Our first stop in Ethiopia is Hope Ethiopia. A three-hour bus ride outside Addis Ababa the capital city in Ethiopia. On our way, there and feeling the hot sun that I longed for so long, seeing new people out in the city, a bunch of street vendors, and just even the transition in leaving the city and going further into a more rural environment was exciting and new. The feeling of wonder was becoming more evident as I started settling with the idea that I would be in Africa for the next 3 months. Wondering what I would be seeing, experiencing, and fighting. Knowing the reality in the difference of culture and the reality of spiritual warfare. I’m ready but expectant and on the defense if needed.
Arriving on the compound of Hope Ethiopia we were welcomed by W-Squad Gap year. This squad surprised me in that they were a lot younger than our group. I had some concerns with the age gap but they truly did surprise me and made me wish that I was where they were at when I was their age to be honest. It brought me so much joy to see their age group be so on fire for God! It was a privilege to be a part of this awakening experience with them. Being able to come alongside one another to encourage and pour out on one another was nice! They were a somewhat younger group and seeing them and their passion for the Lord gave me so much hope for this generation of worriers for the kingdom. It made me reflect and look back when I was their age and how lost I was and how stubborn I was. I lost so much time, but the Lord has redeemed that time. Which, I am super thankful because I would not be the woman I am today without having gone through that season. Which is why encouraging this generation is so important because there is so much potential and opportunity to do great things for Gods kingdom!
During our time, here at Hope Ethiopia the main focus was “Awakening”! Now the word awakening means an act of waking from sleep. An act or a moment of becoming suddenly aware of something. Coming into existence or awareness. Each day here was just that weather it was it was through conversations, encouraging words, worship, evangelism, prayer, etc… it was a metaphorical good drink of water that was very much needed!
The land and the village which Hope Ethiopia is located was and is going through an awakening and you can feel the Holy Spirit upon this place! One thing we had a chance at doing was praying over the land and writing scripture on popsicle sticks and sticking them in the ground on and off and around the compound. That place is so saturated with Gods words in the soil and in the walls, you can see the soil being renewed and awakened. It’s amazing! Also, while we were there we did an all-night prayer meeting where we prayed all throughout the night until sunrise in shifts that way we were praying and worshiping continuously for provision and for there to be an awakening! At sunrise while worshiping outside there was a heavy fog that came over the compound and this is very unusual and all you could here was our voices praising our Lord and Father in Heaven it was like the Spirit of God was hovering over us and in a moment the fog cleared up and the sun was shining through. Pretty Cool!
Our time there came and went so quickly but It was just the right amount of time. There were so many other cool things that happened in those short 3 days that created and shifted things in us as well as would set the tone for this month in Ethiopia!
