Faith to Rise

I've been thinking about life's "race" these past weeks.  

There have been such great seasons and memories on life's run so far. There has been laughter.  Growth.  Deep friendships and global family that I can't imagine life without. There have been breathtaking views of God and His creation.  There have been moments when God did what I couldn't do. He helped me. He fought for me. He taught me. He held me.  While running, I've felt His hand in mine. He has helped me to stand on heights and to run with courage. In my weakness, He's proven strong!  I'm so grateful for Him with me!

Sometimes life's run has also been VERY hard.  You go up hills that are too steep. Paths suddenly become dark. There are deserts and valleys that bring fatigue, loss and sorrow.  There are times when I have felt very alone. There have been times when I've tripped and have fallen hard.  Some of my biggest falls have been my own fault.  You can go down a wrong path.  You can be unwise with your heart. You can get pushed by those you thought were with you.  Sometimes those closest to you can bring the biggest disappointment and pain.  Sin in yourself or in the people you know might show itself and the sight of it can be so disturbing that you fall in shock.  When you fall down from these hard times and seasons, how can you get up?  How can you have faith to rise and keep going?

The past weeks of "the race and running" here in Ethiopia so far in 2026 has held so many blessings. Water at long last has been "fixed" at my compound. It's ON after over a year of almost nothing. I really have no words for how much of a difference that has made in life here.  A smile comes to my face still when the water flows.  Am I living a dream? :-)

For over a year, filling these saved my life

At EvaSUE- nine of our ten regions successfully hosted events for students the past month, serving thousands around the country. What a huge blessing for me to continue running with this humble and impactful EvaSUE team of brothers and sisters in Christ!  One highlight for me was giving a "Youth Culture" training at one of our Addis regional events.  I felt God's Spirit throughout this seminar and saw on students faces the stirring of Him in them.  What a blessing!

Youth Culture Seminar - One of the three days at Central 1 Leadership Summit 

I also had the privilege last week to travel to Zeway, two hours south of Addis, to give training for over 50 youth at a church.  I taught on Discipleship, SHAPE and Youth Culture.  I again felt God with me and was so honored for this opportunity.  A boat ride on a nearby lake while there refreshed me. As the boat sped along the water and hippos popped their heads up - I felt like nothing was impossible for our big God!

Hippo in the water

Last week, a big group of EvaSUE staff worked on a curriculum draft that will be used for years to come.  What an honor to be part of this time!

EvaSUE Curriculum Writing workshop

At the end of last week, my work permit cleared the Labor Office, in record time. I felt quite a bit dazed as my EvaSUE teammate and I left the Labor office location. WHAT had just happened? How did I have a work permit in my hand in less than two hours when in years past it had taken days and even weeks. God is good!

All of these blessings were just some of the highlights of these past weeks here, but there was also a big shock back in my home area of Ohio that also brought hard days and hard running. News came of a death that brought horror, it hit my church and so many that I know, many of you probably reading this were impacted. How could this happen? You just wanted to stop, fall down, and have a hard cry.  That shouldn't have happened.  But it does on life's run. Sin is still there.  If unchecked and hidden, it can ruin and is still ruining lives. It's devastating. Lord have mercy!

What gives us faith to rise up and continue, when sadness and sorrow and tragedy overwhelms?  How can we continue? Why should we?  

God keeps bringing Hebrews 12: 1-3 to my mind.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God's been reminding me that ...

We have a cloud of witnesses. All of those listed in Hebrews 11 and so many others have already run life's race and finished well for Jesus. They are witnesses for us. None were perfect, but they stayed faithful!  They kept going! So can we! And Jesus is our supreme example! 

-We must keep throwing off what trips us up and the sin that can entangle us. Very easily we can fall or go the wrong way.   We have to be intentional to check our lives often. How is my run looking? How is yours?  We have to stay vigilant.  We have to also stay in community to check each other.  God's Spirit is there to help us, teach us, convict us, comfort us, and give us guidance and boldness. We have armor to put on and to fight with as Satan tries to hit us.  We can run a good race and finish!  Is anything in your way now, making you stumble? Throw it off quickly!

-We must fix our eyes on Jesus and keep our eyes on Him. Our run is to Him and for Him.  He's our Good Shepherd. When we keep our eyes on Him, He shows us the way. In our weakness, He gives us His strength. He carries us if needed. We are not alone ever!  Our gaze must stay FIXED on Him.  Is He who you are looking at and living for?  Is He what and who you're seeking more than anything or anyone else?  We have to check our eyes and our hearts.  How can we keep focused on Jesus?  We have to make time to BE with Him.  Prayer, worship, Bible study, serving, witnessing.  Listening to Him, obeying what He says. He is with us.  He's a good leader, the best, He can be trusted! He can lead us home and help us run a good race!  Are your eyes fixed on Him?

-If we feel discouraged, we can be encouraged as we "consider Him" (Jesus)  and all He went through to give us life and the chance to know Him, love Him, represent Him, and be with Him forever.  This can give us courage and faith to rise!  What love He had for us to give us everything so we could live! He believes in us!

Why keep running? It's for Jesus! To live is Christ, to die is gain.  People are watching our lives. They need to see us get up and keep running. Jesus Himself is our reward!  Our Savior and King awaits!  We can't take anything to heaven with us except people.  Let's show the world our King is worth running for and towards!

Wherever God places us and however long He gives us, may we run the race well and may we all one day hear Him say- "Well done good and faithful servant!"  And may we also be able to say, " I have  fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!"

Please pray this for me. May we all have faith to rise and keep running!

Prayer Requests

-Please pray my residence ID clears immigration this coming week, for a smooth and easy process.  God can do it again!

-EvaSUE is busy this month, we are listening to God for our new annual theme and book from the Bible that will be our focus of study- please pray God leads us.  We will continue working on the curriculum draft for students. And we have a Regional Coordinator Consultation meeting at the end of March.  Pray for God to lead us. 

-Pray for Tipp City and the church and community impacted by a great loss. May God help all get up and keep running. Ashley is now part of the "great cloud of witnesses"! I look forward to meeting her in heaven one day!

-Please join me in wishing my amazing parents, Jim and Rosie, a very blessed anniversary on March 26th. They are the very best!  They are heroes of faith for me and so many of us!  We love you!

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom on March 26th!

Many are fasting here for the countdown to Easter- may this time of repentance and reflection bring deep devotion and renewed commitments to follow Jesus.  May many awaken to the truth of who He is!

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnership!

If you'd like to give to the work here, you can do so through this link below:

 https://www.globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/holly-garrett         

Thank you again and may God bless the month of March for you and this countdown to Easter.

May God give us all faith to rise and courage to keep running the race!