It's hard for me to believe I'm entering my 11th year of living on the continent of Africa, in the beautiful country of Ethiopia.
That I've been given the privilege and honor to call here "home"- still amazes me and I'm so thankful!
I can't imagine my life without the Ethiopia chapters included.
The past years have been so full of so much...laughter, tears, joy and pain. Times of gain and loss. Tons of coffee. Sun. Blue skies. There have been stunning sunsets and sunrises, big birds flying and cattle roaming. There have been flip flops and sunglasses. Miles of walking. Loads of teaching.
It would take too many pages to write down all the memories. My life is richer and fuller for having lived here and become rooted in this beautiful land and people.
As God often does in "missions" or when you live out of your comfort zone, God has showed me more of Himself over the past decade here. I've seen His beauty, His creativity, His humor, His majesty, His provision, His protection, His power, His grace. Did I mention- GRACE? Yep, have needed that time and time again. He's given me comfort, wisdom, peace, courage, perspective and love. He's been a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He's been a merciful high priest. He's been my rock. He's been my song. And I'm not a singer. He's been the way maker, the promise keeper, the miracle worker. The Good Shepherd! Time and again. Time and again. Time and again.
His arms have carried me. And He's never let me go! I'm so thankful!
I've tried to stand on every platform He's given me here. From English Instructor to Theology Teacher to Sport Coach to Student Dean ... I've tried to represent Him well and make Him known wherever He placed me. Why? He's worthy to be lifted up in every breath I have and every move I make. My life is His and my story is His to write.
I've seen God and I've also seen glimpses of ME.
Mirrors seem harder to look into the older you get. Would you agree? You notice more. Is that a wrinkle? Is that a gray hair? Is that muscle sagging? What? Has that been stuck in my teeth all day? Oh my gosh. Ha ha .
But mirrors are also extremely beneficial when God holds one up to your life. It can actually be shocking and painful! What do you look like to others? Who are you becoming? Is God shaping you? Or is something or someone else shaping you more?
God often does His best work in us and through in the hardest of seasons.
I remember well those times of struggle here.
For me here, it's not always been running through the hills like in the "sound of music" singing fa la la la la. There have been huge valleys here. Disappointments. Mistakes. Times I've fallen in holes I made myself. Other times I fell because I got shoved by others. I remember them all...the frustration, the anger, the disappointment, the hurt. The bad and the ugly, mixed in with all the good. It's all part of life, wherever you live. As you battle with sin and self and God and His plan and His way versus your own, there remains struggle.
Yet in the struggle, there was and is always God. I remember in my darkest and most discouraging of times... God Himself bent low ... crawling into those dark holes and lifting me out, brushing me off. He helped me to stand back up and gave me courage to keep going for Him and by Him and with Him! Not bitter, but better, because of the hard times passed through!
God can lift us out of ANY hole or dark season...and He can turn ANY page to help us EMERGE better, stronger, and more like Him!
The past few years have not been easy in the world. We've crawled down in holes, sheltered in place. Covid called us to quarantine. We shut the doors. We stayed home from work and church. Put on masks. Went into hiding. In the darkness and solitude...some seem to have thrived. But most have not. Life assessments have been made. And many are not where they want to be. Many faced inner demons and other new ones attacked. Fatigue. Depression. Hopelessness. Despair. Loss. Fear.
It's time to move forward and out. We need to trust God to turn the page in 2022. He is ready! Are you? Will you let Him lead you to a new place?
If you say YESSSSSSSSSSS... then let's leave the isolation. The dark. Let's shake out of the mundane and the sorrow. Let's leave behind the sin and shame and doubt and fear and reach towards God and let Him PULL us up and out and through and to a new page and new chapter!
Whenever I think about a people moving out of a dark place... I always think of when the Israelites left Egypt ...where they had been enslaved and mistreated in captivity. God shook everything around them and said...pack up...move out... it's time! Were they excited? Sure. Were they scared? Sure. But the promised land could not be reached if they didn't move out.
It's time for us to move out, to emerge, to get unstuck!
This past semester, I taught a course about missions and I reminded my students that over 5 billion people in the world claim to "not be Christian" .... of those...3.2 billion live in unreached areas ... unless a missionary goes there ..crosses into that culture...there's a good chance those people will not have the chance to be reconciled to God through hearing about Jesus. What is my part ? What is yours?
This world is not our home and we're only passing through. Let's not lose perspective. You can't take stuff with you to heaven. But you can take people. Who can you take to heaven with you?
May 2022 be the year His people EMERGE to do bigger things than they could imagine!
Don't let Satan tell you you're stuck forever! God is calling you to move. He goes before you and will open doors as you step out!
Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations... Mark 16:15
Behold I go before you, telling you which way to go....Isaiah 30:21
Forget what is behind and strain for what is ahead... keeping your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith...Philippians 3:13
I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...Jeremiah 29:11
I am with you always, even to the end...Matthew 28:20
Let's EMERGE in 2022 to a new place as God leads us! His will be done!!!
Praises
-For safety in travel out of Ethiopia and back in, and for peace and more stability here now
-For holiday time with family
-For God's provision and protection through all
Prayer Requests
-For my Work Permit and new Residence Visa to be processed in the coming weeks
-For changes in work and ministry- that God platforms me according to His plan and gives me courage to move out
-For continued good health and provision
-For my USA family- for good health
-For 2022- that I emerge and move forward with courage in Jesus' name to make Him known among the nations
-For Ethiopia- for peace and wisdom
Here are some pictures..from time in the USA with my Family
Thank you for your prayers!
Please join me in wishing my Dad, the GREAT AND AMAZING Jim Garrett- a very Happy Birthday this week, on Sunday, January 23. We are so grateful for his leadership of our family and his example of hard work and serving. We love him so much!!!!!!!
Blessings to You in 2022!
