korah home visit!

“listen my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him” James 2:5

Saturday morning in Addis.  Hot tea in hand listening to Beth Moore recite all of James.  Tears flow from my eyes & my heart as I hear the Word of God.   I am encouraged, convicted, built up, and ready.  To show mercy.  James 2:5 really stood out to me as I have spent the past few days with my friends in Korah.  The “poor of the world” live there.  They may be poor, but like James says they are rich in faith & heirs of the kingdom.  

Stephen & I got the chance to visit the home of one of our sponsor girls through Project 61, Abenezer.  Their 8x8 foot corner house is home to Abenezer (11), Samuel (12), their mother & their crippled father.  This family was so full of faith in our Lord Jesus that you wouldn’t even know that polio has affected this family.  That the father spends his days on the street begging as his wife goes to work at Mission Ethiopia.  He thanks Jesus tremendously for his children being able to go to school & get a good education.  The chance to pray with them was out of this world.  I felt the holy spirit in that room as Mr. Haliu said, “amen amen amen” after every word that was prayed to our heavenly father.  Prayers for his children, for his spiritual life and prayers that God would provide him with a new wheelchair.  I wish I prayed with such intensity and such belief that God would act.  I wish I could remember all the amazing things he said to us that day but I think the Lord blocked those from my mind so we don’t get caught up in US being the ones to help their family -- because it isn’t us, it’s HIM!  

It’s God working through people to accomplish His purposes.  He doesn’t have to include us, but he chooses to.  As Pricilla Shrier says in the Jonah study, “He allows us the opportunity to partner with Him.  He doesn’t even need us, so it’s a privilege to live this way.”  Amen sister! 

{Tsion & Abenezer, Samuel, and Mr. Hailu's wheelchair}