hey hi hello! it’s been a minute! and a lot has happened!
after 4 travel days we arrived at the base on December 9th. we have a 360 degree view of endless fields, trees, and mountains and we live in a brick house that has a living room (!!!) with real couches and real dining room tables and chairs (!!!). i sleep in a room with my teammates in bunk beds with a big window and concrete floors. there is zero cell service and it’s so peaceful and quiet here I can hear the Lords tiniest whisper.
the day we got here, another world race squad came to stay with us to have a 2 day awakening. it was a very powerful 2 days but definitely overwhelming with everything happening so soon. no rest, no orientation, just jumping right in.
I asked the lord for reassurance on my decision to attend Auburn next year and I went to line up for dinner and above the plates was a picture of an African man wearing an Auburn hat (in the middle of nowhere Africa!?) and I don’t know I just thought that was really sweet.
During our 22 hour layover in New Jersey we went to target and bought a good amount of snacks (bc there’s nowhere around with any, like there was in Guat). So we thought we’d stock up. Well day two of being here the Lord told me to get rid of all mine. He told me that they were a comfort thing and that I didn’t need them. I was like “why” and “oh shoot” at the same time. So I did. I gave them all away. The Lord is teaching me alll about self discipline and self motivation. My whole life I’ve had a coach telling me what to do and what not to do. So, I have been determined to have a routine from now on. I wake up at 5:45am and run with my teammate Alexis, take a shower, have a morning devo, then eat breakfast.
Spending intentional time with the Lord before my day starts is something I didn’t do one time before now. It was so hard for me. But it really does make such a difference.
Learning to start my day with the full armor of God on is something I heard all my life but am now learning the reasons why. If you don’t it is so easy for the enemy to creep in. Especially here, no family, no friends, no social media.
My team and I have already faced some pretty heavy spiritual warfare in the past two weeks. We had a teaching about the cost of discipleship on Tuesday and my squad leader Connor talked about how we have to deny ourself and pick up our cross. Every. Day. It’s hard. It’s heavy. And sometimes I convince myself that if I was studying in a college dorm it would be easier. But it wouldn’t. It’s just the cost of living for the Kingdom. The sacrifice wouldn’t be so big if the reward wasn’t so great. I’m discovering how to wake up everyday and choose into the Lord’s voice and what he has for me. And friends, it is so so sweet.
My days look like this:
8am- breakfast
10am- teaching
12pm- lunch
1:30-5- women’s ministry
6- dinner
On Fridays we have movie night with all the kids and we spend our free time playing cards, watching movies, and reading books.
We put up some Christmas lights, made a paper Christmas tree, and all hung up socks for stockings and on Christmas Eve we are watching Polar Express and drinking hot chocolate.
If you want to be in prayer for my squad here’s my prayer requests- pray for healing over anyone who isn’t feeling well, pray for the enemy’s lies to be shut down, pray for protection over our hearts, pray for our ministries. With 99% of our whole squads ministry we stay at the base every day. Still getting used to constantly being in the same place with the same people!
Probably won’t be in Addis again until mid January so until then! Thank you as always for rooting for me and taking time to read a tiny tiny glimpse into my life these past few weeks.
These African babies have my heart once again. This place is special.
