No, I didn’t get arrested for evangelizing in Vietnam. No, my visa to Ethiopia didn’t get denied. And no, I haven’t yet been knocked down by malaria or an exotic disease. The trouble I’m in is more permanent than that: I am in love with people and a place that I am going to be pulled away from in a month.
His name is Abiti and this month I got to celebrate his 8th birthday with him. For the life of me I can’t figure out why he was so drawn to me from the literal second I stepped out of the van, after all 24 kids at HopEthiopia were standing outside chanting, “Wel-come! Wel-come! Wel-come!” And on standby to help us carry our bags into the guesthouse. Abiti and I just clicked. Attached. Instant friends. And I’m sure it has helped that he is amazed by my “baby guitar” (ukulele).
To be completely honest, throughout the 5 countries we had been to previously, I was getting a pretty good idea of the types of ministry I thrived in and which ones were not my natural gifts. Children’s ministry was not at the top of this list.
Abiti is so smart and playful. He knows 3 languages and is remarkable with a soccer ball. He loves strumming on my baby guitar and taking pictures with my phone and knows all the best Jesus songs. He is grateful and affectionate and makes me look forward to playing with the kids and running around and teaching English. Every day is full of joy.
Many of the children here at HopEthiopia are orphans but Abiti is blessed to have his sister, Sintu, AND his mom here! They were all rescued together and their mom, Abaru, now serves as one of HopEthiopia’s “House moms,” cooking, cleaning, and loving and caring for the kids in her house. She. Is. An. Angel. She speaks minimal English but her hugs are enough to communicate how well she loves others. Sometimes she invites me to coffee and even when I am the only English-speaker there, she somehow includes me with her hand on my hand and a soft smile. When I told her we are only here for a month she started crying and I swear I experienced heartbreak. I am so happy to know Abiti is in such good hands with such a loving mother.
I spent some time the other day praying and just talking to God about what his divine purpose could be in bringing me here to this time and place and why He could allow me to love so fiercely when it so quickly will be taken away. What can I learn from this and why do You want me to take away from it all?
You are learning to love like me. You are seeing the way I genuinely love you. Through the mess and the mistakes my love for you is unfailing. I love how you seek me out to spend time in my presence and share your thoughts with me. Your mistakes are not near enough to change my affections for you.
I have shifted my mindset from a dreadful countdown to the realization that every day is a blessing. Instead of “I only have however many days left,” it is now, “I get another however many days serving and playing with Abiti, Abaru, the staff and the kids here.”
Please pray for the kids and this AMAZING organization and the hardest goodbye ever to come!
