Breaking Point ... "Standing Man" ...and Eyeing the Prize

Some Random Thoughts ...

BREAKING POINT...

Sometimes in life, you may feel you have reached the end of your rope. Your strength is done, your energy out. Your motivation to continue empty.

If something doesn't open, close, or change... you feel like you can't go on or last one more moment.

Several former students I've met with recently for Bible study... have reached those points.

And in the past few years... I have walked with so many who felt they had reached their breaking point.... in relationships, in heartbreak, in work, and in sorrow.  And I too, have had those moments...

What do you do in these moments? What do we do?

Maybe you've prayed and you see no change? The storm continues to rage. The doors continue to stay shut. The healing or provision remains illusive. A disaster hits and there's no remedy. And the struggle continues with no relief in sight.

You need break through. Why doesn't it come? God can provide easily, but yet He tarries, why?

Life often is lived in these tension times.  And they're not easy.

I believe a big measure of God's love is demonstrated actually in His restraint in these moments. For God sees our struggle. He can quickly open things, close things, answer, heal, restore, calm storms, part seas, solve things.  But He withholds that power sometimes for His own reasons that are beyond what we can see or often even comprehend.  Yet His restraint doesn't prove He doesn't love us but that He does.  He knows that some of the greatest things we can learn is not over the pain or around the pain but THROUGH IT.  And some of His greatest work can be done in our lives and in the lives of others in the hardest places and hardest pressure points.  Sometimes He asks us to hold the hard position, to stretch and hold it, and with His power- keep there for a time.

He's not about our temporary comfort but our eternal place with Him. He wants to get us there and shape us for there and get as many there as possible too. His message needs proclaimed. His light shone in the dark. Testimonies need shared and darkness pushed back. God is about making Himself known and teaching us and helping become who He has made us to be. The hardest lessons often come from the darkest nights. The humility and dependency on Him that is needed is often learned in the biggest and longest storms. 

In these times though ... when you've reached your limit, what can you do, how can you endure?

1. Keep praying and have others praying for you...

Have people pray with you and encourage you, for burdens are heavy alone.

Watch out for isolation, Satan likes to kick us when we're down. Keep in connection with God, trust Him, know Him in the hard times. He's there. Learn to trust Him. Let Him give you indescribable and unexplainable peace. He can. He can carry you and never leaves you.

Keep these verses in mind...

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus

Hebrews 10:25
Don't give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing...

Matthew 18:20
Where two or three are gathered, He is there...

1 Peter 5:8
Keep alert, your adversary, Satan, is like a roaring lion... seeking someone to devour

Philippians 4:19
My God can supply all your needs...

Philippians 4:6
Don't be anxious for anything, but in every situation, with prayer and petition, and thanksgiving, present your requests to God...


2. Stand on the Promises of God. Remember them, call them out, trust them! 

God's promises stand. They're a foundation for our hope. Pray these for your life according to His will and timing and learn to trust Him...

2 Peter 3:9
God is not slow in keeping His promises, .. but He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish..

Jeremiah 29:11-12
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. Call on me...

Exodus 14:14
The Lord Himself  will fight for you

Romans 8:31-39
Nothing will separate you from the love of God; if God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the river and fire, you will not be swept away or burned

Psalm 16
I have set the Lord before me always, I will not be shaken.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper


3. Continue to Praise God

He continues to be faithful and worthy of our trust. In the darkest prison, like Paul and Silas's time there, they sang and worshipped God- Their worship  blessed those listening. The jailer's family ended up coming to knowledge of Jesus through their worship and honor of God. And God shook the prison and set them free. 

We need to continue to praise God.

Job was a man with a right to be angry with God. When all was taken from him and his wife said .. just curse God and die... he said...

Job 2:10; 21
You speak as a foolish one would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive the bad? Should we only take the good things?... The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised."

Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times

When you're at your breaking point, allow your weakness to be fueled by God's strength. He can carry you over the finish line, to endure what needs endured. Look at Him,  not at the situation. Rest in the valley and even thank Him for allowing you to be there to praise and to learn from Him and to represent Him well. 

Your breaking points can become powerful testimonies to God's glory and power!

STANDING MAN...

I'm not sure if you've seen the movie with Tom Hanks called "Bridge of Spies"?  But it tells the true story of a Russian spy. You actually feel sympathy towards this spy as he recalls being inspired by a man from his past, that though this friend of the family was hit time and time again unjustly, that man would continue to stand.

You and I have a "standing man" as the Savior of our soul. He's the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace. He finished what He started. He endured persecution and death to give us victory. He is a standing man, our Redeemer. He continues to stand for us and in us ...saying we are His. He claims us and our place with His Father.

When I think of a standing man .. I also think of my Dad. Literally my Dad's back has not been good for him. With hip and back trouble over the past several years and alot of pain, many would have sat down and given up trying. But my Dad is a standing man. He mans his post at church. He serves. He loves. He's continues to be a great Father and husband. And He endures. How? Because of the standing Savior at his core. His life is a testimony to so many because of that. I'm so grateful for the example of my Dad. 

Are you standing? Are you manning your post- holding the position God has called you to? In your own strength, it's not possible to endure time and age and sin and self. But with Jesus in you, you have access to the strength to stand. To give worship and praise to God even when you're hit.

Be a standing man / a standing woman for God. One that can't be knocked down or out. One who remains.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10
I am hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed...

Hebrews 10:39
You are not of one who shrinks back and are destroyed, but who believe and are saved

1 John 4:4
Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world.

EYEING THE PRIZE...

Recently our school just finished a big soccer tournament called Hope Cup. Twenty games came down to two teams  vying for first place. I had the privilege to walk in the trophies and to set the prize before the masses of students. As cheers errupted, the teams eyed the prize. And one team walked away with 1st place, having won the tournament.  What a day!

As the wining team accepted their reward, it made me think about life.

Sometimes we forget our focus and our goal. What is the prize we live for here? Is it wealth? Position? Power? Comfort? Ease? Recognition?

Or do we live for the applause of God? To move His heart and be part of His work? To bless His name and make Him known? Our reward one day will be to be with Him forever and to hear Him say... WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. May we not lose our focus and that prize!

Philippians 3:13-14
...I do not consider that I have arrived...but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run that you may obtain it.

James 1:12
Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

May God help us in our breaking points to keep standing and eyeing the prize... lifting our lives to God in trust!!!  The journey of life is not easy, but it is a gift to live and love and learn about God on this path. May He help us as we journey with Him!

Praises/ Prayer Requests
-It's been a very busy Spring 2019 in Ethiopia for me. Pray for my schedule... I'm working with our Student Parliament at Hope, finishing classes at ETC for the semester, and taking Amharic. Please keep all in prayer.
-A big praise we have is for my Dad- he had successful hip replacement surgery a few weeks ago.  Praise God...  We love him so much! He's a standing man!

-Pray for my sister and her fiance- Mike Martin- as they prepare for their June wedding. Pray that God will give Mike and Noel provision and a great beginning of their lives as One. We are thrilled to have Mike join the family.

-Please consider praying to help with my travel costs and fundraising for supplies I will need to purchase in June.  Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

Please let me know how I can pray for you as well.

Honored to be with you on the journey!

Even Yet ... RISING

Sometimes life seems to pull you down or you trip and fall yourself. And just to lay down and take some deep breaths feels necessary. But to get back up is also needed.

We have the ability thanks to Jesus to get up and to still rise, even yet to become all He's made us to be. Despite falls and trips and being tripped, we can still get up and persevere. Praise God for that ability!

Isn't that why we celebrate Easter? That because Jesus came, lived, and died in our place.. He RESURRECTED and we can too, we can rise. We don't have to be held down by sin or self or failures. There is hope for us and lift for us, if we take the hand of Jesus.

I've been thinking on all on all this in the past few months... while time has been running...

This Spring has been busy for me here in Ethiopia. I've shifted gears into a new program schedule. I'm continuing to teach at ETC, three classes, which have been great! And I've added Amharic at last, focused language time which I have loved. Three times a week with a private tutor, I'm doing my best to learn the heart language here. And I'm also working with our Student Dean at Hope College and the Student Parliament, giving hours to that this semester. This time of intentional focus on the key student leaders at our school has also been busy but good. Our Student Parliament has launched clubs... one of the most successful being a Sports Club, who started a soccer tournament called Hope Cup. To see students playing matches and cheering each other on has been a highlight.

Two of my best girls, Hilina and Hidi, and I have started Bible study. This time of studying God's Word together has also been a big highlight of this spring so far.  As we've continued to live life together, it's been a joy to share the journey.

Happy 25th bday Hilina 

And through it all, I've been trying to think about RISING, am I still rising to become all God has made me to me?

I did a talk for our Student Parliament and during our School's Reflection Hour that I think is relevant for us in life. It talked about "Obstacles We Face to Achieving our Potential." What are things that hold us back from becoming all God has made us to be? I listed four things I've seen in my own life and in the lives of others.

What causes us to not rise?

1. NO VISION /GOALS

Often times we don't have vision for our life or goals. This can cause us to just sleep days away or not move forward. We need to set goals. Make some, then work that direction, otherwise nothing will change. God has given us the charge to be good stewards, managers, and to do something with the life we've been given. God can give you direction and a picture for your life and His plans for you. What do you like to do? What are you good at? Those can be indicators of what He made you for. What areas of your life need change? Physically? Socially? Financially?  Spiritually? Where does God want you to go? What changes do you need to make or what things do you need to add/subtract to get to that place? Set some goals and work those goals. Don't let no vision or no goals to cause you to be stuck.

Philippians 3:13-14
Forgetting what is behind, and straining towards what is ahead, I press on 

1 Corinthians 9:24
Run in such a way to get the prize.

Matthew 6:33
Seek first His kingdom an His righteousness

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 33:11
The plans of the Lord stand firm forever.

Jeremiah 29:11
I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and  future.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.

2. DISAPPOINTMENTS

Disappointments can also make us lay down and not get up. Disappointments come in life from all sides. The world is under the effect of sin and selfishness. Friends disappoint, churches disappoint, even you will disappoint you. Scripture says don't be surprised. What do you do when disappointments come? Do you stay down and roll around in that.. becoming bitter? You have to get up, forgive who needs forgiven, and move forward. Setbacks- can be set-ups, for incredible comebacks said Pastor Mike Bowie. If you failed at something, get up. Learn from it, and move forward. Don't allow disappointments to keep you down. They can in fact be some of the greatest teachers.

James 1:2, 12
consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds; blessed is the man who perseveres under trail 

Romans 7:19
I don't do what I want to do

Romans 3:23
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Psalm 147:3
He heals the broken-hearted

Colossians 3:13
Forgive as I have forgiven you

John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.

3. UNWISE CHOICES 

Unwise choices also can cause us to not rise. We choose unwise things to add into our lives or to spend time with. We focus on things we shouldn't. Satan is there at work too, trying to make us look at minor things and not major things. 

We make unwise choices with our time. We waste days, taking naps or doing too much. We focus on what we don't have versus working on what we do have. What is in your hand that you can work now? We often are unwise with who we allow to influence us. This can bring us down. Who do you allow to speak into your life and influence you? Do those people speak God's potential into your life? Or do they pull you down?  God wants us to be wise with our time, our focus, and our relationships. 

Psalms 90:12
Teach us to number our days

Hebrews 12:1
Throw off the sin that so easily entangles

Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on things above

Hebrews 12:2
Fix your eyes on Jesus

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm

James 5:16
Confess your sins one to another, and pray for each other, that you may be healed.

4. STRESS

Stress also can pull us down and make us stay down. We don't like stress. We try to ignore it or medicate it. How do you deal with stress?  It's important to manage stress and push through. Don't carry your burdens alone... Jesus is there. Find some trusted friends to pray with and help you. 

Psalm 61:2
When I am overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden,

Psalm 73:21-26
When my soul was embittered, I was like a brute beast before you. Nevertheless, I am continuously with you. You hold me by my right had. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength

God wants us to even yet... RISE... to become what He's made us to be. We can! A Risen Savior lives in us. We can get up and rise up to do great things for God! May He help us... to set good goals and move towards them! To push past disappointments and not stay there. To make wise choices, with our time, focus, and relationships. And to manage stress in a healthy way so we are not held back but move forward.

All is possible with God!

May we rise this Spring and New Year to be at our best for God! He is worthy of our best and our most!

Prayer Requests

-Please pray for this Spring Season for me here...  that in all the areas above, I live wise to even yet become all God has made me to be.

-Please pray for my family in USA this Spring- as weddings plans for my sister are underway. We are excited to have Pastor Mike Martin join the family in June!

-Please pray for my Dad who will have hip replacement surgery this month, that it will be successful. We love him so much!

-Pray for the fundraising I need to do to get to travel home to be with my family for key events.

Please let me know how I can pray for you as well!

Blessings from Ethiopia!

Shifting Gears...

I grew up driving an automatic car. Only once can I remember trying to drive a car when you had to shift gears. It was not a good experience. I couldn't figure it out and about gave myself and everyone in the car whiplash.

In life, we often have to shift gears, don't we? Seasons change. Circumstances come, planned or unplanned... and if we don't shift gears, we won't have enough power or the right speed to make it over and through the terrain we're passing through.

For a long time here in Ethiopia, I've sensed the need to shift gears, to change up some things. I've had millions of things going on and one season has turned into the next and things have piled up.

So for a more healthy life and better rhythm, I need to be intentional and shift gears. It's time to clean things, learn things, write things, do things. But I've known these things couldn't happen without change.

Change is scary. Shifting things. We like our usual pace and our comfortable areas. But God calls us to walk wise and to often live outside of our comfort zone. He might call you to run for a season on a hard trail or through a desert. Or go up a mountain or through a valley. And life in general has all kinds of ups and downs and twists and turns.... and if you don't have your life in the right gear... if your power source is off, and if some things are misaligned, it could be miserable or a dangerous season for you. God can use the various roads in life to make us better, stronger, and often to reach others who might be on the same road.

I remember one year, a gym trainer told me...  "Holly, you've done this same routine for too long. It's too easy for you now. You're too comfortable. Your heart rate isn't going up at all when you do this. You have to change your routine, make it harder. Then you will see muscle strength increase." When this trainer made me run on an incline and changed my program, I almost had a heart attack. My body couldn't handle the change at first. I had thought I was really strong, but I was very wrong. True strength is shown when you're able to change up your speed and the strength required and can still master the routine or road. How spiritually fit are you to run well on ANY road?

Are you strong enough to slow down and be still if God asks you to? That's strength.

Can you continue to hold a position that is painful? That's also strength.

Can you run fast up a hill or make a crazy jump for God if He says to? That's strength.

Can you recover from a devastating hit that you didn't see coming, continuing to stand though hurt and angry... allowing  God to shape you and teach you through that hard tine? That's strength.

Are you able to let go if God says to, to not fight when you want to, at God's command? That's also strength.

If God changes up your path, can you still shift gears and not fall down... mastering and running with the grace and skill God can teach you? That's strength as well.

Is God asking you to shift gears? Has your road changed? Or does it need to?

One great leadership talk I heard recently said... "Most people accept their life, they don't lead their life. To lead your life you have to be intentional."

So, to be intentional in my life, to be more healthy, what do I need to do? What do you need to do?

And when do you shift things, change gears? How do you know when that's even needed?

If you're stumbling, struggling, overwhelmed, or feeling burned out... a shift or change is probably needed. If you're disconnected, isolated, and patterns of unhealthiness are developing.. a shift is needed.

Sometimes life just happens, making you shift. Things like a job change, a relationship beginning or ending, a death in the family, the birth of a child, starting school, finishing school, a new medical condition... all can make you shift gears. Sometime God leads you to shift. And sometimes God just gives wisdom to make the choices you need to make. But shifting gears is so necessary.

graduating from one season to the next.. causes a shift

death can shift gears for you and those you love

Marriage and relationships involves shifting gears...

When and How to Shift

So how can you know if a shift is needed? And what can you do?

1. Evaluate Your Life - We don't like exams or evaluations... but they help us see where we are. How are you doing in all areas... spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally? How is your family, your priorities, your time management, your stress levels? Are you in a good rhythm, pace? Is there peace, joy, good connection with God? Is anything in access? Is there anything you need to do more of? What needs changed, shifted?  Evaluate and see the gaps or areas that might need shifted.

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting..

Psalm 90:12
Teach me to number my days...

2. Pray - Ask God to show you if the road is right, if your run is a good run for Him. Does anything need changed up, moved out, added, deleted, shifted, realigned? He will show you.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will find me when you seek me with all of your heart...

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

3. Then Intentionally Move (clean, cut, save, stop, start)... Make the moves God leads you to make, and trust Him. Follow Him. Do what needs done. Do what He says. And keep accountable to the changes made.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous...

Psalm 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you...

John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled...

Zechariah 4:6
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.

Hebrews 12:1-2
...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus...

Hebrews 10:39
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but who believe and are saved.

4. Then Evaluate Again- keep evaluating and checking your life and if your gears are right. Ask God to help you so your life stays maximized!  We often don't follow a plan for long enough for change to take place. Or we don't evaluate enough and can quickly go down a wrong road or fall into old pattern. Find good accountability with others. Have others pray for you and with you. We're better together!

I have many gear shifts I'm trying to make this spring and New Year- 2019.

Two big ones are... Amharic (language) learning and book writing. Please pray for those.  I started full time Amharic classes a few weeks ago and I'm thrilled to make this long overdue intentional move.

Amharic... language learning

I'm also creating space to finish a writing a book I started long ago. May God help me maximize the time and focus to get those mastered and done.  To get these added in, I had to cut some teaching hours and change my program. That was hard but necessary and intentional... it was a needed gear shift!

Please keep me in prayer also as I live intentionally to maximize my days here.... making the most of each day and investing wisely in the lives of those here.  I'm so honored to get to share life with so many here!

My family is also gear shifting. Most of you probably have heard or seen, NOEL GARRETT, my sister, is getting married this year!!!! Oh my goodness. Our small family of four and one small dog will be adding one. :-) Pray for that.  I'm thrilled to be gaining a brother in law and that my sister has been blessed with a friend and partner for God on life's road. Welcome to the Garrett Tribe-  Mike Martin. I will travel home in June to be part of these two live joining. So wonderful!

Mike and Noel ... two becoming one... June 2019 :-)

May we live well, love well, and shift gears well in honor of our God. 

May our lives be a blessing and not a curse!

May we live intentionally and wisely for God. May we shift gears and have wisdom to honor God in all areas!

Blessings to you and let me know how I can pray for you!  Grateful for each of you!

Here Comes the Bride,... A Busy but Blessed Beginning to 2019...

Landing back in Ethiopia in early January, I knew it was going to be a busy month.

I had my shoe laces tied and whispered a prayer on landing... knowing it was to going to be a sprint through January

God would have to help in a big way....

And guess what, He DID!

Day before leaving USA ... in the gym, preparing to jump

Looking back, it's only with God's help that I'm still breathing and smiling this early February weekend.

Here are some highlights from a busy but blessed January...

First came Ethiopia's Christmas on January 7th. On my return, this wonderful holiday arrived, but I was hit almost immediately with a bad cold and just overall not feeling well.  I did travel to the home of the Kenna family and had a wonderful time with them as always.  But I fought big illness the first ten days or so back in Ethiopia...  so difficult.

I almost immediately also was overwhelmed with work. I had my semester at Hope to finish. Which included not just collecting huge stacks of homework and working through them...but also final exams...and grading through those exam stacks as well and final grading... At Hope it was about 120 students that I had to do grading for. I was literally buried in admin. But finally, this past week, I turned in those grades. God helped me!

Then I did teach an Intensive two week class at ETC (the Evangelical Theological College) in January. This class was 26 students and I had class every evening for three hours for two weeks. Intensives are so hard but God helped as I taught Intro to Youth Ministry. I was blessed by these students and their eagerness to reach youth through their churches.

I also started three new classes at ETC in the past two weeks. One being Cross Cultural Communication. Another- Communicating the Gospel to Adolescents (Teens). And a new course I've never taught before- Health and Sports in the Church. I was super excited to teach the Health Sports course because I can use my background in sports and as a personal trainer. The class is between 50-60 students. Please keep these new classes in prayer... may God make us strong as His body and His church in the world!

Class One... stretching... :-)

And a huge and much anticipated event happened in January also. A big beautiful wedding occurred for Hilina Hailu, one of my former students, who was also a long time Bible study/family member and friend, ...she married Peniel Yohannes, an outstanding guy.

I remember when Hilina first met Peniel, we call him "P", her now husband. I remember the dating years and all the ups and downs through that. And I was there when he proposed to her... one of the most touching events I've ever seen...

Then came the events before and after the wedding and the wedding itself.... no words for the overall experience!  It was an honor for me to be a bridesmaid and to help usher my beautiful sister into this new season of her life.  Here in Ethiopia, a wedding program is not fast and the events before and after... also very cultural and very long, from a western perspective.

First came the meeting of the elders. This was last year... when the elders of both families.. met. And a formal proposal of marriage was asked and made by one family to the other. I was there. And what a day :)

Hilina and P's Dads agreeing

Then came the months of dress shopping and the detail planning prior to the wedding. I had some of my best girls to experience that with... Shali, Hidi, Tihut, and Redi.

Then came the bridal shower the week before the wedding. Some of the lovely ladies in Hilina's life gathered and we ate food and laughed at memories of Hilina and celebrated her with congratulation wishes and prayers.

Then came the actual wedding event. That started the night before and into the day of .

Most of you who know me know I'm not typically a girlie girl... hair, makeup, nails... have never been too much a part of what I think through. So for me, to get long nails of various colors painted and put on, to get eyelashes added and eyebrows waxed, etc, to wear a long pink dress for a very long day, for me it was almost comical. And at the same time uncomfortable. Ha ha. But God helped me.

The day of the wedding, after an early trip to the salon....we were at Hilina's house for hours to take pictures.  It seemed the whole community came to her house to get pictures with the bride.

Then Peniel came and the groomsmen arrived and more pictures were taken.

Then came the church program ... where vows were repeated and rings exchanged. That was beautiful.

Then came the reception program, which was dancing and cake and dancing and food, for hours. The wedding party was center stage as we participated with the bride and groom as everyone watched and cheered. It felt like an entire gym workout, except in a long form-fitting dress, ha ha ha.

Then we were there at a hotel later when Hilina received a new family name from P's family... another cultural part of Ethiopian wedding ceremonies.

Then... we weren't done. Two more events followed. A few days after the wedding came Meles... where Hilina's family hosted a party for the new couple. Hilina and P came wearing traditional clothes, they looked like a king and queen. We were also in traditional clothes. Songs and prayers and food were shared. Then one week later, P's family hosted Kelekel .. where the families gathered again and got to know each other and parents said a final blessing over the new couple.

What a huge cultural experience for me and a blessing to be part of! I was so honored again to be part of the story of these two lives and families joining. May God continue to bless Hilina and Peniel as they continue their life together...

God also in the midst of all the busyness, helped my new work permit and residence visa process... not an easy thing here, so I thank God for that as well!

And we celebrated my great, handsome, amazing Dad's b-day on January 23 as well. So so thankful for my Dad.... his life, his example, his love

So now, as  I sit here on this early February morning, I'm exhaling and saying a big big thanks to God for helping with all the activities of this past month.

I feel like I can now focus on the new year and new goals. I will share more in the coming days.

How was your January? Maybe you were busy, like me. Maybe life held transitions and you didn't do good in those or maybe you did. Maybe God is asking you to still hold in a position of hardship.

Wherever you are, remember God is with you. He has a plan. And He can hold you, lead you, and even yet- help you become all He's made you to be.

May this new year honor Him!

I think with sickness this past month and all these big life events, it's made me realize even more the need to maximize days and time. To embrace life and the seasons were given. Life is short and it speeds by. May we live well, love well, and learn well for our God. What an honor it is to be part of His family, His work, and His plan.

May we enjoy our life with Him and keep perspective and keep hopeful.. as the kids here in Ethiopia often remind me when they smile.

Blessings from here. Thank you so much for your prayers! and please let me know how I can pray for you as well!

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed... but who believe and are saved...
Hebrews 10:39