tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44859168496810057192024-03-05T15:56:53.995-08:00 Treasures In Jars of Clay"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 2 Corinthians 4:7Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.comBlogger1151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-91434996331302680512020-10-13T10:29:00.000-07:002020-10-13T10:29:09.222-07:00Campfire Invite (Virtual Of Course :))
In the days of many good things pushed to online, it's brought weirdness and isolation AND also innovation. Join us tomorrow night as we participate with other cross-cultural workers in a virtual storytelling. All are welcome.
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Register here.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tS1uPFueQvyv-7W6VXA50A
Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-28886211154117722972020-10-04T17:50:00.002-07:002020-10-04T17:52:54.430-07:00Straining At Gnats and Swallowing The CamelWe had good plans for today. Then, we had a child who needed an ER visit and a subsequent COVID-19 test (results not yet in). Jon taught our family church like when we lived in Injibara and now the kids are curled up watching “Prince of Egypt”.
Staring out the window upon the rainy gray skies, I’m simultaneously tired from a night of disrupted sleep, thankful everyone is okay and bugged at the possibility our next two weeks will be shaped by the walls of our deliciously cozy (read also small) house.
This is part of the reason this blog has been so quiet, so many conflicting feelings and desires at one time. This has been a season on the worldwide stage of so many voices, so many opinions, significant misunderstanding and “othering”. It feels like throwing my voice into the vacuum may serve to alienate instead of build bridges, throw up defenses instead of healthy dialogue. We don’t need more noise.
Though my Sabbath plans are different, I’m praying the unexpected quiet, unplanned hours would bring clarity on the murky waters in my heart and replaced with clean streams.
I need more of God. My heart yearns to be Bible-saturated but my flesh pulls me towards Facebook-informed. I beg God that instead of my focus on tithing the appropriate amounts of mint, dill and cumin, I will not “have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” And that last phrase, I see myself here, oof. “straining at the gnat and swallowing the camel!” (Matt. 23-23&24)
I’m praying for you today, the more faithful reader than I deserve, still checking this dormant space. Praying for us, for our hearts to find refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. Praying we would be as iron pillars in essential matters, unbending and unwavering and as flexible reeds in the nonessentials, bending with the wind but not breaking, and may God give us the wisdom to know the difference.
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” Psalm 36-7-9
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-15155550202838591302020-03-23T09:27:00.002-07:002020-03-23T09:34:10.077-07:00Faith To Be Strong<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Rarely has a song so perfectly fit what I'm feeling.</div>
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So I pray and sing on repeat. </div>
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"Faith to be Strong"</div>
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Andrew Peterson</div>
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<i>Give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Father, we are so weak<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Our bodies are fragile and weary<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us strength to be faithful<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This life is not long, but it's hard<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us grace to go on<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Make us willing and able<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lord, give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us peace when we're torn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Mend us up when we break<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This flesh can be wounded and shaking<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us peace when we're torn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us strength to be faithful<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This life is not long, but it's hard<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us grace to go on<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Make us willing and able<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lord, give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us hearts to find hope<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Father, we cannot see<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />So, give us hearts to find hope<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us strength to be faithful<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />This life is not long, but it's hard<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us grace to go on<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Make us willing and able<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Lord, give us faith to be strong<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us peace when we're torn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Give us faith, faith to be strong</i></div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-43890258378676606432020-03-17T03:29:00.006-07:002020-03-17T05:14:37.373-07:00Practicing Faith Over Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've rarely had a time when I get to practice my faith in God this much. </div>
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My temptation is to turn inward. To throw together a suitcase and take the four kids and get out of here, far from this amazing, beautiful country full of beautiful people and such limited access to medical care. All schools are cancelled, public broadcasts have started about the importance of handwashing and talking of stopping physical touch in our greetings. Price gouging has started in the local markets. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our reality is Jon is in another country and we don’t know when we will be reunited. (Though by all human plans, it could be Wednesday morning!). All of us have recently experienced our best-laid plans recently thwarted. He still has no visa to re-enter Ethiopia and just heard from the office that the wrong document was submitted. If he can fly (Kenya travel ban is in affect today), when he arrives in Ethiopia, he will not be able to enter the country without a visa. If/when he gets a visa at the airport, he needs to self-isolate (if not quarantined in the rumored government center). Pray with us that we see him soon. Like, really soon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Of our SIM team in the near area, 3 of the 5 units need to return to their home countries for various, valid reasons.</div>
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Yesterday we farewelled our New Zealand family.</div>
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This morning, after a night of Tiger popping out of bed like popcorn, I cling to God, to faith over fear. I begged God for an outward focus on others. But my mind struggles to go there. Directly outside of our gate, there are people in one-room tin houses. Our neighbors are day laborers. No work, no money for food, no back up resources.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I bought soap in large quantity to give out and I planted a garden with Tiger and Miss T, because I DON’T KNOW. Sweet A has said I am not showing motivation for them to finish 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I want to be normal and follow the same schedule for their sakes, but currently, life is not normal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And it's not all bad. The Bibles we have to give out for Easter distribution are now being gratefully received as a place of hope in light of a hopeless situation. God is working and we all know it. </div>
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As I pushed seeds into the dirt in the tiny garden in an act of hope, an act of expectation, an act of acknowledging God as the bringer of all growth, my heart calmed. My thoughts went from, “Will there really be fuel shortages, food shortages, all flights at a halt? What will happen when one of us needs a hospital for any reason? How long before we can be with Jon again?” to beginning to think how we could be a legitimate help to the some of the most vulnerable in the population. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I contacted a friend at the <a href="https://www.gracecenterfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Grace Center</a>, an amazing organization striving to keep families together, where many of the children who attend are at significant risk of food shortages. They would love donations to be able to supplement food to the single mothers who will not be able to work at their day laborer jobs. <a href="https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E349093&id=3" target="_blank">You can give here</a>. </div>
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This is a place, that as we are there on a weekly basis, we have met a father with a baby on his back, his wife had just died and he was looking for food. The very place I send the beggar children, the begging mothers because I know there, they will find food and sustainable solutions.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I just got the following text from a friend who works there...<br />
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“We have to close the daycare. It will cost $4,000 usd to cover families expenses they will not be able to cover due to not working. If it goes beyond two weeks, we will need outside assistance or will have to get permission from the ministry of health to keep the daycare open to prevent starvation and homelessness...they say to stock up for two weeks of food, most of our families cannot even afford soap.”<br />
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Another friend from <a href="https://www.simstories.org/all-stories/2019/4/12/hidden-abilities" target="_blank">Hidden Abilities</a> is heartbroken over the necessary decision to close down very soon as the children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to being exposed. She also expressed they would so appreciate money to give to desperate families. You can give to this organization through the SIM USA website, project number #092936 or send donations to us and let us know how to designate it. </div>
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Will you join me in fighting our fear and practicing our faith by giving generously during this time? How can we engage our kids in this work? Please brainstorm with me in the comments, can they do big jobs around the house for money for vulnerable peoples? Can they make something to sell to raise funds? What ideas have you already implemented or thought about to help the needy around you, wherever that may be?</div>
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With ❤️ From Ethiopia 🇪🇹 ,</div>
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Team Gerst</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-13051598854994482832020-03-14T00:50:00.000-07:002020-03-14T05:16:08.714-07:00Though The Earth Gives Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The dust ominously is blowing in from the Sahara Desert this
morning, blocking our morning sunshine with its bleak, thick presence. I don’t
know what is covered in USA news but there has also been a thick cloud of
locusts decimating crops around East Africa. This will very likely cause famine
in regions. </div>
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Ethiopia had it's first confirmed COVID-19 case yesterday. So did Kenya. Jon is required to leave Ethiopia based on some immigration issues, so he is heading to Kenya. With the rapidly changing worldwide landscape, and rumors swirling of government quarantines, the only thing to do is settle into the unknown, trying not to speculate but knowing God is sovereign.<br />
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UPDATED: Things are changing so quickly, borders are closing, we need prayers for wisdom, if Jon is required to travel, we may all need to stick together.<br />
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UPDATED AGAIN: I have eaten an entire bar or chocolate. Just Jon will travel to Kenya on Sunday night. Pray for an expedient process and quick return on a visa so he will reunite quickly. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYanasKNQetrSLPaGcJPYK5cDVRNSfdvn6fzWzBR7o9q5yD7kfJHJTDUtH9a2-tbXGJur_UBq0sjre5EpfDyvAexIUQR9fCAOFO9gXzj0TclBvIVT4pjVw6NBE4ioZct_YZC5UCtyK4lPc/s1600/IMG_1596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYanasKNQetrSLPaGcJPYK5cDVRNSfdvn6fzWzBR7o9q5yD7kfJHJTDUtH9a2-tbXGJur_UBq0sjre5EpfDyvAexIUQR9fCAOFO9gXzj0TclBvIVT4pjVw6NBE4ioZct_YZC5UCtyK4lPc/s400/IMG_1596.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in Addis Ababa at the immigration office. We turned in our green cards.</td></tr>
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When I think of COVID-19 here, with the vulnerable populations and lacking medical care, my heart is overwhelmed. But I marvel at a big and mighty God who has the whole world in his hands. </div>
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As I think of possible quarantine, my privilege is not lost on me. It doesn't mean my family will be
hungry, or that we are shoved into a tiny, one-room, hot, tin house. As I think of possible famine, this doesn't mean my family will starve. </div>
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I also realize how something that can stop the world in it's tracks has been revealing to me about where my hope lies and-YIKES-dare I confess-my hidden idols. Like idols of being able to freely travel, idols of security and comfort, independence. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37gn7GfnmkT225Qdri5G12b59Htu1gKyj00r2ry0GQ_03rqJeCX_hyDOpp4z8gUyKYN_fu2KKRiTVeZLT3UtKKtQtD6CmIjCXR7ivujW9ER-MmNcjgfqgNVW3e6IbtHLB5pjONbbNNaB3/s1600/IMG_1538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37gn7GfnmkT225Qdri5G12b59Htu1gKyj00r2ry0GQ_03rqJeCX_hyDOpp4z8gUyKYN_fu2KKRiTVeZLT3UtKKtQtD6CmIjCXR7ivujW9ER-MmNcjgfqgNVW3e6IbtHLB5pjONbbNNaB3/s400/IMG_1538.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone turned 3! I can't quite handle the fact that our youngest is 3. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Today, I breathe deeply in knowing God is in control.</div>
<div class="poetry" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-46-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: 0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: -3em; line-height: 0.8em; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px;">46 </span>God is our<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>refuge and strength,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">a very<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>present<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>help in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>trouble.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-2" id="en-ESV-14617" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>Therefore we will not fear<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>though the earth gives way,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">though the mountains be moved into<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the heart of the sea,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-3" id="en-ESV-14618" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>though<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>its waters roar and foam,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">though the mountains tremble at its swelling.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="selah" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<span class="text Ps-46-4" id="en-ESV-14619" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>There is<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>a river whose streams make glad<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the city of God,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the holy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>habitation of the Most High.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-5" id="en-ESV-14620" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">God will help her when morning dawns.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-6" id="en-ESV-14621" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>utters his voice, the earth<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>melts.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-7" id="en-ESV-14622" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </sup>The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of hosts is with us;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the God of Jacob is our fortress.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="selah" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<span class="text Ps-46-8" id="en-ESV-14623" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>Come, behold the works of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">how he has brought desolations on the earth.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-9" id="en-ESV-14624" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>breaks the bow and shatters the spear;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he burns the chariots with fire.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-10" id="en-ESV-14625" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>“Be still, and know that I am God.</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will be exalted among the nations,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will be exalted in the earth!”</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-46-11" id="en-ESV-14626" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>The<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of hosts is with us;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-46-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the God of Jacob is our fortress.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="selah" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin-left: 2em;">Selah</span></span></span></div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-25062131745607604502020-02-26T09:48:00.000-08:002020-02-26T09:48:03.844-08:00In the Big and the Small<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tiger is nestled beside me on the couch. He is peering over my shoulder, scrubbed squeaky clean, smelling delicious and hoping the screen suddenly turns from blogger to "Sesame Street" or "Octonauts". Bless him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rgamCWl3ZFUdJMZjH6AnLSZoM22WzZgxRsYWD_Ofk1hSOPnG3LyJbJxYFFDWmY7RI52krE7iyVhvD3ryLaZSWGwsmLvXuNBK3Zk6ZNjI809McE4M057ER_zRCtWCTen6sT605eHIPyjO/s1600/IMG_2877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rgamCWl3ZFUdJMZjH6AnLSZoM22WzZgxRsYWD_Ofk1hSOPnG3LyJbJxYFFDWmY7RI52krE7iyVhvD3ryLaZSWGwsmLvXuNBK3Zk6ZNjI809McE4M057ER_zRCtWCTen6sT605eHIPyjO/s320/IMG_2877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Miss T hustled down the stairs in her pjs for her own nighttime blessing. It's hard to recognize her at night because she is not in gaudy heels and a cheap princess dress. "Mommy, I love you and I like to play with you". Bless her. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o6jv-WXG-kd7QZtrCCAumhSEM0-1NVdjONliVQxBXdn7MsgboQs9XSjLqpKObt99aJ32G81ZjJd7BlAwj9UxWKufZw2KXwG9pRf87lcEpwquKtm9k1piGXJ4mt8pY7GHx_vUe6XD4Adn/s1600/IMG_2918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o6jv-WXG-kd7QZtrCCAumhSEM0-1NVdjONliVQxBXdn7MsgboQs9XSjLqpKObt99aJ32G81ZjJd7BlAwj9UxWKufZw2KXwG9pRf87lcEpwquKtm9k1piGXJ4mt8pY7GHx_vUe6XD4Adn/s320/IMG_2918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Ethiopian Orthodox fasting started on Monday which means most of our neighbors are eating a vegan diet and fasting every morning until early afternoon in a lead up to Easter. To live in a cultural so intentionally religious, I've been challenged in my intentional mindfulness leading up to Easter (and Christmas in its season). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtGVX1FYc2M-py6K8_n3OfinAdkalg03XTs3MX2yDPxIH-Of9Hqv9SBDUy8Cez6m94zUrBvaXXIqAyVK6GuRd3_kZGn_aq8_6oGreKI_-ySOO29Y5Z7qO1643oVHJd7qFKZWPEMez3joA/s1600/IMG_2707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtGVX1FYc2M-py6K8_n3OfinAdkalg03XTs3MX2yDPxIH-Of9Hqv9SBDUy8Cez6m94zUrBvaXXIqAyVK6GuRd3_kZGn_aq8_6oGreKI_-ySOO29Y5Z7qO1643oVHJd7qFKZWPEMez3joA/s320/IMG_2707.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am in such a different season now. The majority of days are within our walls. The Littles are digging the routine and have settled in. Jon travels much more than he used to, one of the reasons we made the move to a city, and I am thankful for teammate support here. The girls and I press into our new weekly preschool class at the Grace Center, I rejoice to watch J and A grow in confidence. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VdF_7z3wa4A10g1IIwWgB1yBqEhN2A1F_c8Gn2nzSsss4Uo_ftEq0_uVgR5Z6FlfyW-O_VTokIyUs5uAmcifKUoJ90btem_DCZDK3XrYtfxXXa349Hxzh4h2siFtyl6Er3_593cSPRsx/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VdF_7z3wa4A10g1IIwWgB1yBqEhN2A1F_c8Gn2nzSsss4Uo_ftEq0_uVgR5Z6FlfyW-O_VTokIyUs5uAmcifKUoJ90btem_DCZDK3XrYtfxXXa349Hxzh4h2siFtyl6Er3_593cSPRsx/s320/IMG_2939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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God has also brought some new relationships into their lives and I see another prayer being answered, as another reason for the move was for social opportunities for them and English-speaking friends. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMsoBi9FjEbqOwgDzudVytMZJe8UjVBtja0iduFlnwaFmX8GQ8uORotE0crla_rndl7V4qJ48T83DJD4IFyJLWLNiE24puDRFxI2CbEw1lM3_FseRpHCbvhjRuXxmRkXTw4Tsqt1H7R5r/s1600/b3470f29-47de-41cf-b30c-b95b659333e7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMsoBi9FjEbqOwgDzudVytMZJe8UjVBtja0iduFlnwaFmX8GQ8uORotE0crla_rndl7V4qJ48T83DJD4IFyJLWLNiE24puDRFxI2CbEw1lM3_FseRpHCbvhjRuXxmRkXTw4Tsqt1H7R5r/s320/b3470f29-47de-41cf-b30c-b95b659333e7.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our big house here teems with guests, for meals, for overnights, for play dates and prayer meetings. I'm thankful at how often our guest rooms are filled. It is so starkly different from our rustic, rural life but I am reminded over and over that God is in this and providing. Layers of who I perceived myself to be are being stripped away and I return in desperation to Christ being the only place where my identity can lie. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGVsP87ys_UkV6rYSL7Z_AhJ48WX6lbof391OPfbv7GN8KEooHojAZTUmxSMndT0go7A16YAyihSs4RUQ_CNKHDdQhA8eu3EHoEnNJsEcvNHB0pRlW6NRccaVnHc-Lw9x-ZlnXhf0Wfza/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGVsP87ys_UkV6rYSL7Z_AhJ48WX6lbof391OPfbv7GN8KEooHojAZTUmxSMndT0go7A16YAyihSs4RUQ_CNKHDdQhA8eu3EHoEnNJsEcvNHB0pRlW6NRccaVnHc-Lw9x-ZlnXhf0Wfza/s320/IMG_2850.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On the very best of days, J and A can be convinced to do "preschool" with Tiger and Miss T.</div>
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The list of my wish-I-could-get-involved-ins is longer by the day. But the Spirit continues to impress me with the need for a stable, routine, discipling and slow-paced life for myself and the kids between all the times we have to travel. I don't want to move into something "big" just so I don't feel "small". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_V0daB-h99QLUkUyeqUCbQVhHIz-zu6Q-r6gb6RHcg3WVDwVtTOz2gqRZFDlU05Jpk1GQoKJIsn-h3Y30VmtAZvVsjHchSadBv-5AYhvPT-yeHg5nP1kZQ7nAQmbtxrbR-wr4octBNS1/s1600/IMG_2885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_V0daB-h99QLUkUyeqUCbQVhHIz-zu6Q-r6gb6RHcg3WVDwVtTOz2gqRZFDlU05Jpk1GQoKJIsn-h3Y30VmtAZvVsjHchSadBv-5AYhvPT-yeHg5nP1kZQ7nAQmbtxrbR-wr4octBNS1/s320/IMG_2885.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have visitors coming this month from Indiana! Shane and Stef and kids, we are so excited to have you here! They are planning on bringing luggage for us an<a href="https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084cacab23aaff2-team" target="_blank">d here's a wishlist</a> if you would like to be involved. Have I told you how humbling it is to get visitors, to be remembered, to be prayed for? I don't know where we would be without your support. And I mean that. One day, my mom shared with me of hearing from a woman that I don't even know who prays for us everyday. I started to cry, astounded and humbled at this gift we can never repay but then frustrated with myself. I told Jon, "Can you even imagine what a mess I would be without these prayers?!?" ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FBUpXh9BiC6P9oKUHM8FmSjK-NhXF4PeOpcnnkusLZgRFTkvps8VbSKML3_AHY1R-lWIAdhfZFN1IfEBXFm8gaFem7aRDWhJdbhsXhry_xSVl38Btn9Zp8MHE1EYASmmV-1A1Qu2-WVJ/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FBUpXh9BiC6P9oKUHM8FmSjK-NhXF4PeOpcnnkusLZgRFTkvps8VbSKML3_AHY1R-lWIAdhfZFN1IfEBXFm8gaFem7aRDWhJdbhsXhry_xSVl38Btn9Zp8MHE1EYASmmV-1A1Qu2-WVJ/s320/IMG_2779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whole crew has to travel to Addis Ababa on March 8th for visa issues and from there, Jon has to exit the country while the kids and I can stay. He will most likely go to Kenya to do an e-visa process, and take advantage of the time to visit KIBIR partners. I asked if I could be the one with the exit visa and have to exile to Bora Bora or somewhere difficult ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0Rhdmv-1ZoDYDfdZuhgF2GfX7qhpdTxdl3OyA6aoZypTlLn2aGe4eo2paReubjPlVigHcSm5XlZBUq2Nc0Dzn6P2e7w0xHJMnjxDtsZRSBIUBtfTVR7hL0gbi8pC3tSeyehmhTnN55lC/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0Rhdmv-1ZoDYDfdZuhgF2GfX7qhpdTxdl3OyA6aoZypTlLn2aGe4eo2paReubjPlVigHcSm5XlZBUq2Nc0Dzn6P2e7w0xHJMnjxDtsZRSBIUBtfTVR7hL0gbi8pC3tSeyehmhTnN55lC/s320/IMG_2798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Can you spot the hornbills? This is the tree outside our bedroom window and a pair of hornbills are frequent visitors. They are mesmerizing.</div>
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Join us as we continue in prayer for our new Bahir Dar neighbors, the Awi people and to move forward in faithfulness with however God wants to use KIBIR Consultants. </div>
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And a few resources I've loved/learned from or want to dig into!</div>
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<a href="https://www.gordonconwell.edu/blog/100christians/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=8083202ab80dab37445aae8b3d0d3ab104dc8bcf-1582738150-0-AfTUG7eXy9xL1wzX8HEz5TuHZxVR8C5kFfT16pX_ac_tsOWD3WOiI_WP4LJN1YvHeqYF9F_uRNJSrTRndAiGNGiX4vCVWXDVwlnuzmpMGuliXWXUpMxajIKplBkz2hQtnlgq5KN8JmpVxshop02JUHlFfJKf2fCHzwc9pN8uPiSZv2kuU4woKd7qCUOEvXh2bbLuGYK7w7az2BJcoHSebhR35fctXjp6g5K7o4MBTpStPQ1ahJ5KU5O07PnpTzcFjv_6dbx0eoIb55w1JRTGp14iHb-OjifUygSu2cmCj6lpLCb7sszmlsfxwoel9gRv1vWNBlulunLVwvYcFrpwpqinLP4mxe8bXORFvUCDodc4" target="_blank">The World as 100 Christians</a></div>
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Homeschool moms, SS teachers, Pastors, everyone, take time with this graphic. God is so amazing.</div>
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<a href="https://weavefamily.org/live-out-gods-work-8/" target="_blank">You are Always Welcome</a></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; color: #593e34; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Children are naturally curious about new people. Use this family activity to cultivate a habit of welcoming those from other cultures into your home. It will help your family participate in loving others like God does. It also provides practice in asking appropriate questions that may lead to deeper conversations.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; color: #593e34; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://weavefamily.org/resource/window-kids-recipes-of-the-1040-window/" target="_blank">60 Recipes for Kids from the 10/40 Window</a></span></div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-23088130328297500282020-02-10T09:59:00.003-08:002020-02-10T10:01:24.201-08:00Heellloo?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm not even going to apologize for the long absence here...how many times do I say I will revive the blog and not do it will you still believe me? Are you still there? </div>
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If you are, thank you for your loyalty and your prayers. </div>
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I still write blog posts in my head, during the morning hours when creativity oozes through but I'm juggling morning school, rowdy toddlers and marveling how quickly everything is a mess, every day. When I get to a window of space in my day, the only inspiration I have is to power nap and fold laundry. </div>
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But tonight, after the gentle prompting of a friend (thanks Margo) our littles are in bed, Jon is trying to teach Rummikub to the bigs (bless him) and I've settled knowing this tired brain won't etch out a riveting piece, but rather a signal across the miles, "Heeeellllooo, I'm still here!" </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr827h9Qq9hNobuFSmpummX5XCqELQsJqPzIHRLqy_tdHDs6L0igO_lyzG72234-A7wsyW-eyx4qBY4QubTZ_oDLSkYf8r9VykU0y8SrozT_dmgP4aK1mqfH549OxPxd1EnjX2SCWYJ70d/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr827h9Qq9hNobuFSmpummX5XCqELQsJqPzIHRLqy_tdHDs6L0igO_lyzG72234-A7wsyW-eyx4qBY4QubTZ_oDLSkYf8r9VykU0y8SrozT_dmgP4aK1mqfH549OxPxd1EnjX2SCWYJ70d/s320/IMG_0603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since arriving back on Ethiopian soil, we've been able to host at our new house, attend a conference in Addis Ababa and visit our old village neighborhood. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnX_c72rGcyDQ45HO-HQ4AEPz7raDd9jhC1Q4-xNzl7zzKTPrPige65EmutQySgtnag3chxGUL2FizelRBrkJ9iZ7JIIjPynMGjMYlWLompYnFrdNYfIymyBrM-OhCw5XuqDTIS7BD6_c/s1600/IMG_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnX_c72rGcyDQ45HO-HQ4AEPz7raDd9jhC1Q4-xNzl7zzKTPrPige65EmutQySgtnag3chxGUL2FizelRBrkJ9iZ7JIIjPynMGjMYlWLompYnFrdNYfIymyBrM-OhCw5XuqDTIS7BD6_c/s320/IMG_0645.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It was amazingly sweet to be back in Injibara.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidbNi2jTPWHasJ22Q-mkXzDl6I5JlAcFLWq7Mx5yd87zhGsw8itR2s38DW9QFg81IHyI9CHb4Qs-3rzG1Cb04P0e8-SEzHX-jVthmNM_PU9ouAJq6-qcltpDwZUXGqZGFwEE1fk39ITLS/s1600/IMG_0659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidbNi2jTPWHasJ22Q-mkXzDl6I5JlAcFLWq7Mx5yd87zhGsw8itR2s38DW9QFg81IHyI9CHb4Qs-3rzG1Cb04P0e8-SEzHX-jVthmNM_PU9ouAJq6-qcltpDwZUXGqZGFwEE1fk39ITLS/s320/IMG_0659.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And though all of the pictures on this post are from this time, also incredibly sweet to feel roots beginning to push deeper into our Bahir Dar soil.</div>
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The words beneath the pictures aren't captions, just the scattered last paragraph</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8mRveavD-TFNPFR_cBS40JnJOCpxreTwUvleVpVG6UQ3SsRGDH_mvN1yc-1-Y-H3ZXP7KkkY31ikzRYTIgJyUkCBT1tSO48ssg2HwBaIqpiziy1gmZ7nGYM50KuYwBBFij6rosXd8jg7/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8mRveavD-TFNPFR_cBS40JnJOCpxreTwUvleVpVG6UQ3SsRGDH_mvN1yc-1-Y-H3ZXP7KkkY31ikzRYTIgJyUkCBT1tSO48ssg2HwBaIqpiziy1gmZ7nGYM50KuYwBBFij6rosXd8jg7/s320/IMG_0694.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We are working out new rhythms and routines. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljAkvlfyfYC-LZiKSFQh1r6SYnLKEIKgSRN8jVPixDg5DV0HX_Hthykk6KYEtCc0BSGLVBXvBpEPxwHe5W_C2kjGLPMO22PDoV-tzLErXMw3T6hfU4rdih3iEezgbJYXUZ2kVuBxgsqPq/s1600/IMG_0706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljAkvlfyfYC-LZiKSFQh1r6SYnLKEIKgSRN8jVPixDg5DV0HX_Hthykk6KYEtCc0BSGLVBXvBpEPxwHe5W_C2kjGLPMO22PDoV-tzLErXMw3T6hfU4rdih3iEezgbJYXUZ2kVuBxgsqPq/s320/IMG_0706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The girls and I have our first chance to teach an English speaking preschool at the <a href="https://www.gracecenterfoundation.com/about-us" target="_blank">Grace Center</a>, something we hope to do on a weekly basis</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kSSFuQhMfksggC2ITdbkBLSLd16rfQgbWfe4bK-AFQdlBhyWiPnVtf2EXdvmr_yvl4lzAGEiV9iajovsYCvHQTwc5GzrdxX1yh1H4NUhcyDR3wTKWmlLEREpiwfBcIMlw94Khn2Ulim7/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kSSFuQhMfksggC2ITdbkBLSLd16rfQgbWfe4bK-AFQdlBhyWiPnVtf2EXdvmr_yvl4lzAGEiV9iajovsYCvHQTwc5GzrdxX1yh1H4NUhcyDR3wTKWmlLEREpiwfBcIMlw94Khn2Ulim7/s320/IMG_0724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we walk familiar trails, we also find new ones.</div>
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4th grade moves forward and in the midst of travels, we are behind but hopeful to keep learning about this great, big world around us. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIaK4TAUOfXpUSyyQQrkVimobmKewHuiuBOMuWuaC5-xsvVfurPojD40DGNLezclXjl3_JzYWgbEpi0zkl1qby05roN1wpaLErCb8tVsnGTWE9eqVw3ld-xd7l9HZFgbM9z_qDJRNIa4z/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIaK4TAUOfXpUSyyQQrkVimobmKewHuiuBOMuWuaC5-xsvVfurPojD40DGNLezclXjl3_JzYWgbEpi0zkl1qby05roN1wpaLErCb8tVsnGTWE9eqVw3ld-xd7l9HZFgbM9z_qDJRNIa4z/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With these hooligans in tow, making everything so much harder and so much cuter.</div>
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We stretch into our new season, praying to be effective in our new community as well as how to reach to our Awi community.</div>
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This week, a sick, pregnant friend (not pictured) will stay with us. She is not well and I need prayer for wisdom, compassion, energy and language as we support her. Pray God opens her eyes to him.</div>
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Thank you all for the ways you love us and so faithfully pray.</div>
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Praise God he is able!</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-52015576771825594142019-11-29T06:21:00.000-08:002019-11-29T06:21:05.919-08:00Can He Be Enough?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our bigs, J and A, joined me in the kitchen. As A came near she asked, "Mom, who is going back with us?"<br />
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"You mean to Ethiopia? It is just going to be our six."<br />
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She flung herself into a chair, obviously anxious.<br />
"But Moooooomm, can't anyone come? Can't you find a girl who wants to be with us? It will just be us in our new house where we don't know anybody!"<br />
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I took a deep breath and calmly launched into my mom voice, "Girls, I know it is going to be hard and we are starting over in a new community, and after so much time with family and friends, we will feel lonely, me too. <b>Do you believe God can be enough for us?</b>"<br />
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The answer came quickly to my mind because it is what I've been begging our Father. We know He is enough but in the midst of so much transition and change, we grasp at what feels good and comfortable and scramble away from the impending grief of uprooting again.<br />
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My challenge to the girls has been echoing in my head.<br />
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"Do I believe God can be enough for me?"<br />
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We leave during the night of December 3rd, full of excitement, nerves, some dread, joy and some fear.<br />
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And we know God is enough. Pray with us that we never forget this truth.<br />
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When I went to pull up pictures on Jon's computer, I can only be thankful the littles are toddlers and not infants, and get hungry for Ethiopian food. My one indulgent throwback picture.</div>
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I rest in this truth. God is enough.</div>
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He is enough for our children.</div>
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He is enough for our preteen stage.</div>
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He is enough for our jet lag and sleepless that comes.</div>
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He is enough for each moment to come.</div>
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Father, help us believe. </div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-81833550071843178392019-05-16T10:01:00.002-07:002019-05-16T10:02:15.127-07:00Never Once<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Never Once</div>
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Matt Redman</div>
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Standing on this mountaintop</div>
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Looking just have far we've come</div>
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Knowing that for every step</div>
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You were with us</div>
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Kneeling on this battle ground</div>
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Seeing just how much You've done</div>
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Knowing every victory </div>
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Was your power in us</div>
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Scars and struggles on the way</div>
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But with joy our hearts can say</div>
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Yes, our hearts can say</div>
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Never once did we ever walk alone</div>
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Never once did You leave us on our own</div>
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You are faithful, God, You are faithful</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-12343339650574103882019-04-19T05:18:00.001-07:002019-04-19T07:02:35.302-07:00"He Doesn't Hear My Prayers"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The mood was heavy and dark as we sat in the dimly lit hut. Once again, the family was without food and had no ability to change it. Their hard work of planting seedlings and daily watering won’t come to profit until June and that doesn’t fill the hungry bellies now. Their three wells, even the newly dug one, are dried up and along with it, their hope. They are tired, even their little ones are sluggish with dull eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After making provision for the family’s immediate future, I took our four kiddos back home while Jon and Misikir (visiting from Addis) stayed behind. As they peered with the family into the dried and crumbling wells, Misikir offered a humble prayer to God for rain and provision for the family. It’s not the season for rain, we’re through the short rains, and have over a month before the long rains start. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last night, it started to rain, slow and steady through the night. Jon visited the family again this morning and the wife told Jon, “Yes, God answers prayers for you and for Misikir. He doesn’t answer my prayers”. I have time to type now as we had to bump off our afternoon invite and the drum of heavy rain on the tin roof warns us to hold off on the hike. It's raining, again. Pounding, pouring, heavy rain. <b>Updated to add</b>, as we walk, wet under our umbrellas, I asked why Jon hadn't told me they prayed this as I have sent all our rain boots and rain jackets ahead to our new home in Bahir Dar. We pass neighbors who exclaim, "What is happening?! Suddenly the rain is upon us!" and "This is a gift of God!" I pass the house of our friend with the empty wells. She is standing under her tin awning. We laugh across the distance and I yell, "God was thinking of you when he sent the rains to bless us all." She smiles and laughs, her eyes twinkling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Praise God with us for the miraculous change in weather and ask God with us for hope to be known and felt within our community. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I sat today with open Bibles with several women, rejoicing in the glorious opposites we get to celebrate and praying God turns hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our Easter isn’t until next week but what a picture, Friday during Holy Week is called “the hanging” in Amharic. What a day it was. A day when darkness, lies and fear ruled, when a day like Sunday seemed impossible. But Sunday is coming and the opposite will come, Light, Truth and Love wins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you, Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-33333112404323020992019-04-15T06:07:00.000-07:002019-04-15T06:07:00.195-07:00On The Horizon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQayTeyCMwTsrY7GzXUMwIjbGMjaSfTPNYXthC8Q3VLz_mMtxUnQ6hOdEOVcNhK_DDskevrJ06re5sMilql8B17u1a8ju1GwVMKiLV-cW2axSy0skuOeG4qYD2bS41zaOxR6hgS1hHuU3V/s1600/68F0CEFA-34B9-456D-BA22-EE7101653023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Home Assignment is around the corner. We will celebrate Easter here, butcher and prepare 5 sheep (and chop 100+ pounds of onions) as we farewell our community (goodbyes and moving is not my thing) and then move and spend the last three weeks in May, settling into our new city. The month of June we will be in Addis Ababa (AA) wrapping up things in the capital and then spend the last half of the month visiting friends on a vacation before a conference/retreat designed for counseling and refreshment of cross-cultural workers. We are praising God for this provision as I’m feeling…just a second…I am trying to think of the right, honest word…tattered?…no, too alarming…tired? Not adequate…Let's just say, ”I'm not at my peak”. The past two years in Ethiopia have been full of challenge and abundance, God’s miraculous provision never absent. A constant stalwart and strength through our weakness.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQayTeyCMwTsrY7GzXUMwIjbGMjaSfTPNYXthC8Q3VLz_mMtxUnQ6hOdEOVcNhK_DDskevrJ06re5sMilql8B17u1a8ju1GwVMKiLV-cW2axSy0skuOeG4qYD2bS41zaOxR6hgS1hHuU3V/s1600/68F0CEFA-34B9-456D-BA22-EE7101653023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQayTeyCMwTsrY7GzXUMwIjbGMjaSfTPNYXthC8Q3VLz_mMtxUnQ6hOdEOVcNhK_DDskevrJ06re5sMilql8B17u1a8ju1GwVMKiLV-cW2axSy0skuOeG4qYD2bS41zaOxR6hgS1hHuU3V/s400/68F0CEFA-34B9-456D-BA22-EE7101653023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knocking to-do's off our bucket list, like movie night in the hut.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdsU5HkxBFSOyIPOqyVHvDsOkbWHLVfQcov_S54rrgGmDM4dlKh10ThAWe8x2WUfkNPNLXsdL6d92WuJhaoPFY6vaf4NlNf75v9nPwIhx29MftVO-KXzafVKqIjtClO2bUpksooTOuxbH/s1600/IMG_6086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdsU5HkxBFSOyIPOqyVHvDsOkbWHLVfQcov_S54rrgGmDM4dlKh10ThAWe8x2WUfkNPNLXsdL6d92WuJhaoPFY6vaf4NlNf75v9nPwIhx29MftVO-KXzafVKqIjtClO2bUpksooTOuxbH/s400/IMG_6086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger and Miss T love the shepherd life for about an hour.</td></tr>
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I feel like our trip back to the USA is our “finish line”, like I just need to keep pushing and not stop and make it there but in reality, it's another “start line”, getting through jet lag, with a strong desire to build memories, acclimate, snuggle nieces and nephews (we have four little ones in our immediate families we have never yet met), share with friends and churches what God is doing, pack in two-years of doctor, eye, dentist and other appointments, and eat so many yummy foods and doing this while feeling a little “green”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From a previous post:</div>
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Let’s assign the USA a color,<strong><span style="color: #fffb00;">yellow</span></strong>.</div>
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Before, we thought <span style="color: #fffb00;"><strong>yellow</strong></span>, we dreamed<span style="color: #fffb00;"><strong>yellow</strong></span>, we were <strong><span style="color: #fffb00;">yellow</span>.</strong></div>
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<strong style="font-size: 16px;">We love <span style="color: #fffb00;">yellow</span>.</strong></div>
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For the sake of the illustration, Ethiopia is<strong><span style="color: #0433ff;">blue</span></strong>.</div>
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We now partake in many <span style="color: #0433ff;"><strong>blue</strong></span>events, we eat <span style="color: #0433ff;"><strong>blue</strong></span>, try to understand <span style="color: #0433ff;"><strong>blue</strong></span>, and where appropriate, we are trying to be<span style="color: #0433ff;"><strong>blue</strong></span>.</div>
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<strong>We love <span style="color: #0433ff;">blue</span>.</strong></div>
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<strong>And we come out a nice shade of <span style="color: #00f900;">green</span>. </strong></div>
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One foot in two worlds, straddling both, trying to juggle in spite of our awkward fumbles, leaving us feeling a bit out of sync in both.</div>
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Before a home assignment years ago I wrote <a href="http://jonandamyg.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-kids-might-call-you-fat.html" target="_blank">“My Kids Might Call You Fat”</a> when I wrote about our cultural combination, I see now it's amplified now as Tiger and Miss T were so young when they came and as our time has lengthened here, we aren't sure which way is "home". Miss T is the most Ethiopian of our family and huts are her dream scene. Animals underfoot, people feeding her in every direction. The other three love it as well but are less comfortable being the center of attention in group settings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSiKqIBZYgLvT3BVzmo6T9fsx54vcGy0394bhB5IYS6BwInR-CkYSocpNzwkgdCHlxZdG8VAr1sn6RA11c4y-1-O9Yz0l8GspqEvrDqq3jhdc0iAWgQ-oaFwbzKh7HVS5UGx171XiiqzC/s1600/IMG_5996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSiKqIBZYgLvT3BVzmo6T9fsx54vcGy0394bhB5IYS6BwInR-CkYSocpNzwkgdCHlxZdG8VAr1sn6RA11c4y-1-O9Yz0l8GspqEvrDqq3jhdc0iAWgQ-oaFwbzKh7HVS5UGx171XiiqzC/s400/IMG_5996.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not everyone can climb a staircase to the attic and watch whoever is on the toilet or doing laundry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b11rTUbHNCuFjYL5WkNi7ZQZK2zyOUC5zAqiv-4yqfPh0_4fclPbbaMpvy8D_A5o3c8Sox9VkeQpYuuxhUDtqZvWCEn6RrdQiPQf-_4W3XUCnEqlCYTfXrDFUjPcdj0q5Mmig0lB1lJ8/s1600/IMG_6011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b11rTUbHNCuFjYL5WkNi7ZQZK2zyOUC5zAqiv-4yqfPh0_4fclPbbaMpvy8D_A5o3c8Sox9VkeQpYuuxhUDtqZvWCEn6RrdQiPQf-_4W3XUCnEqlCYTfXrDFUjPcdj0q5Mmig0lB1lJ8/s400/IMG_6011.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The strength of my neighbor women will always amaze me.</td></tr>
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Exploring spaces, finding monkeys and bee hives.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A loaded plaster truck crashed nearby and J and A were so excited for "snow!". Sorry for your Easter snow. </td></tr>
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And our focused, intent son started to fold diapers like a boss. He won't talk during it, he is so focused.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blankie rides</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7X5pqmhkkM7wcdaXUIfuFw_QKA8GqjK6NJB1GrWLC5TpCxaBSVWaKt-pczWFqWNu5DT5Y6Bw24oB6X_eelc9EeAj2hUAOk8p5FStrjoX0nCdzw0dM08e38U8-KOgqZF76MhDwc7H48UZ/s1600/IMG_6225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7X5pqmhkkM7wcdaXUIfuFw_QKA8GqjK6NJB1GrWLC5TpCxaBSVWaKt-pczWFqWNu5DT5Y6Bw24oB6X_eelc9EeAj2hUAOk8p5FStrjoX0nCdzw0dM08e38U8-KOgqZF76MhDwc7H48UZ/s400/IMG_6225.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are hosting a KIBIR Retreat here and while wiffleball isn't on the schedule, it's always fun to teach and learn new games. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's started. They are raiding my clothes and wearing my t-shirts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church and time together in prayer<br /></td></tr>
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Thank you all for your capacity to care about us and our neighbors. </div>
Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-14171641511156530972019-04-10T10:56:00.001-07:002019-04-10T10:56:52.897-07:00That Holy Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am walking through a season of grief, of learning and repenting (maybe more to come on the learning and repenting later :)). I’m searching to find purpose in the moments and realize they may just wash over me and I ask God for deep roots in Him that I may stand firm. It’s a hard space but it’s holy and sacred as I again acutely see my weakness, my complicity in patterns of this world and my heart so quick to stray from the Words of truth and hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a sense of urgency in my mind as my tired arms go through the motions of life. (Does anyone else feel like as soon as you get dishes done it’s time for another meal prep?) But I am reminded here in these mundane things that there is no time to waste, no time to not consecrate to God. If you are a soccer mom, use that holy space to proclaim hope and love to all those around you. If you are in a stage of diapers or the time of cubicles, there are people all around you, yearning for the hope that we have as children of God, disciples of Jesus, radiating from us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Additionally, as we wrap up our time in our village, I visualize a deep and fleshy root system, being ripped from the soil and slowly, trying to carefully unwind roots that are entangled with others. It’s hard but by God's grace, I press into this holy space.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">And on another topic, I never posted pictures of Jake and Meika's visit! It was such a sweet time. Here's a captionless smattering of photos. Someday, I am going to get all organized with pictures but not today. ;)</span></div>
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Sending love across the miles.</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-87750912310795684852019-04-01T02:04:00.002-07:002019-04-01T02:04:33.689-07:00The Climb<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Months ago, I decided when it was time to climb a mountain, I would send Jon, girls and any others around and it made so much more sense if I stayed back with the Littles. </div>
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Our family is currently working on our bucket list of things important to do as a family in the highlands as we prepare to move in a month. (If this is new, a newsletter just came out, I can send one to you). In short, we are relocating within Ethiopia, we are thankful and excited for how God is directing but in deep grief over the move. We will be able to visit our community here and hope to often as our hearts are deeply imbedded here.)</div>
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It's important to create these memories together and it redeemed hiking with littles in my mind. </div>
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J and A ran ahead and crawled through caves while I tried to chill about hyena holes.</div>
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Miss T held a stick and asked Tiger to say, "Cheese!"</div>
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Miss T is part bear. She hiked herself up the mountain, unphased by the drop-offs, thistles and steep surfaces. She is a hard one to describe but she is a hearty, little one, full of grit and giggles. </div>
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Tiger is on the more cautious side and we made slower progress as his steps are selected with thought and he's in a stage of asking what the name of every plant is. Thoughtful and with a running commentary. "Mama, what is it? Be careful, I'm falling. I'm a strong boy, I'm on an adventure, hold you mommy!" </div>
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The girls were 3 1/2 and scared the first time they hiked this mountain.</div>
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Now I can't keep in eyesight and beg them to stay from the edges</div>
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The next month feels tough...impossible even but God is here and His promises find a yes in Him, so we again embrace our weakness and beg for His strength.</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-15402012606552172812019-03-14T00:49:00.003-07:002019-03-14T00:49:55.197-07:00The Bunny Airplane Birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thank you for your prayers for Alimitu. She is weakening and has gone weekly for the last two weeks to the clinic in town for IV fluids. She is deteriorating and we would ask you continue to storm heaven's gates for her healing to bring much glory to God.</div>
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Two years.</div>
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It was the first bunny/airplane birthday party I've ever attended or had the honor of hosting. </div>
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Words can't capture any child but especially Miss T, lover of life, tough as nails, bringer of joy.</div>
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Our next months are a flurry. We leave Ethiopia in June for a conference on the way to the states and then we will spend 4 months in the USA. It's exciting to plan but involves details on every level. We hope to see you and be able to thank you, update you and bless you for your unending stream of support, prayers and encouragement. </div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-34256875463099382482019-02-27T10:59:00.001-08:002019-02-27T10:59:09.109-08:00Chhheeeessseee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jon wasn't back from a training, we were traveling from Addis Ababa to Injibara home the next morning and late afternoon, there was a knock on my door informing me before we left, all the kids needed updated passport pictures on file. </div>
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Picture this. I know the process in the USA. This is not the same process. Loaded littles in stroller, pep-talked J and A, saw a friend on the way who offered to hold J and A's hand as we have to walk down crowded sidewalks and when the sidewalk is impassable, into the busy street.</div>
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Crowds curiously inquiring as to our family's makeup. People informing me three of my kids could not possibly be mine. Strollering through deep ruts, trying to smile, not too hard as the concept of a double stroller is blowing people's minds and their astonishment is humorous. </div>
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<i>(Here is an example of me walking with the kids to buy bread. Can you find the double stroller? We passed close to a school letting out. One big sis stayed protectively by the stroller, the other stayed behind me at the bread counter. And the bread vendor was taking her sweet, old time.) </i></div>
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We arrive at the photo shop. It is open air and so small only two of us can go in at a time. The other kids stay on the street, people pressing in, trying to figure us out. J and A rock their pictures and model well for the littles. Tiger's turn. He stands sweetly in front of the sheet and won't take his hand out of his mouth. He finally gets a suitable pic. I go to switch the stroller children and Miss T had been so delightfully quiet because I didn't realize she had grabbed a handful of paper, markers and books on the way out. She is a collector. She was covered in marker. Nothing spit and baby wipes wouldn't clean up. </div>
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Her turn in front of the sheet and she had to lay down her load for the picture. </div>
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Notice the paper at her feet. She stood, straighfaced and launched into the longest, "cheeeeeeeeeessseeee" I've ever heard. </div>
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More waiting, more sidewalk discussion time and then these pictures were handed to me. </div>
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And toddler ID pictures are my favorite thing. </div>
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We did it, now we only had the return trip left. ;) My friend commented that it was worth it going just to watch the wake of awe, amusement and confusion. She said next time, she wants to tag along and try to get a video.</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-39953830047265922062019-02-25T08:12:00.001-08:002019-02-25T08:12:11.000-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The deluge of rain on the tin roof currently is drowning out the noise of Jon bathing the littles and J and A pounding a little keyboard and singing at their top of their lungs. The rain is surprising everyone, like we need to tell the sky, "This is dry season, remember?" I'm perched on the edge of a bed so covered in piles of clean and partially folded laundry there is barely room for me. My computer has to charge while we have power. Our power has been great lately, like if I were a superstitious person, I would continue to not acknowledge the improvement in case I change it. ;) As I am on a roll of unrelated and insignificant information, thanks to our visitors, we've uncovered Tiger's allergy. It's to corn and all things corn syrup, corn starch and it is such a relief to be able to make progress on his health!</div>
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A quote a loved this week from @shannanwrites, "Lord, give us the guts to sift through the mundane and consider it all gold". I love this thought.</div>
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The kids and I crammed into a bajaj...a mundane adventure. :)</div>
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In the not mundane, we just had a fab visit from Jake, Meika, Charlie and Leo. Jake is Jon's brother. More photos from this visit to come. </div>
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Do you remember the Christmas Ox? His hide is now laying on our floor. I have very mixed feelings about this and he is missing small patches of fur because ants ate the hide while it was being cured. Here are a few more pictures of the day.</div>
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Ethiopian Christmas morning, strong coffee, spicy stew, sour, thick injera.</div>
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Tiger and Miss T observe the butcher.</div>
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At this point, Miss T, who loves to have a good discussion had insisted to me so many times it was a chicken being butchered, I stopped correcting her. So her one-sided conversation sounding like this:</div>
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"It's chicken...It's cow now...It's chicken...no, it's cow...It's cow now..."</div>
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Snack time! A vegan delight as meat doesn't top my list while watching an animal be dismantled with machetes, knives and then there is the part with the ax. </div>
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Dividing up the piles of meat. The part closest to the camera is the stomach. </div>
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We were so honored to be a part of this and gave some of our share away and pressure cooked the rest. To eat on a less graphic day.</div>
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Christmas evening brought the boys, singing, and pounding their sticks in hope for bread or birr. We gave birr and glow sticks.</div>
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Miss T is so near her 2nd birthday, loving to see her personality emerge.</div>
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A very fun handful.</div>
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Love to all.</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-32342800434775255742019-02-13T22:26:00.000-08:002019-02-15T08:29:18.558-08:00Interceding for Alimitu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When she sat down beside us in the shafts of light coming through the mud window, I was startled to see Alimitu’s diminishing frame. As a joyful mother of eight, her physical decline is alarming. She and her husband have traveled to the best hospital in Bahir Dar and then Addis Ababa and nothing seems to help. She is slowly starving to death as she inexplicably cannot swallow all food and most liquid. Over the course of almost a year, the family has asked for help and prayer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>(Not Alimitu in the photo)</i></div>
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Please pray with us for the miracle of healing in Alimitu’s life and for the glory and worship of our great God! We will visit her family again on Friday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And because I am on this learning kick, here's an extra tidbit. :)</div>
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In my past, I was pressed to articulate the strategy of my prayer life. What underlying messages did I believe as I approached the King of the Universe? What did I believe my prayers were for? Why was I praying? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; text-align: left;">What this challenging exercise revealed was surprising to me, as I would never have explained my prayer theology beseeching such a limited God. If I saw a need for intercession, I began to inform God of the need, praying for a certain outcome. Then he would influence the situation.</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2NxXPTPYYUMMyv3htEIVOEnsiEPw4qoq5kxuAslWpOEKwcaNTB6-qp_fVJyO7QBilzABSFs9oK9ZD36e2rcEitFYJLEz9daaRwA7d4g00T4Zl52tLOk9NTeWzR-s-L04heiJCsJIQc20/s1600/Disruptive+Innovation+Prayer+Slides+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2NxXPTPYYUMMyv3htEIVOEnsiEPw4qoq5kxuAslWpOEKwcaNTB6-qp_fVJyO7QBilzABSFs9oK9ZD36e2rcEitFYJLEz9daaRwA7d4g00T4Zl52tLOk9NTeWzR-s-L04heiJCsJIQc20/s400/Disruptive+Innovation+Prayer+Slides+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sounds kind of dumb, huh? (borrowed graphics from a worker in an undisclosed location) When I stepped away, I knew this wasn't what I believed of God and so why was I approaching him like this?</div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria";">A different mindset on prayer has changed the way I intercede and it brings so much more joy instead of drudging along in duty.</span><span style="font-family: "cambria";"> </span><span style="font-family: "cambria";"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUGGAfc_hCunmg5-xLKrkOJoH0ya93G9xjmKCA300lC5weFiqLcthSnUqjYEHPpygYA98fcAak8VMsugeuNCK7Z6t7jiIizg7NaiElvdiQd0k2fZI_wlLGGAIpqHH06EOr_ID_oSG85ev/s1600/Disruptive+Innovation+Prayer+Slides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUGGAfc_hCunmg5-xLKrkOJoH0ya93G9xjmKCA300lC5weFiqLcthSnUqjYEHPpygYA98fcAak8VMsugeuNCK7Z6t7jiIizg7NaiElvdiQd0k2fZI_wlLGGAIpqHH06EOr_ID_oSG85ev/s400/Disruptive+Innovation+Prayer+Slides.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And then...</div>
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And finally...</div>
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I love it. Praise be to God. Join with us in prayer for Alimitu.</div>
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I would love to hear your thoughts? What is your prayer strategy? Do you agree or disagree with the ideas proposed in the graphics?</div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-3526882035098149982019-02-09T04:51:00.001-08:002019-02-09T04:51:22.636-08:00Our Best Frenemies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am in denial that my computer is dying. As I slog through processes that should be quick, I hear it, grinding, trying so hard to still be up-to-date. I'm cheering it on and laughing as I realize this probably comes from my change-averse tendencies. Do you know that's a thing? </div>
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Jon and I took this marriage assessment and met with a counselor and Jon is called, "Change-oriented" while clear on the opposite end, my score sits, "Change-averse". Neither is wrong but it explains why so often Jon is innovating and undaunted by change and I'm still clawing and trying to hang onto the way it has always been. We both are growing in our styles and with the self-awareness, working to give space and accommodate each other's style. (Though, depressingly, in most American-worldview books, the people who succeed are high on the risk and change scale). </div>
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Change usually feels awesome when it's my new norm. :)</div>
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A pop-by visit with a neighbor, sorting, washing and drying kilos of corn to prepare to make a homemade beer. The women working together had light-hearted attitudes while doing a tedious job and reminded me of the hubbub of applesauce day growing up. </div>
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Speaking of change-averse and off-track, here is a picture of my cousins and brothers at my Grandma's funeral. It makes me proud and emotional every time I see it. I also feel old as I want to say, "How did you all get so big?".</div>
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Our good, good Father, is always pushing us into change, and my word of 2019 is ROOTEDNESS. I am praying for this and our kids, that our roots are so deep in Christ, no matter what comes, we will not be blown over with our roots deep in the only true stability, God himself. </div>
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These two, they are among my greatest gifts. I call them "best frenemies" as they deeply love AND deeply annoy each other. I realize if I would have seen God's plan ahead of time, I would have been so scared to raise another set of "twins" far from family support. </div>
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So thankful for a God who knows and loves me and sweetly and mercifully pulls me along, giving me so much more than I can ask or imagine. </div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-51053072423967558392019-01-28T11:17:00.003-08:002019-01-28T11:17:42.315-08:00I'm Still Standing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh guys, I am back to using an old platform to host the blog...which feels like switching back to a flip-phone in a smart phone world and who has got time for that? <br />
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Hello you faithful friends. I’ve been thinking about Ephesians 6 lately and rolling around in my head, verses 13.</div>
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"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, the you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. "</div>
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Recent life in our family tribe has been sweet, busy, beautiful, exhausting, stretching, disappointing and gratifying…which is similar to Christian walks of life, the planet over. I keep thinking I will get to a place and get my family to a place where we are “mess-free” and shockingly, I’ve got a ways to go, starting with myself. </div>
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The guests have been abundant and amazing. Ethiopian Christmas was met with all the invites and meat we could stomach. Such a special time. Here's a smattering of photos with hope of more to come. </div>
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While the Gerbers were still with us, we did the first drive-thru (to our knowledge) in Injibara. The "Panini Palace" seemed to be a hit.</div>
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Hiking through the "baboons' house" according to Tiger</div>
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I love the look of Monay, deep in love with her first grandbaby!</div>
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Our first year in Ethiopia, we were majorly propped up by our neighbors and mentors and we were so incredibly honored by their visit as they plan to serve in 35 different countries in the next 8 months. And they decorated my house for Christmas, which is not a strong skill of mine. </div>
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In this nomadic life we live, it encourages my heart that so many hard goodbyes are truly just a change in relationship as we cross continents and still find ways to sneak in good talks, some tears and times of prayer.</div>
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I still love to see Awi horses, in their splendid apparel with proud riders atop their saddles.</div>
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Attendees at a recent Master Tree Grower's training</div>
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And the Christmas ox, hanging out in our yard until Christmas. When we come into our gate, Tiger still asks, "Where is the Christmas cow?". We joined a neighborhood group to gather monthly and collect money so at Christmas, there was enough saved to buy this beefy guy. At the butcher, Jon ate with the men and as they butchered, he snacked on raw stomach, tongue (warm and fresh immediately taken from the ox) and liver. The kids and I were not sad that day we didn't qualify as men!</div>
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My parents visited during meat season and within 4 days, we had visited
10 huts. Dad was dressed up like an Awi man for the photo. </div>
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Miss T's awkward positioning makes me laugh every time. </div>
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Such a sweet time with my parents. </div>
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Sending love across the miles. </div>
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May we stand firm and rooted deep in Christ, the only stable ground. </div>
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Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-4338083585618927402019-01-28T03:35:00.001-08:002019-01-28T03:35:34.078-08:00Squirm Break<p style="text-align: center;">Still not able to work out the kinks with the blog, so I will try one picture at a time. It’s actually a great break time for me as I am currently reading a book, so convicting, challenging and full of new thoughts I am literally squirming as I read it and can digest it in chunks. Do any of you read books that make you squirm? I would love to hear your recommendations and am enjoying the uncomfortable challenge and Biblical call, though not easy, discussions from different points of view spark life. I read a chapter to Jon and waited for his feedback. He sat still for a bit and said, “Wow, I don’t know how to respond as I don’t even have a shelf to put this information”. My current book is “Global Humility”. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Okay, messing around a bit, I don’t think it is the text, just any photo…trying again.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Sigh. More fixing to do I guess. :)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I want your book recommendations, for real. </p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-1709362465009900812019-01-24T09:49:00.001-08:002019-01-24T09:49:07.201-08:00<p>Today I have spent no less than three hours trying to revive this blog. My posts were touching, emotional with just the right amount of funny. Okay, maybe not but nothing will post. I’m annoyed and sorry to have to try and test some different combos here to see what will publish, my apologies for clogging your inbox with nothing but complaint. Onward and forward. Testing, testing…</p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-74208953698354602092018-12-21T04:08:00.001-08:002018-12-21T04:08:46.743-08:00For He Who Is Mighty Has Done Great Things<p style="text-align: center;">As we’ve had more Christmases away from our US home, we/ve pushed harder into Advent. It didn’t take many holidays here to realize how without intentionality, traditions and celebrations are skimmed through. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">While we dearly miss many elements of December in the USA, there is a sweetness of skipping the “hustle and bustle” with more time to focus on the miracle of God becoming flesh when he sent Jesus down among us as a baby. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And if you follow on Instagram, you know we have several different families visit us. There are enough posts mentally backlogged to start another blog. Thanks for still reading. Your prayers and support are vital. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">While the Gerber family was here, because they were coming with four kids, we loosely pre-planned a “Camp Christmas”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0628.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ufljs3c-DqA/XBzXaMHcGII/AAAAAAAATWQ/xabXlx2aDtEfnAlSWLQhJzCG_IrCWKx4QCHMYCw/IMG_0628.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0628" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0798.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jKcliyB0Ty8/XBzXhZl5RQI/AAAAAAAATWU/IjNHZzbuq6weW_dm4vdIqsUnBuLHyecpwCHMYCw/IMG_0798.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0798" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I remember last year when our neighbors were over and watching a Christmas puppet show. What amazement I felt as as we took a break between the two shows, the shepherd boys left, running out to bring their friends. Shepherds, telling shepherds the good news. Kids who know what it feels like to sleep among animals. Children who can understand a tight financial situation. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I see Mary and Joseph's strength and faith in God with new eyes. I deeply feel this little, middle-eastern baby coming to bring peace on earth while leading a beautiful and difficult life.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6320.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-apwEQyH445I/XBzXqCeexMI/AAAAAAAATWc/ud851PcscAMZ2-P9Ds_L4tnfldKQ2vG4QCHMYCw/IMG_6320.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 6320" width="499" height="280" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We have a video of Friday. Our kids acted out the story in sections all week and on Friday, God brought just the right teacher to tell the children the whole story again and lead a discussion. The kids had never been a part of a drama before so acting it out seemed a stretch. We did not anticipate how much the kids had caught on and added their own sweet perceptions into the story.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0770.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lnm3OiTvKHI/XBzXUa--3DI/AAAAAAAATWM/wQWtQgWycXwigRuOB_wkmc4HSFHssZMXwCHMYCw/IMG_0770.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0770" width="500" height="333" border="0" />Hopefully I can get the video uploaded before western Christmas, but to borrow Mary’s words, “My soul magnifies the Lord”. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0775.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Df_oGnCNbSc/XBzXvbtThMI/AAAAAAAATWg/5zSnn4bjrOQJP9ra0xDyUmltx6xbBATjACHMYCw/IMG_0775.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0775" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-41726632395373059322018-12-04T03:45:00.001-08:002018-12-04T03:45:13.584-08:00Celebrate Hard<p style="text-align: center;">When Jon’s parents finalized their trip dates, we were not only glad to they were coming but also packed as much celebrating as we could into our time. By nature, when I have margin, I am a person who loves to celebrate the little things. You already saw a few pictures of them at Field Days, but we also celebrated by sharing our Awi neighborhood and then, an early Thanksgiving, Trick-or-Treating, J and A’s birthday, as well as Jon’s birthday. We were well-partied. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1424.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IdzN1ayiS08/XAZn_3FKdsI/AAAAAAAATVI/nji3evV-OqwW8Lu38FHTnIf-jr9SLAa_ACHMYCw/IMG_1424.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1424" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Airport pick-ups are so much more fun than drop-offs!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0198.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-39EaUVHvPaU/XAZnrKCiIkI/AAAAAAAATU0/zm1Dlqv2yBk7r8qErRDb3TXGCvbn0w6RwCHMYCw/IMG_0198.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0198" width="405" height="540" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="d99bfee2-6e47-4579-893b-04f838a8277d.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S2aZhrsbi5I/XAZnSgxMzwI/AAAAAAAATUg/rIEH4JfgTLsYAYZkP0lP8JQ9H1pychvFQCHMYCw/d99bfee2-6e47-4579-893b-04f838a8277d.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="D99bfee2 6e47 4579 893b 04f838a8277d" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0075.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xH1M3DyyFY0/XAZnbO4eqKI/AAAAAAAATUk/YwxLMHScvGQ741BCQZ-OqjWW5OYbMc9PQCHMYCw/IMG_0075.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0075" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0160.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W0JYrNIKIe0/XAZnidq33KI/AAAAAAAATUs/qj725vZ2Jvgl0sSwiGZQKErrpg6G4-ZRACHMYCw/IMG_0160.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0160" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Our neighbors love to see our parents out and about. We become a little more human, like we came from somewhere, besides an airplane. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1521.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ubd-7OmyBVA/XAZn4hqeNYI/AAAAAAAATVA/xxCZyvakwrgfYqrRV0lf2zh8DrG10swxQCHMYCw/IMG_1521.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1521" width="375" height="500" border="0" />Grandpa and Grandma brought their love and great attitudes to make our day-to-day extra amazing. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1462.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y3eEw5s8bJY/XAZoPEsuz4I/AAAAAAAATVY/K-7TKwG7CjoAN2iPe_sGaKc_nUagXvtKgCHMYCw/IMG_1462.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1462" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jon’s birthday!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1503.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jiRxw4jeZHo/XAZoZLIhedI/AAAAAAAATVk/1dEuhecCmOwayPGCn74wDxYP_2bWcjCDgCHMYCw/IMG_1503.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1503" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">J and A’s birthday!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0098.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ex6_O-CgF64/XAZouFe__SI/AAAAAAAATV4/jdeKXOlTmGQIzKJK0efaSBpHPlXDLouMQCHMYCw/IMG_0098.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0098" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Tiger and Miss T also benefitted as Grandma couldn’t resist bringing gifts for the littles as well. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1679.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6llNdgh2XHg/XAZoHgSiqiI/AAAAAAAATVQ/U98bXoEYR5AA2Q5VJosErhnaOyPtRuiGQCHMYCw/IMG_1679.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1679" width="500" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">While we were staying at a guest house in Addis Ababa, the kids trick-or-treated in the guest house and loved all the attention and funny adults. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1660.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nES9GBwKrmQ/XAZoe0dS_qI/AAAAAAAATVs/RRfds-3HERcxRCOH3e7OkQpgSC5IiXZ1QCHMYCw/IMG_1660.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1660" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Look at those teachers in the back. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0153.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YXIv5b-3zL0/XAZopBpvm1I/AAAAAAAATV0/a2VeigJJLy4l9Qb2j4I3xtY2I5G1uZgmQCHMYCw/IMG_0153.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0153" width="500" height="375" border="0" />Enjoying Mark and Debbie’ visit and even blessed with a meal at their home. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9371.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CjXZC-ciRtE/XAZoj_K876I/AAAAAAAATVw/WU9Nhjyt0yA0IkwimhhpmBBOBiX1wEQGACHMYCw/IMG_9371.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9371" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0313.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g7p13nRW7OE/XAZnxST69hI/AAAAAAAATU4/POrGg1wHhe48DpowSXJCkAwovz5eY8-nQCHMYCw/IMG_0313.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0313" width="540" height="405" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And time to see them off.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mom and Dad, thanks so much for your visit! We cherish the time and memories. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-8315100300149839282018-11-19T03:40:00.001-08:002018-11-20T09:11:34.914-08:00He Has Done Great Things<p style="text-align: center;">When they arrived in our yard over a year ago, I didn’t know the situation but judging by the grim look in the older man’s eyes and the tears threatening to spill over in his daughter’s, I braced myself. The young women lifted her scarf and unveiled her 16 day-old baby. I saw beauty and miraculous life. She showed me her little daughter’s feet and hands and the birth deformities. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The next visit came two days later, the mother (18 years), baby and grandmother came. The grandmother expressed the common feeling that a child with birth defects was only a heavy burden to the family. She choked with grief and bitterness, “And what if the child grows? Will she go to school? How long will her Mom be able to carry her?”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A humorous aside, a bit of background at my emotional state during this conversation: it was happening when Miss T was around 5months old and Tiger was just over a year. My early mama instincts were heightened because of the hormones and small bodies dependent on me. It was in the same stage where I wanted to mother everything, from the overloaded donkey on the side of the road, to the small, scraggly, mucus-eyed stray kitten. During this season, Jon knocked down what he thought was a bat nest outside of our attic window. When we realized it was actually a swallow’s nest, I lost sleep over the poor homeless creatures. With this Mama/Baby combo, I was devastated by the lack of hope present.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> The mother, Frehiwot, and I locked eyes and her desperation, ready-to-do-anything love for her child cried out. I had the chance to speak hope and God’s goodness over the child with amniotic band syndrome. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Now the silver lining! (It brings me so much joy to write this as often all I have to share are the heart-wrenching stories). In Addis Ababa, I had a friend who worked at the amazing <a href="https://cure.org/ethiopia/">CURE Hospita</a>l and after a brief e-mail consult, the baby had an appointment. CURE does pediatric surgeries at no cost to needy families. Lines are long for appointments but the infant’s condition needed immediate attention. After the first surgery, we visited the family and there was a grateful and even slightly optimistic quality in the house. A series of surgeries and follow-up appointments later, Frehiwot and I would speak on the phone, but we only saw each other briefly and never with little baby girl.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">While in Addis, Ato Fekadu, who is an SIM employee and an amazing man of God, called me and asked if I could come to his office. Ato Fekadu manages our medical patients in AA, we send him money for their transport, hotel, medicines, food, etc and he shares the love of Jesus with the family while taking care of practical needs. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I walked in and saw Frehiwot, with her beautiful toddler on her lap. Kalkidan was smiling and snuggling and proudly wiggled her limbs full of scars and recovery. Frehiwot and I wept and laughed and hugged and marveled together. For a period of minutes, as the full office looked on, all I could choke out through tears was, “God be praised.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1638.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SjAa-0bL_9k/W_KhHjCS8II/AAAAAAAATUQ/ZH3TbPp1yfY87vR2fuy2M-T94aUPSeKYwCHMYCw/IMG_1638.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1638" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Medical ministry has brought so much pain and suffering to our door. Sometimes, the death and illness feels so heavy, we stagger and want to give up. Now there is this giggly little one, delightedly snuggling the beanie baby bear, (which speaks to my recently deceased Grandma’s legacy, she sent our kids so many beanie babies, we have been able to spread her love to kids in need of a sweet diversion during tough medical stuff). </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Through God’s faithfulness and because of your generous financial partnership, we have been able to help families who have no other means, with a focus on children or parents who would leave behind orphans. Now, we are so thankful to say that Awi Medical Outreach has it’s own project number and if you desire to help with this, you can donate directly through SIM USA, project number #092023 or <a href="https://donate.simusa.org/?DSG=project&FNme&LNme&FundIDM&SearchName=awi%20medical%20outreach-ethiopic&FundIDP=092023&CountryID=63&searchme=searchP">follow this link</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">God has done great things!</p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4485916849681005719.post-3277009272573606552018-11-15T08:04:00.001-08:002018-11-15T08:04:58.416-08:00Field Days 2018<p style="text-align: center;">A highlight for our year is Field Days where we are a part of a homeschool program at an international school in Addis Ababa. While our girls aren’t naturally track and field girls, the food, relationships and 30 minutes of family fun races make all two days worth it. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="3f328187-30b2-4f4d-abd3-09db8eeca29b.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qesk7uu0alQ/W-2YOwjXYjI/AAAAAAAATSc/nU2td9linmE7hq-iGcXGCwpG1zz2r1FnACHMYCw/3f328187-30b2-4f4d-abd3-09db8eeca29b.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="3f328187 30b2 4f4d abd3 09db8eeca29b" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="4acdf291-5148-4592-91b0-d845c9dab924.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wOtNZqMk9cY/W-2YVV-vATI/AAAAAAAATSg/N-RVLtgGsvk01C8i41WTj6LFpYGSJxajQCHMYCw/4acdf291-5148-4592-91b0-d845c9dab924.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="4acdf291 5148 4592 91b0 d845c9dab924" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Watching the toddler races, Miss T and Tiger had already ran their race with much joy and a bit of confusion. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="33897cdc-92a6-4f7b-8af5-c3cb618c0c41.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yy0B5_kRa8Q/W-2YYuaAjAI/AAAAAAAATSk/i99RejdiOl0DMyirTBi2N949rC3i6CdkACHMYCw/33897cdc-92a6-4f7b-8af5-c3cb618c0c41.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="33897cdc 92a6 4f7b 8af5 c3cb618c0c41" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">An added bonus with Grandpa and Grandma in our cheer squad!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="b363253d-e57f-4846-b2d7-8e0181594d74.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5oxtueRxe-M/W-2YbisbWFI/AAAAAAAATSo/RVedNjiadJsIB1ZmTOg3IoV7Ad6_MjSbQCHMYCw/b363253d-e57f-4846-b2d7-8e0181594d74.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="B363253d e57f 4846 b2d7 8e0181594d74" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="f8dacc58-222e-4790-b87a-84ea9fe40363.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_RovTIo18Y4/W-2YelHifWI/AAAAAAAATSs/zNcvQ567-sQZLb0eqS9G2n8uSiBUdOaqQCHMYCw/f8dacc58-222e-4790-b87a-84ea9fe40363.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="F8dacc58 222e 4790 b87a 84ea9fe40363" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Getting the Littles off the field. After their race, they kept sneaking through the flags onto the track.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0248.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g1jR9zh48RA/W-2Yhdjh-uI/AAAAAAAATSw/NqZDjibIRRcAp2GBP43_Ei5FFYU_bh8HgCHMYCw/IMG_0248.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0248" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9669.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a3F7EuxTN2s/W-2ZFZG4AtI/AAAAAAAATT0/Zt69b8anr6cb6kJ_EnVVkoxLPqx8gm-KwCHMYCw/IMG_9669.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9669" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_0289.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pn8wfvYyOcU/W-2YklfIuvI/AAAAAAAATS0/jtnpB03JLEs8rrlTrx3gVBw4BOl2Io2AQCHMYCw/IMG_0289.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 0289" width="500" height="375" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The girls’ 4x100 relay team</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_1756.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MUqkoXqMAMM/W-2YpEZtAPI/AAAAAAAATS4/SugyGtCAu8o_WHq8g4bVDhfbYVpvGcHlwCHMYCw/IMG_1756.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 1756" width="375" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to run the Daddy-Daughter race, getting harder each year with growing girls and now three daughters!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9731.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yAwgTaC6l8c/W-2YspsOF1I/AAAAAAAATTE/D4jx7LoXB8kMu0siFM1DWcamLG2LgTlHQCHMYCw/IMG_9731.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9731" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Holding on for dear life.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9725.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--dWMlejAkx4/W-2Yv82G-XI/AAAAAAAATTI/MqDFMookv7sIdDN3EXrsVqcxzeohvdiCQCHMYCw/IMG_9725.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9725" width="333" height="500" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the 3-legged race</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9579.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tv7TW37cxaA/W-2YzWeUHMI/AAAAAAAATTQ/pwlDuuY-1CEXruiSxEXB6IH7Jv4BdedBACHMYCw/IMG_9579.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9579" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Our last time hanging with the Dunns in Ethiopia. ; / </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9620.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pCNFQcfW8bY/W-2ZCYIyy9I/AAAAAAAATTw/Cz7EZS4j9QEZdF_K_Ka18pLrQAxoE3YIACHMYCw/IMG_9620.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9620" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Go Taylor!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9736.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zrI1lWULn6w/W-2Y2WLD7lI/AAAAAAAATTY/q38K-MN7HUMNFwNoE66LBv9ZxYFPcelMwCHMYCw/IMG_9736.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9736" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Tiger and I tried to do the Mother-Son race, which is where the moms steer their boys, wheelbarrow style down the field. He was definitely the youngest competitor and when everyone else crossed the finish line and we still hadn’t crossed the 10 m mark, we decided to run together instead. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9587.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sF2AFHfUDxk/W-2Y5M9QCOI/AAAAAAAATTg/YokN9GEqfcEExJ_h7KL2AlMAzFIHmfuEwCHMYCw/IMG_9587.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9587" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">So fun to have Grandpa and Grandma cheering on our team. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9691.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fL_MHE9xg0w/W-2Y8FYCTlI/AAAAAAAATTk/aTa6B8K6HCgFsXiJmZyRlFQSPUgHGhiwgCHMYCw/IMG_9691.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9691" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Two action-packed and exhausting days.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9639.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7JeoZIouJdI/W-2Y_B3lrYI/AAAAAAAATTo/6CgzfiSmFVksni2ImeS8ahPIWE5r4K-rgCHMYCw/IMG_9639.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9639" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_9673.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k8BJORM9r30/W-2ZIeEffGI/AAAAAAAATT4/ONTODl6tr6gEQ2BEEf5tRmv0StbRdB47gCHMYCw/IMG_9673.JPG?imgmax=1600" alt="IMG 9673" width="500" height="333" border="0" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We loved to cheer on our girls and were so proud of them for persevering, stretching themselves and smiling as they ran. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Jon y Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07939999311260901033noreply@blogger.com1