Life in Africa

do justice

I've been in Africa for 24 hours, but I still haven't touched down in Ethiopia. Airline debacles had half our group rerouted to Ghana and then to South Africa. We're in Johannesburg for the next 6 or so hours, and then—finally—Lord willing—we will board our final flight for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (I'm borrowing someone's laptop and wifi to send out this quick update.) Sidebar: I'm really glad that I got my first trip back to South Africa under my belt in April/May. I'm not sure my heart could have handled the rawness of those emotions on top of the exhaustion I'm feeling right now. Because, seriously, I'm more tired than I've been in a long time. The past two nights have been spent on overnight flights, so I haven't seen a bed since Sunday night. My bloodshot, teary eyes are selling me out right now; it's impossible to hide how ridiculously tired I feel.

Now, more than ever, I just can't wait to get to Ethiopia. And not just because a shower and good night's rest await me. I've been "teased" with Ghana and now South Africa, and I'm ready to embrace the beautiful people and culture of Ethiopia. I want to meet and hug my sponsored kidlets. I'm anxious to see and experience the work of Food for the Hungry (FH) firsthand. I want to see it with my own eyes and feel it with my own heart.

The other half of our group is already there. Kristen, Emily, and Alysa made it into Ethiopia yesterday as originally planned, and are spending today visiting communities with FH staff. I'm so eager to finally meet them and hear about their experiences so far.

The Joburg airport is a little chilly (a welcomed reprieve at the moment), and I've got my FH hoodie on. "Do justice." That's what's written across the front of my sweatshirt. Do justice. That's from one of my favorite passages. Micah 6:8 says, "Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."

I'm ready to get out to the communities of Zeway, Ethiopia to discover how FH puts that passage into action. And to be challenged in new and unique ways to embrace and live out that verse in my own life.

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Ways You Can Help:

meeting my kidlets

Well, today's the day! Nashville to Atlanta to Amsterdam to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

The thing I'm most looking forward to on this trip is meeting my kidlets: the children I sponsor through Food for the Hungry. I get to see where they live and visit with them and their families.

I. Can't. Wait!

There's Nathinael, who won me over with his smiling eyes. He's in first grade and doesn't like hot weather. (He would not have enjoyed Nashville last week, that's for sure.)

Then there's sweet Chaltu. She's in Kindergarten and loves to play jump rope. (Her rogue braid is almost as adorable as her squishable cheeks!)

And 16-year-old Aklilu loves to play soccer. His favorite color is red and he has an amazing smile! (Seriously. Look at that smile!)

I'm really excited to meet and hug my kidlets! I can't wait for them to move from my fridge into my arms, and even deeper into my heart.

You want a kidlet now too, don't you?!

Sponsor a child in one of the communities I'll be visiting this week!

Don't forget to join us for the live Twitter chat on Thursday. It'll be at 2 PM Eastern / 1 PM Central, using the hashtag #FHBloggers.

beautiful redemption

Back when I was living in South Africa, leading a ministry there, I had dreamed of hosting a Blogger Mission Trip. I wanted to make it possible for this amazing Gritty community to come be a part of what we were doing. In fact, we'd already solidified the dates and details, I'd announced it on my blog, and people were signing up. Then when the bottom started falling out of my world, I had to push pause on pretty much everything, including the Blogger Trip.

So the opportunity to help plan and participate in a Blogger Mission Trip with Food for the Hungry is a slice of beautiful redemption.

In something so personal where I've mourned the death of yet another dream, God has gone and made beauty out of the ashes. He really does redeem all things.

And you, my Gritty family, still get to be a part of it all.

Travel with me by following my updates on Facebook, Twitter, and The Grit.

Track along with the #FHBloggers hashtag on Twitter and Instagram, and join us for the live Twitter chat this Thursday.

Sponsor a child in the communities I'll be visiting this week.

Go with me in prayer — for safety, health, and a heart that stays open to all God wants to do.

I leave tomorrow. Please come along with me in every way you can.

gallstones & ethiopia: an update

Some of you probably saw my updates on Twitter and Facebook last week, but I ended up in the ER early Thursday morning. With gallstones. Over 40 of them. o_O I didn't even know it was possible to accrue such a huge collection, but apparently it is. (And it's confirmed: I'm an overachiever.)

I took it easy for a few days until all the pain subsided, and I'm now back to normal. (Well, my normal). Surgery is scheduled for a few weeks from now and I've got meds to bring with me to Ethiopia in case I have another attack there. (Pray with me for that not to happen?)

We leave in a week. A week!

Oh, we are going to host a live Twitter Chat while we're in Ethiopia, and I don't want you to miss it. I figured I'd tell you now so you can mark it down on your calendar or sticky-note or whatever you do to try to remember stuff. Because this you need to remember!

1-Hour Live Twitter Chat with the FH Bloggers Thursday, July 12th 2 PM Eastern / 1 PM Central #FHBloggers

We're going to be answering your questions, sharing our experiences, and giving away local Ethiopian crafts. It's gonna be fun! Help us spread the word on Twitter and Facebook??

Click the text below to tweet it out:

Join the #FHBloggers in Ethiopia for a live Twitter Chat on July 12th! More info: http://bit.ly/N5DgXg

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This video is a great introduction to Food for the Hungry. It's less than two minutes long, so push pause on life and watch this real quick:

 

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Click here to see some of the beautiful children up for sponsorship in the communities I'll be visiting. For just $1 a day, you can make sure an Ethiopian child will receive meals, clean water, medical care, and education. More importantly, you can make sure a child knows he or she is loved, valued, and believed in.

Will you join me for the Twitter Chat on July 12th?

turning fears into prayers

When it hits me that I leave for Ethiopia in just two weeks, my eyes widen.

My mind starts spinning, generating all kinds of to-do lists that I'll hopefully write down at some point: things I need to buy, things I need to pack, things I need to do before I leave. And my heart? My heart does a somersault or two.

Anticipation and anxiety have been vying for equal space in my heart. I've gotta be honest... I've really been battling with my insecurity BIG time the past few weeks. The other bloggers going on this trip are incredible, strong, amazing women, and I am so looking forward to getting to know them. But I feel way out of my league here.

I worry about stupid things like being liked, fitting in, and making friends (Middle School Syndrome?). I fear not being able to write anything of value as we blog from the field, especially compared to the artful, gifted prose of the other writers. (Comparison is a soul killer.)

I am trying to be more intentional about turning each fear into a prayer, surrendering all my What-Ifs to the One who knows all.

Because this trip isn't at all about me. It's not about fitting in or writing something that measures up to someone else. It's about God and the amazing work He's already doing. And I'm on this journey to see what He's up to.

In Ethiopia. And in me.

I hope you'll journey with me so we can experience God at work together.

You can help by sharing about the trip on Twitter, Facebook, and your blog. Follow the #fhbloggers hashtag. Get to know the other bloggers and follow their Twitter feeds/blogs. (Meet them here.)

Please also keep me and my travel companions in your prayers: for health and safety, and for our hearts to be open to embracing all God has for us. And pray for the beautiful people of Ethiopia and the FH staff who serve tirelessly there.

How can I be praying for you?