Ethiopia: Round Two

Journal Entry:

Day 7: October 6, 2017

I am often asked, “So, what’s it like in Ethiopia?” “Can you tell me about Ethiopia?” “Do you like it over there?”. Or I’m asked to describe it. Impossible. Well, almost. How do you explain a place you love so much, yet in a realistic light? Yes, I love Ethiopia. It is a great place?  Who’s asking? From what aspect? And what is your definition of great? Haha! I will attempt to tell you about Ethiopia in this post. The real Ethiopia. Here is my journal entry from day seven:

This is a strange place. Here it is the people that are confined within walls; not the animals. The walls are meant to keep people and things out, but it is still a bit foreign to me.

Right now, I am sitting outside watching those passing by. A young woman trails behind four donkeys carrying her load; probably water. It is not as easy as turning on a faucet for some people here. The little things we take for granted… When I arrived home last time and washed my hands, I let the water run a bit longer through my fingers as I stood in awe of how easy we have it in America. It is always available, on command. Never do we say “Wooha Yellum!” (Water gone) in America, but here, it is not so uncommon! “What a little thing,” we think! But ah! Tis’ no little blessing! 

A small child, maybe two years of age, wanders down the cobblestone street taking in his surroundings. A man, whom I assume to be this child’s father, calls out to me (“Americano!”) as he relieves himself across the street. He feels no shame. The last trip, I saw a man bathing in the sewer water on the side of the main highway. What is normal here, can cause one to turn away in shame and embarrassment.

Trash lines the streets, filling the air with a polluted aroma of soured food, soiled clothes and who knows what. The foul scent of trash mountain lingers over Addis Ababa, within every whiff you take. Over time, the smell seems to lessen, though it is only you becoming numb and used to it. Back in March of this year, there was a “landslide” on trash mountain. Many people died. How? The people lived on trash mountain, surviving off of the waste they found each day. Their houses made from/in the rubbish collapsed on top of them, burying them alive. Now, what was it you hate about your home? What was it you are discontent with?

The house at the end of the road looks to be made of mud and tin. Huge improvements have been made to the restaurant/bar beside it since my last visit. The walls and roof are no longer made of sticks and tarp. The walls look to be made from mud or paper-maché, or both. The roof is now a mixture of tin and tarp. And we complain about having a small house, or having to share a room with a sibling, or not enough lighting to do our makeup and hair… How shameful! The last trip, I visited a mud house with two rooms; a kitchen and a bedroom. The bathroom was out back. Three people; one mother, two daughters. One light bulb, two windows, one double bed. Now, tell me again, what was it you were complaining about?

Yes, Ethiopia is a strange, filthy, poor, and even sad, place. And I hesitate to tell you some of these things, but this is the real Ethiopia! Yet, I still love it! But, why? The Lord has done so much for me here. Not only because of the place but the things the Lord worked in me while I was here. The things He taught and showed me here. I left a huge chunk of myself here last time. I felt like I had shed my skin and started anew once I went home. I feel like a new person. Maybe I am. I sure hope so! I know a lot has changed in me since two years ago. Oh goodness, “bazoo” (many) things!

The place has also changed me. For maybe the first time, I saw people as an ocean of lost souls in need of a Savior, instead of simply a crowd of people. Sure, I have known this all my life, but living in the south where “everyone” knows Jesus and is a “Christian”, it is hard to see them as lost when many of them know the truth but simply don’t yield to it. These people? They live in confusion like I’ve never seen before. They have the gospel laid in front of them, but it is twisted in such a way that makes it difficult to untangle and explain even that simple truth and the gift of God. My heart aches for them. The people showed me what lost truly is. Yes, I was just as lost as they before accepting the salvation of the Lord; but I had the truth handed to me on a silver platter from the time of my birth!

Though I learned many lessons on my last trip, there is still much my Father continues to show me this time around! I’ve come to think of Addis Ababa as my restart button. Last time I stayed, I desperately needed to get away, think, pray, and go back home with a clean slate! The Lord graciously worked it out! This time, I feel as if I am here to remember what is truly important. To prepare for whatever the Lord has next for me, whatever that may be. I am remembering what the Lord did for me back two years ago, and also, how He continues to bless me! My Father is reminding me of His proper place in my life! No matter how high I set Him in my heart and life, if He is not my first priority, I am failing as a Christian. Failing as His child. In all honestly, I have been struggling in this area as of late. Not that He hasn’t been important in my life or even in my heart, it is not that at all! However, many things have been going on in my life these past few months, and I have caught myself distracted from my true purpose on various occasions. Please tell me I am not the only Christian with this weakness!

Having all of this in mind, I also wonder how God could even let me be involved in any purpose He has! Why ask anything of me? I am weak! I am insignificant! I am not important, talented, or useful!  “I know. But I Am. My strength will be shown through your weakness. You will be made useful by My talented hands. You will be made important because I am important and I will make you significant by association.”, my Father gently says to me. How great is our God? Too great to be described in words! He is all good! O how I love Him! My Savior, my Friend!

So, what is our purpose? There are lost people even in America, but I had become blind to it. Numb to the calling of God. Maybe you have too. Not called, you say? God placed us where we are for a purpose. Do you truly think that purpose is to grow up, get married, have kids, go to church, go to the store, go to work, and die of old age? Really??? That is not all there is to this life! I’m sorry, but I don’t believe God gets glory just from us not doing wrong. Yes, we can and should live, and not do wrong, but one thing the Lord has been showing me lately is this: Not doing wrong is good, but are you doing right? Living righteously does not consist of only what action we do not take, but also of what action we do take! The Lord gave me this revelation as I watched the Ethiopian people.

So why is Ethiopia special to me? Memories of a tedious growth in the Lord. The patience the Lord gave me through that time of uncertainty, seeking clarity and truth, trying to find where I stood, and hoping to finally set my feet on solid, steady ground. The guiding hand of God so near it was almost tangible for the first time in years! Though the change in my heart did not start in Ethiopia (it started months before), it helped me to solidify and steady myself in my commitments and in my beliefs! He worked on my heart, softening it towards people and towards Him. He placed my beliefs in front of me, and asked me “why?”, changing and strengthening them into what He would have them to be. Ethiopia did not change me. But it was definitely a huge tool the Lord used as He changed me and worked on my heart! That is why I love Ethiopia. My restart button. A mighty tool in the hand of my God. And as He continues to work on me, I am so thankful for a round two in Addis Ababa!

The Beauty in the Storm

    I felt led to write this post, not knowing where to start, or what to write or where it would all lead. Simply, start and hope for the best! Lol! So be prepared for some scattered thoughts, and please bear with me! It's been a while! Sorry about that, but life has been busy and when I have had time, I simply haven't been motivated to write publicly! Believe me, I have probably written enough to compile into a book (or two!), but none of which would have been a good blog post! Anyways,... on to the post at hand! Hope you enjoy it! :)

Photo Creds go to Jed

    We all go through struggles. Some seem to struggle more than others, but we all have our battles whether big or small, physical, or spiritual. I have had my own set of struggles through this life, but I can also say, the Lord has carried me through each and every one of them with grace! I know He will continue to guide me through the things I am struggling with today!

     Many people around me have been facing tremendous struggles, and the Lord has laid a burden on my heart for them! Whether your struggle is sickness, death, financial instability, a big move, or life change, or maybe even the absence a loved one overseas as a missionary or military, know this my friend: God is there! God is with you now in this trial you are facing!
 
    There are no words I can say that can adequately communicate or describe how big, great, and capable our Father is! He is awesome! I can't, I just cannot tell you how amazing my God is! The words simply do not exist! He is powerfully gracious! He is terribly wonderful! He is mightily peaceful! He is the great Physician and the God of war! He was poor but is now preparing a place for us among the mansions in Heaven. He was born in a stable, but now sits on the throne! He died, but He lives! He IS! My God, IS! Praise God, He IS the Great I AM! He is present. He "is", in the present tense, and He is present in the here and now! He presents Himself as a gift to all who believe. How can one describe such greatness? Such grace? Impossible! I am not worthy to even stand in His shadow, and yet He lives within my heart. My Lord wakes me up every morning to speak with me! To have a relationship with me! How can I, a nobody, a simple piece of dirty clay, describe a love so deep, so unchanging, so amazing, and so undeserved, when I have done nothing, absolutely nothing, to earn it? All I did was ask! He is so good!

    I know I started out by talking about struggles, and I got carried away. Something the Lord has been showing and teaching me this year though is this: we can't focus on the struggles. We must put our trust in Him, no matter what comes! Prepare for the storms by looking unto Him, and following Him, not by watching the storm clouds roll in! Worry is not a defense mechanism, it is paralyzing us from doing what needs to be done! Quote from the worrier! Haha! I've got to remind myself of that sometimes! It just isn't worth it to worry so much!
 
    I almost started to write a post titled "Vanity". I may still write the post, but what I wanted to talk about comes into play here as well! Isn't it funny, the things we think are so important nowadays? The things we find "worry worthy"? Sometimes I can understand, and see that, yeah, that's definitely a big deal! But is it really? When placed in the perspective of our Father, are our problems truly significant? A lot of the time, I would personally have to say, "No, they aren't!" Because they are earthy problems-Temporary problems! Even some "life-changing" decisions are temporary! Not to say they aren't important! I'm not stating that at all! Take time to make those decisions, but remember the true purpose of our existence, is not to get into that school, buy that car, or even marry that person! Our purpose is to serve our Creator! All else is vanity!

    Speaking of the perspective of the Father, if we have the mind of Christ as we should, we too can see trials as lessons, or a time of growth rather than just another bump in the road of life. We can learn to see the beauty in the storm. Beauty is not only found on the easy path! Sometimes the most beautiful sights are found at the end of a long, overgrown, and difficult path! It is easy to feel alone on the overgrown path, as it looks as if you are the only one to have ever tread upon it. These are tough, but you are never alone! Look to the Father who placed you there! He will carry you through it! But He can't do that until you draw nigh unto Him! God never places us in a time of difficulty without purpose! You may not understand, but you can try to make the best of the situation! Use this time to grow, to lean on His understanding, not your own. Use this time to acknowledge the mighty hand of the Creator in your life. Pray and let Christ walk you through it! What a beautiful thing! To have the Lord walk you through the long winding roads of life! Have you ever bonded with a friend over tough and trying times? You come out stronger, don't you? Your relationship with that person is deepened through hardship. Let that be the case with our Father!  

    One thing I have seen the Lord do time and time again is calm the storm! Not only in the Bible, but in the storms of life! If Jesus could calm the raging sea, what makes you think He is incapable of calming the storm in your heart or life? How do we have so little faith in a God that is so big? My Father has brought me to my knees in shame for my lack of the mind of Christ and lack of faith! It is a continual battle between the flesh and the Spirit, unfortunately. But victory is possible! With Christ, victory is achievable!

    I can go on and on about the beauty that can come from trials! We all hear cliche sayings such as "You have to endure the rain before you enjoy the rainbow", or "The sun still shines behind the stormclouds." but it is true! Have you ever just looked at creation, and let it preach to you? That may be a strange way of putting it, but it does preach! I am a weirdo (as we all know), in that, I find storms beautiful. I've always loved a good thunderstorm with lightning and lots of rain! However, when life started sending me some spiritual and a few physical storms, I didn't like it too much! I withdrew and became hard, instead of leaning on the Rock who could shield me from all of that! I am still learning, but my Father has taught me that both metaphorical and literal "storms" have a beauty about them! Where is the beauty in disaster, you ask? In God's mighty hand of comfort and victory! Sometimes, He chooses to simply comfort His children rather than take the storm away, but never doubt His presence! He is working! However, He may be working on you rather than the situation! Trust Him! It is a beautiful thing when the Potter places the clay on the wheel to design a vessel fit for His purpose! In the eyes of man, it may seem harsh and hurtful to be slammed onto the Potter's wheel, but we can't see the finished product! Let Him work! The work of the Master's hands is never without purpose! Beauty in a time of disaster is also found in the glory given to the Father through those trials! Glorify Him even in heartache! Even in times of loss and despair, He is still worthy of our praise and gratification! Remember, you don't know what He has planned!

    So, basically, the beauty in the storm, is God our Father! Don't focus on the storm! Look for the Beauty in the Storm! And glorify Him for it! Let us pray for one another as we go about our day. Let us carry one another's burdens to the Lord in prayer! Let's encourage each other! I hope I have encouraged at least one person through this post! Thank you for reading!


    Simply, 
          Sarah

P.s. I have many more busy days and months ahead of me! I will try my best to post on Friday whenever I can, but I may post randomly here and there! Thank you all for understanding! I hope everyone is having a terrific summer! :)