“…all His
work is done in faithfulness.” Psalm 33:4
A side note from the post below…I know it seems as
though I have gone through a lot of negative stuff: sickness, mice in my bed,
cell phone getting stolen, ect. Trust me, in those moments I was angry and discouraged
but dwelling on the harder parts does no one any good. I am told by scripture
to consider it all joy and to praise Jesus all the same during these hard
moments. It hasn’t been effortless but with each passing trial and decision to
count it with gratitude the sting of it all has lessened and my heart has felt
true peace. Sometimes it is easier to update about the tougher moments, asking
people for prayer and so on…but the wonderful, happy moments of life here have
been abundant and lovely and through every day and every experience the Lord
has been present- a solid truth that is so comforting. With that said…here is
my heart in words after three months of living in Ethiopia.
These past months, my life has been a constant pouring out
and filling up. As I pour out my energy and my heart into the work I am doing
here I am often left with a paradoxical feeling of weariness and complete joy.
It is the world fighting its war against my soul as Jesus calmly heals. Life
here is heavy, as I work with people who are fighting struggles bigger than
anyone should ever face and everywhere I go I experience the drastic brokenness
of the world we live in. Abused women, homeless children, people laying on the
road, I don’t know if they are dead or alive…it is a lot to take in. It is in
these moments of sadness that Jesus has reminded me of Himself through the
women and children I spend my days with. With their contagious smiles the women
always restore my joy. The children, with all of their childlike qualities can
always make me laugh to the point of happy tears. Ethiopians are strikingly
beautiful on the outside but far more so on the inside. Their absolute and
constant kindness seems to know far more about the character of the Gospel than
I could ever imagine. I seem to always be saying to myself “They get it.” They
understand what it means to be Christ-like. With countless hugs and words they
have been the face of Jesus to me in the moments when I needed it most. I wrote
in a post a while back that I wanted to help the women I work with discover how
beautiful and fulfilling life can be, and as I walk alongside them teaching
them and loving them they have equally reciprocated the lessons and have shown
me how beautiful life is as I walk my own journey of growth and discovery. As
it is for most educators, I have left my classes with them feeling more like a
student than a teacher. These women have taught me how to deeply care for
people, and how to invest into someone’s heart. They have shown me the great
importance of relationship on a whole new level. The children have taught me
how to be carefree and happy in simple situations. These women and children
have done more than just befriending me, they have filled my heart to the brim
and I am so thankful that I know people as remarkable as them!!!
As I look back and start to see the small pixel moments of the
past three months form a picture, I am amazed at it all. As three months come
to an end, and I take a hiatus from my African life, I just have to say that my
cup absolutely runs over for Ethiopia. God has been evident in my rich
experiences here (and even in the not so rich ones), and as I learn more and
more about the one I follow, I am left only in awe. I serve an extravagant God.
I cannot wait to laugh, talk and play with my dearest
friends and family…You guys are the best.
So much love,
Becca
Also, a little story I never shared: Ethiopian’s genuine
goodness displayed at its finest: A woman came up to me on my 2 mile walk home
from the store and offered to help me carry the four bags of heavy groceries I
had. Embarrassed, I said no but she insisted. She helped me the whole way home.
Blessed by this woman’s kindness to help me, someone she had never met before
and will probably never see again
