1 Corinthians 3:7-9 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Jesus, why did you bring me all the way to Ethiopia to break up giant dirt ‘boulders’?
We came from a month in Rwanda where it rained every single day. Now we’re here in Harbu Chulule, Ethiopia during the dry season. It’s still beautiful, but in a much more raw and cold way.
Part of our assignment this month is preparing a field of dry, dirt boulders to eventually be planted with an apple orchard. We were given a few homemade tools (pick axes, rakes, hoes, etc.) and then told to break up the giant dirt rocks in the field in order to make it suitable for planting. It’s honestly really hard work. My body is sore, completely covered in dirt, and quickly developing blisters. This is the kind of work that they make prisoners do. It’s back breaking, tough, and we’re making pathetically slow progress. At first I struggled to see the purpose in this kind of work and questioned why God would bring us here to do such a silly task.
God is teaching me that I need to be content with whatever job He has assigned us for the time being, because if we’re doing it then He thinks it’s worthwhile. God often teaches the greatest lessons during the ‘dry’ seasons of our life.
The field here is some of the driest soil I’ve ever seen and yet God has a plan to use it and restore it, kind of like He does for our lives. We truly are God’s field and He can make fruit grow in even the most damaged soil. It’s a beautiful thing that we get to participate in any part of this process.
One of the toughest aspects of this work is that we do not get to see the fruit. God isn’t even calling us to be the ones who water or plant in that field, we are the ones who are breaking up the dirt. We are never going to see the apple trees planted or even eat the apples from the orchard, but someone someday will.
HOPEthiopia is a ministry that is genuinely working to restore this community in every way possible. They have a sweeping vision for restoration through education, healthcare, water, reforestation, fostering family amongst orphans and widows, and much more. I’m continually amazed by all that this ministry does to love the Ethiopian people well. And this month 13 World Race girls get the chance to play a small part in serving this ministry. Breaking up dirt, weeding gardens, or painting houses may seem insignificant but we just never know what fruit may eventually grow from our hard work.
We’re doing everything for God’s glory, trusting that He is going to bring fruit even if we don’t get to see it and thanking Him for the opportunity to join into His process of restoration, even the tough, less than glamorous aspects.
P.S. Thanks to my teammate Anissa who helped me see the beauty in the work we’re doing. And shout out to the ladies of Team Parresia and Team Devoted Love. I wouldn’t want to be painting houses or breaking up a dirt field with anyone else.
