The word NEW has been a huge word in my life as the lord has been speaking so much newness over me in the last few months. Well let me tell you about what is currently new in my life right now. It is December 17th right now as I am writing this blog and it has been exactly one week since arriving in Ethiopia. I’m telling you the date because I am living in Harbu Chululay, it’s a little village about 3 hours outside of Addis Ababa (the capital) and there is no WiFi what so ever anywhere. I am very much in the bush so Im not sure when I will be posting this. Where am I staying? what am I doing? Well Harbu Chululay is all fields and mountains for days but oh my word is it beautiful here. We are working with a ministry called hope Ethiopia. In the compound where I live there is a main house which has the kitchen and living space also where some of the teams stay then there is a training center in the process of being built and also a bunch of little houses where the children stay, and each house has a “house mom”. This is because hope Ethiopia is about rebuilding and redefining what family is to the children that have no mother or father. They take in children that are 7 years or younger and make them part of their family. Also on the property there are lots of gardens and an apple orchard. Along with the faith well which is a miracle well that most of the village uses to get their clean water. Ministry here is a huge variety of different things. From reforestation in the mornings to teaching and playing with kids in the afternoons. Also cutting grass by hand on our off time. I’m definitely experiencing culture shock here for sure. Everything is just so behind. But for real they think it’s the year of 2010 so that’s no joke. Most transportation is horse and buggy and there are women carrying water jugs to the well to get water for their family. Also white people here is a lot different than in Asia. If we leave the compound people gather on both sides of the street to stair at us. Everything is also very very dirty and all little shops and stands are mud huts or tin shacks.
So newness, yes there is physically a lot of it but also I’m in a weird season right now spiritually asking the father what new looks like. Stepping into month four I didn’t realize I could still be experiencing abandonment. But I am, even though I’m back together with Kat and I have everything I need. I am still trying to say goodbye to the last season and mourning so many relationship and amazing things that I had in Cambodia. Right now I’m trying to figure out what it looks like to fully release everything to the father. Knowing he makes thinks new every morning, and I want to focus fully on him and what he has for me these next 3 months. He has brought me into the middle of nowhere with no WiFi so that I can learn what it means to fully rest and find comfort in him. It’s been strange trying to make this new place home after having to leave a place that was so comfortable and I called home. But hey papa is a father who is consistently good. And right now he is inviting me to sit with him and just listen. I couldn’t be more excited and expectant for how the lord is going to work in these next 3 months, not only here in this village but also in the homes and communities back in America. Love you all and Merry Christmas!!
