{Its Finally Time to Go!}

*Before you read this post, go to the Ethiopia label above, click it, and scroll down and read from the bottom up.  This might seem confusing but this is the way of blogging and cannot be changed.*  :)
                                                                                                                  

So its 14 hours before we jump on a plane and spend several hours in the air to arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! 

If you are wondering why in the world I am posting this blog so early in the morning it is because a friend, who has travelled often, told me to start changing my sleep schedule to match theirs.  Ethiopia is 9 hours ahead of dear ole' Texas, hence my purpose for being up so late...or early. 

Nervousness finally started setting in on Saturday.  I began wondering if I was ready.  If I had everything I needed (as we are shopping at Wal-Mart at 6pm when they close at 8pm).  If I would take advantage of all the opportunities in Ethiopia.  If I would see those opportunities...  The questions just kept flooding through my mind. 

Once we got home I decided to take a break from packing and relaxed with my family as we watched White Christmas.  While watching the movie I began to realize how much of myself is not important in this trip.  No I did not have some great epiphany from the movie itself.  I simply took the time to be still and realized that Satan tempts us to think that without us being involved in something that he will not get his business done.  This is so laughable since we are often part of the problem rather than the solution. 

I hope that as you think of me and my fellow mission-mates you will see that Christ has not just made us worthy of serving Christ but you are worthy as well.  I challenge you to take the opportunities you are given each day to show the love of God to those you encounter. 

To show the love of God...don't just pass over that statement.  Really read those words.  What does that mean?  How do you put it into action?  Showing love is not just in your actions but also in your attitude.  You can do goods deeds by giving your seat to someone else or letting them checkout in line before you, but those are just simple actions that do not make you any different from the rest of the world unless you do it with kindness and love. 

I emphasize this because so many people in the world are 'good people'.  They do not realize that their is something more that is necessary because we do not show them the difference in our attitudes.

Take on this day with a renewed desire to love people.  I pray that he gives you a heart not just to serve his people but to truly take interest in their lives and show them what unconditional love is all about.


If you would like to pray for our flights here is the flight schedule:

Going to Ethiopia

Depart Houston on Dec. 26 at 6:25pm

Land in Dubai on Dec. 27 at 7:05pm

Leave Dubai on Dec. 28 at 8:25am

Land in Addis Dec. 28 at 11:25am

Coming Home 

Depart from Addis on Jan. 4 at 7:35pm

Land in Dubai on Jan. 5 at 12:35am

Depart from Dubai on Jan. 5 at 2:45am

Land in Houston on Jan. 5 at 9:25am

I realize the times might not make sense but we are going to a different time zone.  Ethiopia is not only 9 hours ahead of us but they are living in the year 2004.  Crazy right?

Have a happy New Year! I will write you soon!

{The Purpose}

Before we leave tomorrow I want you to know in depth the purpose of this trip.

The Group
We are a group of college students, a Professor and his wife heading over to Ethiopia.  We are now apart of a collection of groups that go each year that are tied together with what is called the E-Team (East Texas Team).  Several churches from East Texas and now some from Houston have taken on the goal to send a handful of mission groups to Ethiopia each year.  This is done in an effort to build strong relationships with the people.

Why So Many Groups?
When you think of a mission trip what is the first picture that comes to your mind?  Perhaps you think of a couple of people going door to door sharing the gospel.  This is not what we will be doing.  Because the Ethiopians religious beliefs are so integrated into their lifestyle they would only hear us telling them they are wrong and we are right.  Of course that is not our intention so instead we will be showing love to them in every way we possibly can.

What Will We Be Doing?
During the day we will be leading a VBS to about 450 children.  We have a recreation team, craft team, Bible story team and health team.  In the evenings we will have a sort of meet and greet with youth and adults where we will share about each of our culures.  This will be a great opportunity to share what we believe without seeming forceful.  We will also learn better on how to reach them.

Our primary goal is to show them love.  We have to be delicate with our words.  We are the first American's to be going to the village of Bona and our purpose is to lay a good foundation for future teams to follow.  This is important because if we are not careful with how we reach out to the people they could shut down to teams that follow.

Please be in prayer each day that we will be vessels of love to these people.  That they will see Christ in our actions and that we will be able to plant seeds that will grow after future teams come along and as they become more receptive to the local church.

Thank you so much for your prayers.  I cannot wait to share more after I come back!

{Preparation}

So the journey doesn't begin the day our group leaves; there is much preparation that must be accomplished beforehand.  Of course the first thing that may run through your mind is fundraising.  This is most definitely important but there is so much more. 

Our group is made up of several college students, a Professor and his wife.  Some have had lots of missions experiences while others have had very little but all the students are new to Ethiopia.  Although we are all very excited, there is so much we have to learn about Ethiopians.

Because prayer is such a powerful tool here is a list of things that our group would appreciate you praying for:

• Safety  (driving, plane ride, walking through the city and villages)
• Health (good immune system, good response to travel shots, wisdom on what not to eat or drink, remain hydrated)
• Wise words (that we would be aware of cultural differences and not offend them, leave a clear path for future missionaries)
• Adjustment to the culture (their way of living is very different so flexibility is key)
• Spiritual wisdom (staying in the Word of God and awareness of when the Holy Spirit is moving)
• Energy (time change, ability to serve and keep up with the kids)

These are just a few things that have been coming to mind lately and I would love for your prayers to be all over these needs.

Here is a list of all those going on the trip so that you may pray for them by name:

     ~Bethany Risinger
     ~Macy Freeman
     ~Lucy Elston
     ~Onisha Bradshaw
     ~Alisa Roberts
     ~Breann Whitacker
     ~Anthony Ray
     ~Logan Moree
     ~Calvin Williams
     ~Payton Beggs
     ~Jordan Langford
     ~Elijah Brown
     ~Amy Brown

I hope that you enjoy the posts that will follow and allow yourself to be blessed and challenged by the words that will follow on this blog.

{Minor Cut}

So this past Saturday my lovely roommates and I had our very own Thanksgiving dinner since we will be without each other next week.  Since it is not often that we are all in the apartment and we weren't wearing sweats we decided it was a great opportunity for a roommate picture!

{My sweet roomies. I am truly blessed}

We all picked dishes we would make and spent the morning preparing them.  As I went to make my sweet potatoe casserole I grabbed the can opener and can of sweet potatoes. (I enjoy cooking but I have never thought to use fresh sweet potatoes.  Oh well, maybe after you read the rest of this blog you will recommend that I go with fresh.)  So, I was opening the can and then pouring its contents into the pan and saw that thetop was not open all the way.  Rather than being sensible, responsible, instinctual, etc. I grab the the top and put pressure on it with my thumb.  Below is the result of my actions.

{My thumb the day after}

It was very difficult to get a picture of this.  I hate to admit that I went through about 20 tries before I was blessed with this rather pitiful picture.  Anyways, it did hurt to quite a lot and was bleeding for a good while.  Finally I was able to stop the bleeding and finish getting ready for our scrumptous lunch.

This experience takes me back to when I poured hot grease into an empty green bean can and ended up ouring the grease on my hand resulting in a pretty decent burn.  You smart people out there can figure out why the grease ended up on my hand.  For those of you still confused here is a hint, aluminum can = heat conductor = me dropping said can while still pouring grease.  I guess that wasn't a clue but the whole story. 

Ok, so back to my point.  I began to notice how simple tasks became difficult since I can't put pressure on this thumb 'o' mine. 
Here is a little lst of the things I have adjusted too.
~ changing clothes
~ putting on boots (those in the picture made my thumb bleed a bit)
~ sewing
~ cooking
~ opening neosporin tube
~ putting hair in a ponytail
~ a hand-stand (might seem random, but attempting batmanning was painful in more ways than one)
~ showering

The list could go on, but you might notice these are simple tasks none of them being really important.  After accidentally hitting the gash on the counter and scrunching my face in pain a thought came to my mind.  I pictured all of the deep wounds that Christ had all over his body the day he was crucified for my sins.  I can't even begin to imagine the pain he felt to move much less carry two very heavy poles up a hill. 

I am not saying that we can't say when something hurts, but this thought made me realize just how painful my small gash is and how painful all of his wounds must hav felt.  I know that I would have never been able to take the pain that Christ endured.  I would have given up immediately without any care for the rest of the people on this earth. 

It just amazes me how extravagant Christ' love is for all of us.  He willingly chose to die for our sins because he knew that his death was the only sacrifice that could save us from Hell.  I am so thankful for his unconditional love.  I am also thatnkful that he took a stupid mistake on my part and turn it into a simple reminder of his love.  How sweetly his plan works for our good. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.   ~ John 3:16
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.    ~ Psalm 135:3