Since the beginning of the race I was most looking forward to Ethiopia to finally experience a piece of Africa. It was very much like what I expected.
I felt so much peace and joy when I was there not because of anything “fun” I got to do but just because it was already there.
I also felt a little envious of how simple life seemed.
What I have realized is we can do much more for ourselves than we think we can and we need a lot less than we think we do.
What I grew up thinking were necessities are really just luxuries. Although it is very nice to have luxuries such as a washer, dryer, regular toilet, microwave, bathtub, shower, electricity, a car. In fact, I could go for s nice cruise in my car right now. I have seen what life can be like without these things and I still found peace and joy there. This takes the stress away if ever I don’t have these luxuries again someday.
Instead of thinking, “ these poor people don’t have ____.” We can say, “Wow, we really don’t need___.” (This does not mean basic needs such as food, water, clothes and shelter, we all need those.)
If you are American like me reading this, there is no need to feel guilty for what we have but we can be aware of what we really need and what are just luxuries.
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The first day we arrived in Ethiopia I was riding from the airport to the village we lived in I saw all the stick houses people lived in for the first time: Personally I thought they were cool but then I was thinking about how none of the houses had mailboxes or numbers. If they don’t have an address they most likely don’t have any social media or email address either. The world may never know their name but God knows every hair on their head. I’m not famous or anything close to it, but I do have people that know me all over my country and in different parts of the world.
When we arrived at hope Ethiopia (the ministry site) I was still thinking about all the people in the huts we drove by.
Even in every country we have lived in, it seems that the people know my name quickly because I can be out going sometimes but I decided in this country I wanted to learn all the staff and kids names without even telling them mine, unless of corse they ask.
I wanted them to get more attention then what I unknowingly tend to put on myself.
Of course it didn’t last long before the kids wanted to know my name but it helped me be more intentional in learning theirs.
When I told them my name, one of the boys thought Rachael sounded the same as rejoice so he started singing “Rejoice in the Lord Always” and he called me Rejoice the rest of the month. I absolutely loved it! What a great name!
God does the same thing.
When we try to give ourself names that don’t belong to us and the enemy want us to believe that is who we are, Jesus can give us new names when we surrender our old name to him. Jesus has given me lots of new names. I use to be called used but now I am brand new. I use to be lost but now he calls me found. I use to be lonely but now I am forever His. I use to be sad but now he calls me REJOICE.
When we surrender to Him we get to ware a new name, the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the whole world who died so that every soul can live eternally with him in His Kingdom.
