Three things I know of the lord: that he is love, that he is good, and that he is faithful. I see Jesus in the dance parties in the kitchen with Mimi, zanet, and buze, in the warm hugs from the house moms and their fierce determination to love the fatherless as their own, in the sweet smiles of the training center women as they learn to sew and create. I see Jesus when we’re playing uno and eating popcorn with our sweet kiddos. I see Jesus in the childlike faith of sisay, balcha, abiti, sintayo, bikiltu, and simacho. I see Jesus in their hunger to learn and understand the world. I see Jesus in the beauty of coffee ceremonies and the careful preparation of hospitality to make each guest feel known. I see Jesus in the holy, wild, spirit filled church of Ethiopia. I see Jesus in the hearts of the people here and the beauty of community as we laugh through the language barriers, the Holy Spirit being the glue that holds us together; a bond that can never break. A bond that transcends beyond age, distance, language, and culture. I see Jesus when Kabeta shares his cappuccino cookies with me as we walk home from the little store in town. I see Jesus as I share a lukewarm coke with my friend mango. I see Jesus in Seffe, my RYDE driver and friend covered in tattoos that tell a story of the redemption he’s found in Jesus. I see Jesus in the unsaid words between strangers from opposite ends of the world as we exchange smiles in passing, a small expression of joy from the overflow of knowing Jesus. I hear Jesus in the call to prayer at the mosque across the street in the mornings and evenings – a reminder that he’s won the victory. A reminder to love my neighbors no matter how different they are from me. I hear Jesus in Luhle’s little giggles, and when Buze yells “UNO”! I hear Jesus in the warm greeting in Oromia, “fayuma! Akam!” And a wave of the hand. I hear Jesus as our cooks worship in the kitchen, screaming ahmaric praises to the lord as they make injera. I feel Jesus in handshakes, hugs, and forehead kisses from the house moms. I feel Jesus in the cool air in the mornings, and my warm cup of rich Ethiopian coffee. I feel Jesus in my worn Birkenstock’s, a reminder of all the places my feet have stepped because of his abundant provision in my life. I feel Jesus in my deep relationships with my squad and team and in FaceTime conversations with the people I love back home. I feel Jesus when our squad worships together without a care in the world because in those moments Jesus is the only one that matters. Jesus, you are in everything that is good, and everything here is good. All the good I can see, taste, smell, and touch traces back to your vision of abundant life from the beginning of time. May I never lose my wonder for all you are and all you’ve given me to enjoy in this borrowed breath of life.
