8.23
there is nothing like starting your day off in tears from sweet words from someone you love & respect so much. Thank you KARI for this.
yesterday was tough.
though talking about my decision to return home, mama kiki and I shed some tears on the porch at the EGH.
our sweet Sente was sitting right in between us as we both laid our heads on his shoulders and just bawled.
leaving is a hard thing - and knowing that a beautiful season is coming to an end is never easy.
I never thought that I would be in Ethiopia with the Gibsons for 2 months, but God had a really sweet surprise in store for me.
they have adopted me into their family this summer & together we have loved big in Korah every single day. we have spent many mornings in bible study with our korah boys, shared french fries + frappuchinos at kalids, many movie days at the EGH, every Sunday morning packing the van & heading to beza followed by a pizza with a crew of at least 16, we’ve prayed for each other, we’ve cried with each other, we’ve eaten many a dinners at our favorite restaurant (Korean), we’ve met so many amazing adoptive families and introduced them to Korah, - I really could go on and on about all the adventures we have been on together this summer.
it was god ordained - and I can’t. even. imagine. my summer without them.
they have modeled for me what it looks like to be missional. to put it all out there & speak of Jesus boldly and lovingly. they’ve shown me that I can’t have any fear in doing what God has put in my heart to do - it doesn’t matter how old or young we are, or what life stage we are in. they have showed me what it’s like to be a big loving family.
and not that we ever thought we’d stay in ethiopia together forever, but it’s sad to know this is the end (for now at least).
many of our boys were at the EGH when I shared the news last night, and the surrounded me with love and prayers. and let me tell you - ethiopian men do not like it when we cry.
if they have taught my anything this summer, it’s to BE STRONG.
trust in god.
it almost brought me to tears a few hours later when one of the boys (Toolosa) called me to ask me how I was doing & to tell me not to cry and that he was praying for me & God would help me.
this morning as Kari was leading bible study for the boys while Roger is in Uganda, she got a Word (through her precious Zoie) to teach the boys about true friendship.
she told the story of Jonathan & David from 1 Samuel 18.
she really knew that the story was for me. for talking about the importance of a true friend - one that loves his friend like he loves his own soul.
i love this verse, “jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul” 1 sam 18: 3
and as hard as it is for most to actually imagine, I love these boys like I love my own soul.
Kiki didn’t have to, but she honored me so much today. She told the boys I was her Jonathan & she affirmed me & what God did through me this summer (she must have been listening when I told her my love language was words of affirmation!)
we talked about making these last few days the BEST.
and she taught me something too today - when you have a need, you need to speak it.
so thank you kari for encouraging the boys to all write me letters when I leave :)
even though I’ll be a blubbering mess on the airplane, I always cherish their sweet words to me.
through tears in both of our eyes, she encouraged the men to MAN UP and take the lead and be men of prayer.
so about 20+ young men gathered around with me in the center, and they laid hands on me and prayed for me. they prayed for a miracle the next few days & they prayed that when I leave God’s presence will go with me and give me rest (Exodus 33:14 - My presence will go with you and I will give you rest)
even though almost all of their prayers were in amharic, and I coudln’t really understand them all - I felt the presence of God.
I was so proud of those boys for going to the father on my behalf.
they are my brothers.
we. are. family.
we vowed from then on to have a great last few days.
they were encouraged by kiki to not slink away & be sad but instead be strong with me. and we started off with a bang! kaldis (getting in trouble for our spit wad war...) and the lion zoo were first on the list.
I know these last few days are going to be full of tears but also full of really great times & memories with my Ethiopian family.
oh, and my words to the boys today.....from Jesus Calling. this could not have been more perfect for today.
Jesus Calling......
Entrust your loved one to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.
When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.
Genesis 22:9-12; Ephesians 3:20; Exodus 33:14Entrust your loved one to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.
When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.
Genesis 22:9-12; Ephesians 3:20; Exodus 33:14
there is nothing like starting your day off in tears from sweet words from someone you love & respect so much. Thank you KARI for this.
yesterday was tough.
though talking about my decision to return home, mama kiki and I shed some tears on the porch at the EGH.
our sweet Sente was sitting right in between us as we both laid our heads on his shoulders and just bawled.
leaving is a hard thing - and knowing that a beautiful season is coming to an end is never easy.
I never thought that I would be in Ethiopia with the Gibsons for 2 months, but God had a really sweet surprise in store for me.
they have adopted me into their family this summer & together we have loved big in Korah every single day. we have spent many mornings in bible study with our korah boys, shared french fries + frappuchinos at kalids, many movie days at the EGH, every Sunday morning packing the van & heading to beza followed by a pizza with a crew of at least 16, we’ve prayed for each other, we’ve cried with each other, we’ve eaten many a dinners at our favorite restaurant (Korean), we’ve met so many amazing adoptive families and introduced them to Korah, - I really could go on and on about all the adventures we have been on together this summer.
it was god ordained - and I can’t. even. imagine. my summer without them.
they have modeled for me what it looks like to be missional. to put it all out there & speak of Jesus boldly and lovingly. they’ve shown me that I can’t have any fear in doing what God has put in my heart to do - it doesn’t matter how old or young we are, or what life stage we are in. they have showed me what it’s like to be a big loving family.
and not that we ever thought we’d stay in ethiopia together forever, but it’s sad to know this is the end (for now at least).
many of our boys were at the EGH when I shared the news last night, and the surrounded me with love and prayers. and let me tell you - ethiopian men do not like it when we cry.
if they have taught my anything this summer, it’s to BE STRONG.
trust in god.
it almost brought me to tears a few hours later when one of the boys (Toolosa) called me to ask me how I was doing & to tell me not to cry and that he was praying for me & God would help me.
this morning as Kari was leading bible study for the boys while Roger is in Uganda, she got a Word (through her precious Zoie) to teach the boys about true friendship.
she told the story of Jonathan & David from 1 Samuel 18.
she really knew that the story was for me. for talking about the importance of a true friend - one that loves his friend like he loves his own soul.
i love this verse, “jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul” 1 sam 18: 3
and as hard as it is for most to actually imagine, I love these boys like I love my own soul.
Kiki didn’t have to, but she honored me so much today. She told the boys I was her Jonathan & she affirmed me & what God did through me this summer (she must have been listening when I told her my love language was words of affirmation!)
we talked about making these last few days the BEST.
and she taught me something too today - when you have a need, you need to speak it.
so thank you kari for encouraging the boys to all write me letters when I leave :)
even though I’ll be a blubbering mess on the airplane, I always cherish their sweet words to me.
through tears in both of our eyes, she encouraged the men to MAN UP and take the lead and be men of prayer.
so about 20+ young men gathered around with me in the center, and they laid hands on me and prayed for me. they prayed for a miracle the next few days & they prayed that when I leave God’s presence will go with me and give me rest (Exodus 33:14 - My presence will go with you and I will give you rest)
even though almost all of their prayers were in amharic, and I coudln’t really understand them all - I felt the presence of God.
I was so proud of those boys for going to the father on my behalf.
they are my brothers.
we. are. family.
we vowed from then on to have a great last few days.
they were encouraged by kiki to not slink away & be sad but instead be strong with me. and we started off with a bang! kaldis (getting in trouble for our spit wad war...) and the lion zoo were first on the list.
I know these last few days are going to be full of tears but also full of really great times & memories with my Ethiopian family.
oh, and my words to the boys today.....from Jesus Calling. this could not have been more perfect for today.
Jesus Calling......
Entrust your loved one to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.
When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.
Genesis 22:9-12; Ephesians 3:20; Exodus 33:14Entrust your loved one to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one--as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from son-worship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father's undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.
When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.
Genesis 22:9-12; Ephesians 3:20; Exodus 33:14
Love, love, love this! I am soooo jealous that you have spent the summer with my BFF, but I am also soooo glad you had each other! Praying for you, my friend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you for sharing what God is doing in your life and the lives of our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. May we all never be the same!
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