Photo Joy Journal

In Ethiopian culture, bad news is held closely and alluded to, it is not given over the internet or even a phone call. If a university student gets a call to, “Come when you can, your mother is a little sick,” it would generally be understood as “Come immediately, your mother is on her death bed or has already died.” I read of a young Ethiopian woman, studying abroad. When she returned home, she learned her father had died months before. The intent isn’t to hide or complicate but out of mercy. Her family wanted her to focus on her studies and didn’t want her to face bad news so far away from them.  

As most of you are from the USA, this is only a bit of interesting culture but I don’t know how to write the following. Thank you for all the prayers for Huluhagarish and her baby. They won’t be going to Addis Ababa this week as he died two days ago. Instead of a long bus ride south today, she sits in her house, receiving mourners over a little life God gave and took away. We are praying God is known and glorified through this sad and hard. Prayers are not wasted. Continue with us to pray. 

Efforting a thankful attitude, here’s a list of little things, my photo joy-journal.

Eggs and bananas available in our local market.

Fresh produce from the market with a 20 kilo sack of floor behind it. 

A sunny morning to through the clothes on the line. Cloth diapering in rainy season for two babies with no dryer…the struggle is real.

Thank you Lord, for Jon! We would all fall apart without him.

And then this. Our little collector, wanting to hold everything in doubles, screeching in frustration when she can’t hold it all

And a nice bus driver who let Tiger climb aboard and play while his passengers were out.

And this combo

Picnics in the van when we can’t find a dry or unpopulated spot. Actually, picnicking with toddlers is more on my list of least favorite things but in hindsight, it seems sweet. Like the quote I read on traveling. Something along the lines of “Travel is only glamorous when it is a memory”.  :)

Their little friendship. Miss T put out her hand, Tiger grabbled and as if he understands his role as protective, big brother, he took it and immediately led her off towards the horses, which is what she was dying to see.

 The sweet kids in our pasture.

Friends who journey alongside us. Ashenafi helps with our medical patients. He is an amazing evangelist and blessing from God. 

And our THIRD-GRADERS! These beauties. 

This is my view from the attic window as I work through a stack of “Thank-Yous”. When I look over the list of you, people who support us through prayer and finances, I can think of nothing more humbling. I have a reaction of falling into my knees in gratefulness and humility. How I would love if we could live, not in need, but instead, completely self-sufficient. However, it is not our reality and I am reminded how God’s strength is seen in our weakness, in our needs. We feel the magnitude of laboring together, as Christ Body, being many members, yet being one.