Faith To Be Strong

Rarely has a song so perfectly fit what I'm feeling.

So I pray and sing on repeat. 

"Faith to be Strong"

Andrew Peterson

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong

Practicing Faith Over Fear

I've rarely had a time when I get to practice my faith in God this much. 

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. 

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. 

Of our SIM team in the near area, 3 of the 5 units need to return to their home countries for various, valid reasons.

Yesterday we farewelled our New Zealand family.

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.

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^th grade. I want to be normal and follow the same schedule for their sakes, but currently, life is not normal. 

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. 

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.  

I contacted a friend at the Grace Center, 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. You can give here. 

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.

I just got the following text from a friend who works there...

“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.”

Another friend from Hidden Abilities 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. 

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?

With ❤️  From Ethiopia 🇪🇹 ,

Team Gerst

Though The Earth Gives Way

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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.

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.

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.

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. 

Waiting in Addis Ababa at the immigration office. We turned in our green cards.

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. 

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.

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. 

Someone turned 3! I can't quite handle the fact that our youngest is 3. 

Today, I breathe deeply in knowing God is in control.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah