We got off the plane in Ethiopia to a chilly 45 degrees and the sun rising over the mountains. Coming from Asia, this was freaking freezing. We all huddled into the shuttle in shorts, Chacos, and sweaters. My team, Team Shema, has no idea where we were going or what we were going to do this month. We had a few ideas, but we were more open to hearing what God wanted us here for. Our team was selected for Unsung Heroes/ ATL (ask the Lord). We don’t have a contact in Ethiopia, but we get to prayerfully travel as we feel led. Our mission this month is to find great contacts for future world race teams and be open to hearing the Lord’s voice wherever he calls us to go. So naturally my team wanted to rent a car, drive around the country and tent on the side of the road- not happening.
Thankfully, our team leader booked a hostel in town and said it was so ridiculously cheap that we should lower our already low standards as far as we could allow. Knowing him and his standards, I was picturing a cement block room with rats and roaches and maybe a squatty potty that we all shared. God is so good- we got 3 clean rooms with super comfortable foam beds, hot showers and not a roach to be found, all in our team budget. Two hours in we had already made some friends.
Kidi, who works the front desk gave us a lesson in the local language. Rodas, who works at an insurance office in the building helped translate for the hotel. She also took us to a lunch place to get local food, and even stayed until we were finished eating. Rosas, who is one of the housekeepers of the hotel let us use the in- house washing machine.
The truth is the Lord is so good that he wants to provide for His children just as a father would. We have prayed to be safe, but not comfortable and we have been given comfort. We have come here without plans and expectations and the Lord has fulfilled them. He is so good, He gives us the things we need and the things we want.
At lunch on the first day we told Rodas that we wanted to go into the villages to teach, preach, and pray for the sick. All she said was “okay I call my friend.” Within a few days we were on our way to Muday Charity Association. It is an organization that aids in providing education, clean water and food to women, children and the disabled. I was truly amazed by this place- they do so much! They are incredibly self-sustained by making local food, scarves, bags, clothes, jewelry all for sale to maintain the structure. Here we were greeted in and invited to stay free of charge with housing and all of our meals- God provides. He gave us food, work and shelter for FREE.
We spent four days at Muday and we were able to choose which activity we could spend time in to spread kingdom. Personally, I really wanted to hang out with the ladies in the kitchen. They just seemed like they had so much wisdom to impart. The ladies were making the local favorite, injera. It’s a large spongey flatbread with a sourdough taste. We ate it dipped in chili sauce, pretty tasty. I am for sure the worst injera maker I have ever met, but to see those women laugh at me trying made it all the more worth it. Aside from working in the kitchen we did a few other tasks like washing mountains of dishes, grinding coffee and teaching kindergarten.
I think if Ethiopia has taught me anything in the week or so we have been here it’s joy. Do everything with joy in your spirit. There may be times where things are more serious than others, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring the joy of the Lord in all situations. I might have been more work than help making injera, but the ladies greeted me with joy. I might have taught those kindergarteners things they already knew, but they enjoyed all the same. My hands might be pruned from washing 80 plates in a row, but my teammates were there to crack jokes alongside me.
Next on the list we found a contact to take us to another village, we think this one might be more rural. We don’t know what we will be doing there, but I hope it’s radical healings.
