{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!