.. and I think could possibly pick up a small child...

..the cats lurking just outside...

Just kidding. Those are no where near me, Thank God! Ha ha

...the buildings behind our school compound seem to be growing bigger and taller - maybe they will soon swallow us all...

There are big things here for sure...

But what about a giant thing? Have you ever faced one of those?  Or maybe you're looking at one now in your life?

Maybe something has come into your life or the life of someone you love and it's big, WAY TOO BIG, and you're not sure what to do...  it's dangerous and beyond your ability to conquer or fix....

Maybe the giant just arrived. Or maybe it's been around for some time. But it's not going away and maybe it's getting stronger. And you're tired of it lingering and messing with your peace, your joy, your family, your life. 

Maybe it's a bill or debt. Maybe it's a diagnosis or illness. Maybe it's a broken relationship. Maybe it's a bad job. Maybe it's a past mistake.  

There are all kinds of giants ...

What do you do when a giant comes?

Covid 19 was a giant and is a giant no one expected. It came and surprised us. Many people laughed or disregarded it. It seemed silly and overrated or politicized ... only for many to realize later it had and can have a lethal punch. Sometimes it strikes fast- taking loved ones and friends and family and neighbors quickly. Sometimes it hits slowly and repeatedly and no medicine or treatment plan seems to help. What a weird giant.

It's still a giant walking around and it's not welcomed by anyone.  We're tired of and want it to go away for good.

Other giants are also still around us all ... 

Temptation. Sin. Fear of the past. Fear of the future. Insecurity. Doubt. Depression...

What giants have you faced? Are you facing?

How did you react to the giants that arrived?

Did you battle well? Are you battling well?  

Giants of sickness and death are so so hard. Mantles of despair and addiction and depression are so heavy. 

Satan and Sin whispers for us to give up, to give in. To go a wrong way.  To settle. To blame God.

You may feel the giant is TOO big. The debt is TOO great. The storm is TOO strong. The diagnosis is TOO overwhelming. The wait is TOO long. The temptation is TOO enticing. The way forward is TOO blocked...

What does God want us to remember and do when we face giants?  

How can we persevere and overcome them?

Can we really say to the giants in our lives... "How dare you mess with me, my family, my life, and my God?!!!"..

I've seen giants and I'm seeing giants in the lives of those I care about.

Giant problems. Giant medical issues. Giant financial stress. Giant despair. Giant depression. Giant fighting. Giant division.  

Too many giants!!!

But what I've been remembering with the help of God's Spirit and His Word is that...

WE HAVE A WAY BIGGER GOD! 

He has giant promises! We don't have to be afraid and we can fight and stand and persevere with God's help!!!!!

We can pick up a smooth small stone of faith, load our sling, and aim it in prayer at what we face... 

And God will tell us when to throw it and it will hit the mark... right in the head of the giant we face... in His time and in His way and in His plan.... and then...

The giant will fall! The walls will come down! The chains will break! The door will open! And the rescue will come!!!!!!

We can hold to these verses...

God says...The battle belongs to me... (2 Chronicles 20:15)

Stand still and see my deliverance, I will fight for you ... (Exodus 14:13)

Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.... (1 John 4:4)

No weapon formed against you shall prosper... (Isaiah 54:17)

Do not fear. When you pass through the waters I will be with you, they will not overflow you, and when you pass through the fire, you will not be burned... (Isaiah 43: 1-2)

Those with us are greater than those with them! ... (2 Kings 6:16)

May we face the giants in our lives with courage and never give up!

If you're facing a giant or more than one right now... God wants you to know and remember, He's with you! He can help you fight and win! It's not over until He says!

Praying on in trust with You!!!!

Praises/Prayer Requests

-Please pray for the giants around me and in the lives of those I care about... may we fight and win and never be afraid!  People watch how we fight and we even how we suffer.  May God give us His words, His actions, His ability to persevere!

-I praise God for the ETC class I've had this fall season so far. It's been a huge blessing to help equip and encourage these church leaders to go into all the world with the good news of Jesus! Please keep these dear brothers and sisters in prayer!

Class this past week with Abera- A Missionary- sharing His Testimony

-Please pray for me as I consider several different work and service opportunities- in the time ahead here in Ethiopia and ahead in 2022...that God will place me where He can best use me.

-I praise God for my family ! They are huge examples for me and I'm so thankful for them.  This week... is a big birthday week in our family. Please join me in wishing a Happy Birthday on Wednesday (10-27) to the amazing Rosie Garrett, my Mom.  She's a blessing to us all and we love her so much!  She's a prayer warrior  and her online devotions and her prayers and her example... there are no words for how much she inspires me and so many! Happy Birthday Mom! We love you so much!  Also a very Happy Birthday to my sister, Noel, on Friday (10-29).  Her obedience to God and years of loving God and loving people... have greatly impacted me and us all! Happy Birthday B! We will be celebrating both of these amazing ladies here in Ethiopia :-) 

My Mom and Noel (B)- Happy Birthday to these amazing ladies this week!

Also a shout out to our Dad and family leader- the amazing Jim Garrett. He's a hero of faith ...A giant for God!  No words also for how much we are blessed by him! And we can't forget- Pastor Mike Martin- Noel's husband. What an amazing giant of faith too who was added to our family. We thank God for him!

our Dad and Mom- love these two!

Mike and my Dad... heroes of faith 

-Please continue to pray good health for my family and protection , provision, as they serve and love God and people. 

-Please pray for the bad giants here of Covid, fighting, etc., that God will help us slay those and pray for those battling.  Ethiopia still needs peace and the government needs wisdom. 

What giants are you facing? How can I pray for you? Please let me know!

May we move forward in the victory God has for us!

Slay those giants in and with the power of God!

A Life that Shines ...

Last weekend, the MESKEL holiday celebration came again here in Ethiopia.  

Streets were decorated and crosses were put up and placed around the city. 

Big bonfires were built high... with a cross at the top of each.

.

History here says a bonfire was lit by one of Ethiopia's leaders long ago. The smoke from that fire led to the finding of a piece of the cross that Jesus died on.  

Here is more about the Meskel holiday:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meskel

Watching these big bonfires get built and then get lit ... all over the city ... is something to see!

I smiled in my area ... watching the activity surrounding it all ...

The bonfire built by our school compound gate

Meskel Eve... heading to watch the bonfire get lit

Lighting it Up

Watching it burn

And though I've seen this holiday for many years now... it's had me thinking this past week more and more about our lives and how they are supposed to be light in the dark... and how our lives also should be marked by a cross... one that is lit!

The cross (Meskel... in Amharic) is a significant symbol for so many reasons.   

For Christians ... it symbolizes an unbelievable sacrifice that was made. God's Son Jesus came and offered his life as a sacrifice for our sin. A perfect God has to punish sin ... but Jesus took the full wrath of God's punishment for our sin on Himself!   In this unbelievable move and act of love, Jesus became a door for us back to God. By accepting what Jesus did on our behalf, it changes everything for us.

You can now choose to stay separated from God...condemned and guilty...for now and into eternity...

Or you can choose to be WITH GOD through accepting Jesus's gift and sacrifice ... you can stand... FORGIVEN, INCLUDED in God's family, REDEEMED and NOT GUILTY...able to walk and talk and know God freely and forever!  

What an incredible move Jesus made and what an incredible gift we are offered...salvation and the ability to be part of God's family... not based on what we did or need to do... but on what Jesus did on the cross!

It's good news for us and for the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many people today sit in darkness and despair.  They are hopeless and feel stuck and abandoned, overwhelmed, discouraged, empty, and lonely.  

We have good news for all those in the dark and feeling these things...

John 3: 16-17..."For God so loved the world ...He gave His only Son..that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

1 Corinthians 15: 55-57..."God gives us victory over sin and death in Jesus..."

In our lives, we should carry with us the evidence of what Jesus did on the cross and what it means. 

The Bible tells us ...

Luke 9:23... If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me...

Why?

The cross represents JESUS, our Savior!  Carrying the cross daily in our lives shows people Him...it's a  surrender to and an acceptance of Jesus as our Savior and King.  We carry a cross....as we say.... "not my will, but yours be done." It's a  humility, a reverence, a gratitude, a connection to God in Jesus that we have.  It's peace with God. It's hope!  It's a commitment to live as Jesus lived and to serve and love others as He has loved us.

What's amazing to me is this cross in our lives can also be lit by God's Spirit.  As God pours His life and hope and joy and peace and love into our lives ... it becomes light in us ... as we are healed and made new. As we are changed and transformed...this becomes a shining light that others can see.

Do people see in you ... a life that shines?  Is there a cross? Can they see Jesus?

You might say ... "Holly... I'm not shining. I'm not lit. I'm just trying to survive.  The past year or more has made me tired, frustrated and overwhelmed.  People don't see Jesus in me ... I don't think. They see my stress and my fear and my fatigue."  

Covid has been terrifying globally.

My Dad first called Covid "spooky"- like a weird twilight zone or sci-fi movie that didn't seem really real or even possible.  

What we've learned is it's real and it can quickly take you down and even take your life. It gives perspective and makes you realize how short life can be and how quickly it can end.

So how do we respond? What can we do if the world seems to be getting darker and darker.... more and more scary...

Things that can make us afraid and overwhelmed have actually been with us from the beginning....

There have always been storms in us... and around us... that can make us terrified.

Maybe Covid hasn't terrified you...or made you afraid... but other things can or will....

A doctor's report.  Job loss. A relationship ends. A bill can't be paid. Other sickness comes, Disease. A death comes of someone you love. There is a fire. A flood. An earthquake. A War. ....The list is endless...  And of course- there's Satan- wanting to make us hide our light. He wants to crush us and the light in us.

But I believe God wants our crosses and our lives... to still be seen...standing tall and lit up... no matter what we face! 

Matthew 5:14 ..."You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.."

Matthew 5:15-16... "Let your light shine before men...."

The world needs to see the cross and the light and love of God.  The world needs hope and the good news that Jesus died to give us.  We have hope that isn't based on how we feel or what we see. It's based on who we are in Jesus and the promises God has given us!

This world is not our home and we're only passing through. To live is Christ, to die is gain. 

We have eternity with God, free from pain and suffering to enjoy forever. It's an amazing, undeserved eternity.  And life here on earth, we can live in victory and with hope and joy.  And our hope doesn't waiver or shift. Our end is already written, our lives already saved in Jesus Christ!  

Now, God wants us shine this truth and hold it up. We need to run to the darkness with this good news to share!

If your light seems dim and the cross not evident...

Just get close to God. Let Him breathe His hope and light onto your life and remind you of the cross and what has already been done for you...

See Jesus and embrace Him ... then watch your life be set ABLAZE!

May our lives be lights that shine!!!

Please pray this for me.  The world needs Jesus and we have Him to share!!!

PRAISES

Celebrations and Holidays...

I was able to attend Hope University's Graduation in late August and it was a great joy to see many of my best students finish. I enjoyed visiting graduation parties and saying "well done" to so many.

Hope University's Graduation ... 420 finished!

OC- a top Hope University Food Science Student who graduated, one of my favorite students! 
Pictured here with his lovely wife!

Sami- one of my best Arch graduating class students

Architecture 5th Year Graduates... See Ya :-)

Arch 5 Celebration Trip... Victory Walk

Gech and Jimmy... two of my favorite Hope Graduates...Environment Students

September brought the Ethiopian New Year - 2014. I really do love that I'm seven years younger here...

I was able to spend time with the Kenna family and also with Hilina (who is now my neighbor)and her family. I'm so thankful for these dear families that God has blessed me with!

Kenna Family...Love them!

Hilina and family

Hilina and Noah!  

ETC did give me a class to teach this semester... Introduction to Missions. This class has been a huge blessing for me!!!  I praise God for these wonderful church leaders and the chance to challenge them to reach the world for Jesus!

EvaSUE- I have had the chance to continue meeting with the staff of EvaSUE. This is a great campus ministry and connection point for me and could lead to future work and partnership. Keep this in prayer.

EvaSUE Leadership Conference...

I've been grateful for cups of coffee and good memories with many of the other family God has given me here too...

Catching up with Hidi, love this sister of mine

Catching up with friend and "coach"  Belay

Celebrating Abu's 22nd birthday, with Yabi...love these two!

May God lead us and light us in the way ahead!

PRAYER REQUESTS

A huge struggle this past month has been with my sister and her husband Mike both catching breakthrough cases of Covid. Please continue to pray for them as they recover.

Covid also has made many here sick... including some of my closest neighbors and students. Please pray for all.  

For Hope Univ- starting a new school year soon (week of October 11)- please pray that God will place me where He wills it and give me work that is meaningful for Him.

For ETC- for my class- that God will light me up every week and speak through me to these wonderful church leaders.

For good health and protection, for my Dad, Mom, Sister and Mike too...for health, healing 

-For Ethiopia, there is still fighting in different regions and a huge problem in the north Tigray area. Pray for the government- for wisdom and resolution and peace.

For EvaSUE- and my possible partnership with them in work-ministry in the time ahead; that God will open that up as He wills it.

Thank you for the prayers!

How can I pray for you?

May the crosses in our lives be lit and may we shine in the dark with the good news of Jesus!

Blessings to you and your family this fall season!  

GENTLE RAINS and FALLING TANDEM...

The gentle rains of this time of year have arrived in this part of the world.  

Sometimes the rains come heavy and strong and sudden. 

But mostly they are gentle and welcomed. 

They make you feel sleepy and though they often cause traffic jams, flooding to roads, and power outages, they are still overall peaceful.

Since returning back to Addis, I still feel largely grateful to be back.  I know that God sustains our lives and opens and closes doors before us and behind us...and I feel truly humbled to be back in this beautiful land with people I love and I'm ready to work and serve and give God my best here.  

Having now caught up with many students, friends, neighbors, staff, and those I consider to be family, ... the reunions again have been so sweet! 

And as I have listened to the gentle rains coming down the mountains and through the city, though those are peaceful, I still feel much instability and uncertainty here for what is ahead for Ethiopia. Covid remains with little access to vaccines. Cases are rising again and the delta variant is suspected for the surge. More urgent in peoples' lives is the economy with crazy high and fluctuating prices and the situation in the northern part of the country. There is growing fighting, famine, and fear.

What will the future hold? For life here? The places we work? For ministry?

It seems like in so ways many of us are still "falling" and are not sure of what things will be like when we land. There's discomfort in the unknown.

God has had me thinking about this more and more- as power goes on and off. As the rains hit my roof. As I sit in traffic and sip on the best coffee in the world....again... while listening to the gentle rains...

And for some reason, what God keeps bringing to my mind about this is tandem parachute jumping.

I'm not sure why. I've never jumped out of an airplane. Nor do I ever want to.

And how people can get a good selfie or have someone snap a good picture of them while falling is beyond me. How can you smile when falling???

I think my face would be more like this... HA HA...

If I ever had to jump out of a plane for some reason, I'd definitely choose to do it "tandem" as the people in these pictures did. That means an instructor is strapped to your back. That would mean if you fainted or froze, which would likely be me, your instructor could still pull what needed pulled and get you safely down.

God has been reminding me, that in life ... there are TONS of falls that happen. We trip ourselves. We get pushed. Yet God has been reminding me... thanks to Jesus...when we fall, we ALWAYS fall tandem. God is strapped to us... so we don't have to freak out or faint.  We can get down safely and rise back up!

God's Word supports this ...

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. Though they stumble, they will never fall for the Lord holds them by the hand  (Psalm 37:23-24)

Though the righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again... (Proverbs 24:16)

The Lord upholds all who fall ... (Psalm 145: 14-16)

Nations fall down and collapse, but we rise up and stand firm (Psalm 20:8)

If you're in a free-fall now for whatever reason, be encouraged! If you're in God's family through Jesus, you are "falling tandem."

God will guide your fall!!!

Maybe Covid has wrecked your business or finances. Maybe your health has had a scare and seems to be going downhill. Maybe a relationship ended or someone disappointed you. Maybe you've lost a job and nothing seems to be opening up.  Maybe you're single or married and something just seems unsettled.  Maybe sin has caused you to fall, or fall again, and you're plummeting down. There is fear and panic and sorrow and shame and loss.

Again, remember, if you're in God's family, you're falling "tandem." God is with you and can get you to where you need to be and can even give you an amazing ride as you fall!

What I've learned about these "free-fall" times- is they can actually become cherished because we learn to trust God and His voice the most when we are falling. While falling, He can show us Himself in new ways and show us things we have never seen before. We can actually sing our best songs of praise WHILE falling.  We can actually smile and worship God best at this time!

What I've also learned is your best ministry can happen while you're falling. There's a connection to God, a deep dependence, a humility, that God can speak through your life to others. People watch you. And you can bless them, by how you fall. Your fall becomes a powerful testimony, a bright light, as God opens new ministries and new insights and takes you to new places as you fall tandem- connected to Him!

Trust your Instructor! He has grace to give you, new chapters to write in your life. A fall is not the end, it can be a beginning! Trust God - who is with you!!!!

The Lord sustains all who falls and lifts up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14 )

I will be with you always, even to the end... (Matthew 28:20) 

Those who trust in the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles..(Isaiah 40:31)

He lifted me ... and gave me a place to stand...blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust (Psalm 40: 2-4)

May we trust Him while falling and honor Him as we do!!!

Praises-Prayer Requests

Praises again for the reunions with staff-students-friends-family here. May God bless these relationships!

love having Hilina, Peniel, and little Noah as my neighbors!
What a Blessing and Joy!

Prayers for peace, health, safety, and for Ethiopia overall and for the leaders of the country

Prayers for open doors for work and ministry opportunities and courage in tandem falling and in advising others who are falling

Hope University- Prayers for the semester ending, Graduation at the end of August, my work with them in the time ahead- that God will lead.

Architecture GC- five years done!

Environmental Science GC- finishing 4 year degrees

IT grad- 4 years done!

some of my favorite graduates 

ETC- I've been asked to teach a class this semester- Intro to Mission - which will start after a few weeks. Pray for my preparation for this course- and that I can do my best with God's help to equip church leaders in mission.  I'm humbled for the chance!

love teaching at ETC!

and please pray that in the gentle rains...and tandem falls...that God will be honored by my life.

Blessings to you this fall season!

Thank you for the prayers and know I'm praying for you as well!