{I’m posting this from an airport in Kosovo.. internet wasn’t a thing in Ethiopia. So….yeah.}
I’m sitting at one of the six dinner tables here in our Ethiopian home, the sunlight streaming in through the window on my left. Our wonderful cooking ladies are stirring in the kitchen to my right, some of my squadmates are playing slow-pitch out front, others are napping on the couches behind me, and a few are sitting at the other tables listening to music, working on blogs, and having sweet quiet time with Jesus. We have already had breakfast- coffee (every morning- praise!), toast with nutella and peanut butter, and porridge (with nutella and peanut butter stirred in- YUM). It’s Saturday, and our ministry hosts are gracious and let us take an extra day off from our typical work of painting, gardening, and construction. Since it’s not technically our off day, we use the morning to clean up the inside of our home- 30ish people living in one space can sure clutter up an area!
I have typed up a list of things our squad has done this month, things the Lord has taught me, ways He has stretched me, and a few words that encompass Month 6, but I sit here struggling to put it in story form.
This month has been amazing. It has been a month of feeling content, peace, and joy. It has been a month of getting to know my squadmates deeper than ever before. It has been a month of doing manual labor with a happy and servant heart. It has been a month of Jesus stretching me and asking me to step up my game.
So how in the world can I put everything I’ve felt and learned and seen and experienced in one blog?
Obviously, I could give you the run-down of HOPEthiopia, the organization we’re working for this month. Stop reading right now, google it, and learn about all of the amazing things this organization is doing. We have gotten to meet the Candadian founder, learn about the vision and beginnings of their work, and I freakin love what’s going on out here in the middle of Ethiopia.
I could tell the story of digging through mounds of dirt: searching for rocks to sort into piles, seeing one that had split open, revealing the colorful and shiny layers underneath the drab gray outer coating, and how the Lord told me that that rock was similar to us- dirty and plain on the outside but beautiful and unique on the inside.
Or maybe I could tell stories about dancing, laughing, and having simple yet sweet conversations with our cooks, and how we are called to have the joyful servant hearts like them.
I could also tell the story of laying outside at night to look at the millions of stars with some squadmates. The night God used the moon to wrap His arms around us and tell us that He was with us. When He used the countless lights in the sky to give us a glimpse at how big He really is.
Or maybe I should just describe the area the Lord has placed us in- an absolutely gorgeous plot of land in between mountains where the sun shines to warm us up, but then cools down enough at night that we wear sweats and curl up in sleeping bags. A place where nobody drives cars, but use horses and donkeys as the mode of transportation. A place far from paved roads, where plots of land aren’t turned over by machines, but by the strength of the worker. A home complete with electricity (for the most part), hot showers, flushing toilets, a washing machine, and a full kitchen to cook our meals. A home only a few hours away from a dormant volcano, a hidden gem full of lush green meadows and cool streams running in between massive hills, a place that I swear is what heaven will look like.
Maybe I should just sum everything up and tell you that God has blessed us beyond our imagination. Our Heavenly Father has shown his love and affection in ways none of us could predict. When our squad came together to fast and pray for funding, He came through and provided the very same day. He finally gave us a month without access to internet, and He filled our hearts with such great peace knowing that praying for our family and friends is the best way of supporting them; we don’t have to stay in constant communication to love them. He gave us a month to be filled up with his love, to rejuvenate our exhausted hearts and bodies. He gave us the courage to be open, vulnerable, to love until it hurts, to experience broken hearts, to get to know our squadmates on an even deeper level, and to laugh until we cried.
The other night, I was talking to one of the squad leaders, and I remember laughing and exclaiming, “I don’t even know who I am anymore!” In some instances, that statement would be worrisome. In my case, it put such joy in my heart. In three short weeks, I have seen growth in myself. I have done things in the past week that I would have NEVER done back in August. Heck, I wouldn’t have done them in December. God has been pushing me to be bold- in my relationships with the squad and people I meet through ministry, in loving others until it hurts, in being open about my past, about things I’m learning, about things I’m struggling with. Guys, I freaking spoke in front of the squad twice in one week. If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely hate speaking in front of peers- they are the people I compare myself to, the people I view as much more equipped, bold, and wise than me. The ones Satan uses to make me feel like I’m not good enough in any aspect of life. Put me in front of a group of kids? I’ll say whatever I want! In front of adults? Yeah, not as great, but I can do it. But make me stand in front of a group of people my age who are going through the same things? No. Freaking. Way.
But, our God is good and when He asks us to do something, He ensures us that He’s walking with us the entire way. He gives us courage. He showers us with love.
I’m probably rambling (typical), and I’m not even sure if this gave you any idea of what we’ve done this month, but now you know where I’m at. I’ve hardly taken any pictures or videos because I’ve been too engrossed in what I’m doing. It’s hard to describe the countless ways God has shown Himself this month. I can’t explain the feelings in my heart. So, I’ll just post this as it is. I won’t try to sugar-coat my ADD rambles. I won’t try to insert any fitting bible verses or inspirational quotes. I’m just going to post my thoughts as they came to me. Hey, maybe I will leave the ball in your court- if you want to hear about any of these more in-depth, let me know!
Thank you for your prayers- can you believe we just passed the halfway point?! Man.
We are heading to Montenegro next! Please pray for safe travels and open hearts as we enter into a new month. Love you guys!
xo, Katageena
