It’s weird to me that even the smallest presence of light can take away all fear of darkness. It can bring such comfort to us.
Being home alone at night can sometimes freak me out, but as soon as the first signs of morning appear I think how silly it was to be afraid at all.
The first time I went to Ethiopia we landed late at night and went straight to our hotel. As we drove it was hard to really see the city because it was too dark. The next morning our team got up and we ate breakfast at the hotel then hopped on the bus to head to our ministry’s regional office.
On the way I remember looking out the van window and being taken aback.
So this is Africa? There were cars and people everywhere. High rise buildings and restaurants.
But mixed in with these sights I was so used to we could see the poverty. Homeless men, women, and children begging along the road. Shepherds in rags leading flocks of livestock through busy city streets. And surrounding the big buildings were slums as far as we could see.
I remember thinking “why are we here? What do we even have to offer these people? They need so much more help than our team can provide.” What I saw on that short ride to the office was enough to weigh me down. It was like the whole city was covered in darkness and I had no idea how we could ever do anything about it. I felt so discouraged.
Then we met Feye and Tariku.
They told us their stories – witchdoctors, gangs, illness, abandonment, demons. But more than all those things their life stories resonated such faith. The kind of faith that I can only hope to one day have.
That was the first time I met someone who is actually willing to go to prison or die for Jesus.
After their testimonies they talked about the ministry going on in Ethiopia and how much work God was doing in the lives of their people. It was truly so inspiring! I left that office ready and feeling like anything was possible! These men were such an encouragement and we were about to spend the next 3 weeks doing ministry with them. What an incredible opportunity!
When we hopped back on that van and drove away from the ministry office, I saw everything in a completely different light.
I no longer saw hopelessness and despair covering the city, but instead saw HOPE. And as I got to know people through ministry over the next few weeks I experienced a joy like I’d never known. How can these people have so little and be so utterly joyful?
JESUS.
That’s why.
He is the light that brings joy and peace and hope to His people even in the darkest of places.
Will you join me in praying for the countries, cities, and villages my squad and I will be traveling to next year? Pray that we would see the light of Christ in everyone we meet and they too would see Him in us.
