Riots, bomb threats, burnt cars, dead animals, streets being closed down, houses getting broken into, military forces in every corner, and most importantly, God’s protection. This sums up our time in Ethiopia!
I prayed for a month full of adventure and that’s exactly what God has given my team. It hasn’t been your typical adventure to say the least but it’s been quite a roller coaster ride so let me fill you in with what’s been going on…
Our new team was originally assigned in Hawassa, a city in Central Ethiopia, about a 4-hour drive south of the capital, Addis Ababa. A local pastor in the area hosted us so we stayed at their home; squeezing us 6 girls in one room, along with his family and a few other relatives in the compound.
The first two weeks were filled with church visits, preaching, and sharing testimonies to local believers. Other times were filled with just hanging out with Pastor Hizkias’ family and making the most of our down time.
It wasn’t until our pastor told us that a holiday in Hawassa was coming up and he highly recommended that we stay home for two days to avoid the craziness outside. After two days have passed and the holiday was coming to an end, our team decided to go to a resort for lunch and wi-fi.
It was a quiet and relaxing day, but as we were getting ready to leave, the hotel notified us that there is no public transportation available because a riot started to break out in the streets. I didn’t think much of it, but I had no idea how serious it was outside of the premises.
Military forces started to surround our resort and a group of people was suddenly checking in for the night due to safety reasons. A few people that we’ve met were also getting in contact with the U.N. to see what was going on and how they can be evacuated ASAP.
We didn’t really know what was happening, but we were told it was best for our team to check in for the night as well, so that’s what we did. One night actually turned into four days of being stuck at the resort, with no clue what would happen next.
My teammate heard explosions and people screaming in the middle of the night, while all the network services shut down. The next morning, we received a phone call from our host that he was also evacuating his family because their home got broken into.
All of this to say that… God had his hedge of protection over us the whole time.
My team could’ve been preaching at a village that day and we could’ve been in the middle of this riot and who knows what could’ve happened. Instead, we “coincidentally” visited the nicest resort in town.
Or my team could’ve been at home that day and we could’ve been an easy target for those that shattered my host’ window, but God had it all planned out.
There were so many other possibilities that could’ve happened, but God truly protected and secured us in the safest place possible.
WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I admit that I took everything very lightly. I was so used to hearing news about “riots and gun shootings” back home in the U.S. so hearing this stuff didn’t bother or affect me at all. I was still going about my day as if everything was normal, staying positive, and just resting in the fact that God has everything under control.
After 4 days of waiting, the riot has finally calmed down and we had the “ok” to leave town and head to Addis Ababa. Now that we’re finally settled in another city, I’m just grateful for the fact that God has given me the spirit of peace throughout this whole situation.
I was first questioning myself why I was so relaxed and “chill” while everyone else was panicking and getting anxious. I thought there was something wrong with me and I was wondering why I wasn’t feeling the way everyone else was feeling.
But God reminded me that my team needed my peaceful spirit to balance out the craziness that was happening. The enemy wanted me to think that my “chillness” was a bad thing, but God reminded me that my emotional strength was necessary. The enemy wanted me to think that I didn’t care about my team, but God reminded me that He knew my heart for them.
Now I’m here in Addis Ababa and my team and I are completely safe and sound. We’re in a nice hotel, overlooking this beautiful city, with free breakfast and wi-fi (this is rare when you’re on the race!), and we have the rest of the week to ourselves just to process everything that happened.
Although another bomb threat broke out a few days ago during a rally, just a few miles away from where we are currently staying, I don’t want anybody from home to worry about my safety because God has promised to protect me before I left for this race and He has shown up in every way this month!
My team and I are completely safe and all I want you to do is keep us in prayer as we finish this week strong and head to Rwanda in a few days for our 10th country!
God has been unbelievable! He has shown how good of a Father He is. He has protected us, kept us safe, and even gave us VIP treatment throughout this whole time!! If He’s taken me this far, I am 100% confident that He will take care and protect me until the very end of this race!
Thank you for all of your prayers!
