On the Way "Up"...

When I lived in Kenya last year, I had the unique opportunity to climb my first real “mountain.” Our church community, Inn Keepers Fellowship, had planned the outing. It was described as a Saturday afternoon “hike” together. I didn’t realize it was actually a good-sized mountain we were tackling- Mt. Longonot.

Mount Longonot – a dormant volcano, is 2,776 meters above sea level, and is located only 100kms from Nairobi.

We were told on the way- it would be about an hour straight up. Then about three hours around the rim (there was a volcanic crater at the top), then 45 minutes to an hour back down.

No problem I thought as I climbed from our van. I was in shape, so I thought. As we stretched…we were preparing mentally and physically.

some of our summer interns...getting stretched for the big "hike"

This mountain “hike” would humble me.  I didn't know the crater at the top looked like this...

I kept pace with two of the front-running ladies- Nicole (who we called Commando Ponton) and Molly Ray- a cross country runner. I tried not to huff and puff, but wow- I was winded.

The way up was so challenging. Even around the “rim”- there were ups and downs and crevices you had to slide through. I wouldn’t have made it without Nicole and Molly, my tough teammates.

trying to keep up with Nicole and Molly

The views were breathtaking...

And the feeling at the end of great accomplishment- as we enjoyed roasted goat and lamb over an open fire- could not be beat. 

Final stretch before feasting

meat- the lunch of champions

All of this mountain climbing stuff came to mind again last Friday- when I visited our campus Christian student-led fellowship. I was humbled to ask to speak to them and was blessed by their testimonies, worship and stories.

student leaders welcoming new freshmen

speaking to new students

The group had recently climbed a “mountain” outside of Addis. They made some powerful points about their climb that stuck with me.

They were…ON THE MOVE...GOING UP

Shouldn’t we also be continuing to grow and mature to reach our full potential as we travel through this life? Shouldn't we be moving, active, present in the hard places?  Should we be maturing- growing up in our relationship with God?

What can be said of your recent growth or movement?  Have you stalled, stopped to rest and not gotten back up? Have you been sliding down rather than going up?

The way up is often painful and not easy.  But, what God has been showing me is no pain, no gain.  Muscle is built in moving forward, increasing the difficulty, not getting lax.

May our lives be characterized as being changed into the likeness of our God with ever-increasing glory.  May we be pressing closer to now Him more and obediently doing and being what He calls us to do/be. Nothing is greater than seeing God take you to the top of the mountain or seeing His ability to get you through an impossible tight spot.  He is able!!!

2 Corinthians 3:18
We...who reflect the Lord's glory...are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory

James 1:4

 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...

Jude 1:20-25

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…

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

They were…HELPING EACH OTHER

The video these students showed made me laugh.  But it was so obvious- they were helping each other on the way up...shouting encouraging words and making encouraging noises. They were pulling each other up the steep areas.  Can the same be said of us? Often we help ourselves on the way up.  But forget to lend a hand or our heart to others.

when you're climbing together, traveling together, it makes all the difference

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up

Galatians 6:2

Carry each others' burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 14:1

Accept the one whose faith is weak…

1 Peter 3:8

…be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble

They were also…ENJOYING FELLOWSHIP/COMMUNITY

This group showed video of them eating a meal together.  They were laughing and enjoying community with each other. What a blessing it is to share in each others' lives.  In isolation and loneliness is not how God intended for us to live.  We need to stick together- in work and in life.  We need each other.

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building

Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people

Psalm 133:1

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

life in community...

They were…WORSHIPING

This group was worshiping on the journey.  God deserves our worship. I was touched to see them worshiping on the mountain, singing songs of praise. Worshiping is giving worth to something...with your time, money, focus.  What or who is the focus of your worship?  May we remember to worship and love our great God! He is worthy!

Psalm 29:2

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;…

John 4:24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

 Others Were JOINING Them...

This group also shared how others had been joining with them on the journey. Their climb and their love for each other had been appealing to those observing.  Could the same be said of our churches and fellowship communities?

…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Acts 2:47

May our way "up" be pleasing to our God.  May our lives and climb attract others to the same narrow path. No way is greater or more exciting than this journey "up" together on the road to home.

Onward with you!

Prayer Requests

-Continue to pray for the full recovery of Chale, the wife of my good friend and former teammate- Debelle. Your prayers have seen her through many days and she is now stable and continues to improve. She is still in the hospital.  But we give thanks for her life and the good diagnosis given!

-Continue to pray for the my Dad's recovery from back surgery. He is still having some pain in his leg. 

-Keep my sister Noel (in the Czech Republic) in your prayers.  She is finishing up her schedule before the holidays and heads home for Christmas in one week.  Pray God gives her a good finale for the 2012 year and a time of refreshment and rest as she visits our parents and home church for a few weeks over Christmas and New Years. 

My sister-Noel in Czech...cooking for Thanksgiving

 -For my own "Christmas plans"- I still have not booked tickets home yet and need prayer on if God wants me to do that now or wait.  Our semester here continues until the end of February- so if I come out for Christmas- it would have to be for short time.  Though I feel like I definitely need a break and would love to see my family together during this time.  Please again pray good wise direction from God in the coming days. 

-Also please pray for me about what is "after" this semester- I desire God's perfect plan for me. I'd like to come stateside for awhile and rest and hopefully get my book published- may God give clear direction and open doors for what His perfect will is.

-Please pray for our staff and students here as classes continue. We have a field trip with 40 sophomores this Friday out of Addis for the day.  Please pray safety and a good trip.  My co-worker from Holland has been sick several days now, please pray that she feels better.

-Please pray for my book, that I can get the first draft completed soon and get it published in the next year.

Thank you for your prayers! I'm honored to be climbing up to home with you!  

Blessed December to you and your families as we remember the greatest gift ever given!

When the Lion Roars

Have you ever seen a “lion?” I’m not talking about one that is stuffed and sits on your bed or one behind the bars of a cage at your local zoo. Nor I’m talking about a little Simba. I’m talking about “Mufasa”- a king of his area- out in the wild in his own territory?

   

Last year, I had the unique and wonderful experience to on a REAL safari. Yep, it was a real one and a big one to the Maasai Game Park in Kenya. My travel mates and fellow adventurers- were Dr. Magdy and his wife- Maureen, and their good friend-Jim. We were excited. This was the kind of thing most had only read about in books or watched on Natural Geographic. We were living the dream!

 I loved it from the beginning. The early morning rise times, the land rovers speeding out over what looked like untouched lands, the beauty of the sun and open grasslands…it was stunning. And I felt like I was in a movie.

I loved seeing the elephants walking lazily swinging their trunks.

I loved the giraffes almost strutting with their gentle grace.

I loved the huge hippos just chilling on the river’s edge…looking like big pieces of blubber.

Amazing too was to see the zebras, cheetahs, buffalo, monkeys, flamingos, crocodiles, and other animals in the "wild."

But what terrified me and intrigued me at the same time were the lions.

One of the first nights on the Mara in a pouring rain storm- I glimpsed these magnificent cats tearing a cow to shreds.

Gulp. Our land rover seemed too small a barrier for these huge animals having dinner. I cowered in my seat. Could this be real?

A few days later…we saw some “simbas.” Now they were cute. But their Mommas were intimidating.

But everyone really wanted to secretly get a glimpse of a Big Daddy, A King. Those big guys were rare to see.

But, one afternoon…we got lucky. About four land rovers surrounded some tall grass and trees and our guide whispered… there’s a big “daddy” in there. We waited and hoped for at least a glimpse. I was too scared to lift my head out of the top of our vehicle, fearing the big guy would jump on us or something. I was content to just look out the window. Well, I remember in an amazing moment, this big daddy lion lifted his huge head and I looked right into his big face and snapped this picture.

I collapsed back in my seat in stunned wonder. I had just seen a “King.” Wow.

And I could only imagine how terrifying and commanding his roar would be. I would never want to mess with him.

All of these lion memories came to mind this past week for me. It began when I noticed lion statues everywhere. There’s a deep historical tie between Ethiopia and Israel- and the tribe of Judah.

Then a big disturbance happened this past week on our campus that brought the lions into focus. For the first time since I’ve been teaching here…I saw clear religious division and disunity at one of our school events and I was deeply disturbed.

One student came to me later and said…don’t be upset teacher. It was hard for me to explain to her what I was feeling. I felt like a lion was stirring deep inside and he was about to roar. The irritation felt from deep in me and stronger than me. It felt like God was upset.

Our King, Jesus, is described many ways. But culture has tended to paint him as a little forenj, a porcelain white baby who only brings peace and goodness to all. But Jesus is a King, more royal than any lion, and more powerful. Listen to how He is described …

Revelation 5:4-5

….no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll…”

Revelation 19:11-16

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns…His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords….

Yes, we have a merciful high priest who took the form of a lamb- becoming the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind’s sins once and for all. The strength and restraint He showed in that ultimate act is stunning. The Lion of Judah, the all-powerful Son of God, allowed himself to enter into the creation He had made, the creator becoming part of the created. He allowed himself to be confined to human skin- to a dying body in a decaying and dying planet. All- so His Father’s will would be accomplished. This Lion became the Lamb of God. This act would forever defeat death. And this King is our King. He stood and stands against injustice, pride, religious piosy, greed, apathy. And His roar can shake the heavens, crumble the earth. And this King, this Lion of Judah, has our “backs.” And calls us to also stand for truth and justice.

We’re part of a kingdom. Can people tell that of your life? That you’re under the authority of a King? That you’re a steward/a manager on planet earth- and that your king is returning soon?

May we take a stand and speak up as lead by our King. I believe God will strategically place us to speak and stand in the face of wrong.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Psalm 9:7-8, 16

The Lord reigns forever…He will govern the people with justice. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord is known by His justice…

Psalm 106:3

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.

Micah 6:8

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

I remember one time I was asked to do the devotion for a Christian High School chapel time. I had prepared a word of encouragement for them. As I sat in their audience during their praise and worship time- I saw many not involved or doing other things. There was apathy, a ton of it, and a lack of respect. I felt the lion beginning to stir in me. When I got up to speak- let’s just say- what came out was more like a roar. God talked through me that day. I left in a hurry…convinced I would never be asked to speak there again. And the one of the administrators called me later and said- Holly- what you said is what needed said. Thank you so much.

Here in Ethiopia, there are many to mention- who I believe reflect the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. My former co-worker, Debelle, being one. This gentle soul is one of the kindest and most pure in heart and faith I’ve ever met. But against injustice, bad management, the Lion in him, the Spirit of the Most High God, roars.

Debelle and his family

I think of recent events in this dear brother’s life- when he’s hand to stand against injustice and he’s made the hard call. Even when his wife has fallen ill in recent days, like a lion watching over his pride, his family- he has not waivered in doing the right thing and the most that he can do, while still honoring God with his words and faith.

Debelle watching over his wife, Chale, still in the hospital

I think of another former teammate, Abrahm. He also to me reflects the Lion. He has no patience for injustice and speaks against it with boldness and wisdom of someone much older than his years.

These two “greats” I can see God clearly reflected in.

As we continue on the road of life, we will definitely see injustice. We will see many things that God does not like. May God position us to represent Him and speak and stand and let him roar truth as needed. May God give us his discernment and favor as we continue on the journey home.

Praying this for you as you pray for me.

Onward….

Prayer Requests

-Please keep my Dad’s back surgery-recovery in prayer. He still has to wear a brace for a few more weeks and continues to have some pain in his leg.

-Please keep my Mom and Sister also in prayer, for good health.

-Please pray for our staff and students here. Last week seemed to bring out religious divisions. Pray our “Lion” will roar His truth.

-Please keep my dear friend Debelle’s wife- Chale in prayer. She continues to battle for her life and as of today, is stable.

-Please pray for God’s plan for me in possibly coming stateside for Christmas and that things would be provided for and covered in that.

-Please pray for the draft of my book as I continue to write, that God will help me finish 

-Please pray for my way ahead, that God will maximize me for his Kingdom

 

"Under Construction"

Most weekends here I try to travel to different parts of this 300 mile wide city…described by one travel book as a city that “wrestles between being a cosmopolitan center and an overgrown jumble of villages." It can be madness to meander through- but fascinating.

But traveling through Addis to others parts of the city is often worth it.  A change of scenery plus in exploring various outdoor cafes over the past year- I’ve found a few favorite places where I can write and reflect and work on my book under the warm African sun.

This past weekend as I headed towards the other side of the city as I often do, I immediately noticed traffic seemed to be at a standstill.  Cars, taxis, buses, were just sitting there, many blowing their horns. “Jams” are common here in Addis- so you always need to be prepared to walk a little.  Which I usually prefer overall anyway.   I jumped out of the taxi I was in and was hoping to walk myself out of the mess.  But the problem I soon discovered was the road was UNDER CONSTRUCTION most of the way to where I was going.
 

It was amazing how construction had cut off whole roads where usual traffic thrived.  Even businesses and once bustling cafes sat empty now and some had closed entirely. As I carried my bag through the dusty roads for almost two hours to my destination on the other side of the city- I observed all the construction and its effects.

There were big pieces of equipment, odds and ends, lying around.  Even workers were sleeping under trees. This construction was effecting everything.

In some places, you could tell the design of what that part of the road would become.

But in most places it mainly looked a wreck and unfinished.

Couldn’t that often be said of our lives?

I began thinking about how messy life is and really the world is overall. It has brokenness everywhere. Even the places or lives that look nice and clean- often you find have the biggest pollution of all running just beneath the surface.  Quick fixes or cover-up doesn’t hide for long the sin or brokenness there.

The amazing thing to me about God is that when we chose to go our own way instead of His and sin came into the world, God could have put a big stamp of  forever condemned on planet earth.  Uninhabitable.  Set for demolition.  And that would have been that.  But He chose instead to offer new life, redemption!

Romans 8:1-3

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death 

Isaiah 49:8
This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances…

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!

And if we accept this undeserved gift- His work begins and continues in each of us…we’re under His “construction”-.  He’s shaping us back into our original design and for a  purpose often bigger and greater than we could ever imagine.

1 Corinthians 2:9
“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him"

Galatians 4:4-6
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to "son-ship."  Because you are His children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father”

Sometimes we look at each other and all we see is the mess, the disorder. We see the gaps.  And wow, we’re quick to call out the speck in someone else's eye without notice the plank sticking out of our own.

Matthew 7:4
 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Instead of seeing the potential in others, the places where God is or can work in a life to refine, restore, renew and rebuild; we stamp out the possibility of God’s power in a person’s life.

We give up on others or even ourselves. We think...we’re too messed up...the sin is too big...too strong. The sickness, the addiction, the disease is too big to cure or remedy.  But we forget God’s bigness.

Psalm 147:2-3
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

I think it’s so interesting too how God works in us and through us while we’re still "under construction."  For a long time I used to and I still often struggle with making bold moves for God because I feel like I’m not “ready.” I need to get more organized or disciplined or pray more to do that God. I’m not ready. But if God says go, do, speak,…we can trust Him to back us.  In our weakness, He is strong.  We will never be fully complete and our construction finished until we leave here and return back to God. But He’s given us His mission to continue, His kingdom to help usher in. And even in our brokenness that is still under repair- He can use us in mighty ways to partner with Him to finish what needs done, to go where the gospel needs to go; to speak what truth needs spoken.

Romans 8:26

the Spirit helps us in our weakness...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong

Our lives should prepare the way, should pave the way, for people to connect with God.  Our lives should point to our King  and that we’re part of a kingdom. There is a reverence and humility that others should pick up on.

I had my students this past week share in class about three things they were grateful for and why.  I was so touched because so many of them first gave thanks to God- for sustaining them, loving them, being with them.  We also talked about various quotes on being thankful, etc.

 One quote shared was:

“On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge our dependence.” – Williams Jennings Bryan.

We are DEPENDENT on God. We might not realize it or like to admit it- but we are. He sustains our life, our planet, our galaxy, our universe. We need Him. We need a Savior. We need His Word, His guidance.  His Spirit with us. I’m so grateful He’s offered us the greatest gift, Himself.

For some reason, my mind also drifted to Mother Teresa when I was walking.  For many people, this little lady from Macedonia exemplified a modern day life of someone who showed the love of God and the compassion of Jesus tangibly.   But many were shocked when it was revealed later through her writing- that during most of her later years- she was in a dark season of the soul and almost a crisis of faith.  BUT- she made herself available to God and the world was changed-marked by this humble servant. Even as she was “under construction,” God used her to rebuild, restore, and touch the brokenness in others and offer healing, compassion and the love of God.

May we remember we’re works in progress. We’re buildings under design, renovation, restoration. But we able, while still under construction, to do great things because of God's Spirit living in us.

1 Peter 2:5

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ 

2 Corinthians 4:7-8, 16

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

May we celebrate that. And encourage God’s construction work in others as well.
 
When I see street kids here in Addis, over 100,000 are said to live on the streets, it’s easy to quickly guard your purse or bag.  You see desperation and great need and you feel the need to run.  Many stay away from these. But “these” are whom God invites to the table and who He tells us to include as well.

Matthew 22:8-10

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 25:40

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me 
 
May we see God’s work underway in our world and in the lives of others, then pull up our sleeves and join in. And may we submit ourselves to His work in us and allow Him to use us even while we’re under construction ourselves. 

No joy is greater than being in part of His work!

Onward with you!

Prayer Requests
-Please keep my good friend and former co-worker, Debelle, and his family in prayer. His wife is still struggling to recover from surgery.

-Please keep our  students and staff here in prayer.  
-Please keep my Dad's recovery from back surgery in pryer too, he is doing great and we give thanks!

-Please continue to pray for many still seeking work, that God will open up doors and that hearts will stay encouraged.

-Please pray for the draft of my book, that I will continue to have time to write.

-Please pray for those needing work visas, visas out of Ethiopia, etc, that God will provide and His perfect will be done.

-Pray for me as I try to plan my "break time" in the USA- that I can get home for Christmas as God allows.

-Please keep Ethiopia and its leadership in prayer, as new leadership arises- that it may be blessed and favored by God.

Blessings to you!