Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #8—Mission Trip, Why Bother?

“Why spend all that money and go half-way around the world when folks here need help?”

I've had a lot of people ask me why I went on a mission trip.

The answer is both simple and complicated—and it started with God. First and foremost, I felt like God wanted me to go. I felt drawn to people in other countries.  It wasn’t as simple as hearing an audible voice. It was much more like a yearning, deep inside.

The second reason is totally selfish. I felt totally ineffective in my own spiritual life. I was insulated in our culture—sacred and secular. The time had come for me to experience the way the rest of the world lived.

As much as I looked forward to my trip, I was totally unprepared for the results . . . in me . . . my family . . . my community.

I experienced a personal revival. My entire way of looking at life changed and I was deeply moved by how easy and blessed my life was. I experienced—for the first time ever—how truly wealthy we are in America.

I had the unprecedented opportunity to reach out to loved ones in my family and share the love of Jesus in a different way. This resulted in not only a strengthening of my faith, but theirs as well.

Finally I’ve had opportunities to reach out and impact my community.

So was it worth it? Absolutely.

How about you? Have you had the opportunity to experience something similar? How has it affected your life?

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #7—A Simple Faith

Now faith is the assurance of thing hoped for, the conviction of things not see. Hebrews 11:1

Our trip to Ethiopia was filled with amazing highs and devastating lows—and many times it was hard to tell which was which. As I read back through my journal, I’m struck by how everything God showed me had to do with light.

Today I want to share one of my experiences.

Early in the trip we visited a mountain outside Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia. We were going to visit those who’ve been exiled because they suffer from the Aids virus. As we traveled through the city we saw painted walls and women in bright colors, all against bleak patches of poverty, outlined in dark grays and browns of despair.

It was cloudy on the mountain and a storm threatened, but that didn’t deter the children that gathered, hopeful and curious, always begging. We were invited into a young mother’s small home. The home was neatly kept, but barely the size of two double beds. Sarah’s son was asleep when we arrived, but he soon roused, watching us with beautiful dark eyes.

Through an interpreter Sarah (not her real name) shared her story with us.

"When I found I had the virus, I came to the mountain. There’s a spring here, blessed by the church, and said to have the power to heal. I visited the spring daily, but I didn’t expect healing. I came here to die, and instead I found life.

"It was going to and from this spring that I met my Jesus. He has given me hope and peace. And now I know that in Him, I will live forever. He has provided for my every need and I know that I am a woman blessed."

The simple dignity of her faith touched me deeply, as she put everything about life into perfect perspective. I hope her message touches you as well.

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #5—Mountaintop or Valley?

The eleven followers went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. On the mountain they saw Jesus and worshiped him, but some of them did not believe it was really Jesus. Matt 28:16-17

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I fear no evil, for You are with me. Psalm 23:4

Spending time in Ethiopia has changed my entire perspective on valleys and mountaintops. I’ve always equated a mountaintop with something good that happened, or an easy time. And for me, a valley was a time of want, or need. I’d always unconsciously assumed my mountaintops were a sign of blessing and the valleys a place of testing.

In Ethiopia I experienced a time of intense want—I would have given anything to be able to meet even a fraction of the needs I saw on every side. I wanted to bless, to give, to love, but I was powerless. And yet . . . within that I experienced more of God than ever before. It was like I could see with His eyes, walk with His feet, and touch with His arms.

I found a mountaintop in the midst of the valley of death.

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #4—The Power and Freedom of Weakness

But He said to me, "My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ's power can live in me. II Corinthians 12:9 (NCV)

Ethiopia

God is still revealing the lessons behind what He showed me while I was in Ethiopia. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I have to admit I am. The majority of things He showed me weren't what I expected. Oh, I tried to go with an open mind—I even told several people I didn’t have any expectations. But, as always happens with my best intentions, preconceived notions had crept in unaware.

I had expected to be exhausted when I got home—a perfectly logical, harmless expectation that seemed to make perfect sense at the time. After all, working for God was hard and would take all my strength.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.  

• What I found was that I wasn't working FOR God—He was working THROUGH me.
• He hadn't sent me there to do something FOR Him. He had sent me there to do something IN me—and then to use it to touch others. 
• I immediately realized that I couldn't accomplish a thing with all MY strength—but when I relied on GOD'S strength I saw miracles.

Ethiopia

These truths brought with them a time of refreshing and a miraculous freedom. A veritable flood of blessings in the dry, dusty continent of Africa. It was a freedom that could only come through total dependence. I had no control over where I stayed, what I ate, or even the work assigned to me.

And it was absolutely glorious. I experienced the truth that when I let go—then and only then—everything falls into place . . . and I pray I will never be the same.

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #3—Material Girl

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:25-33


Material Girl
God spoke to me in many ways during my trip, but the lessons I learned about need and materialism were foundational. Because I am, in so many ways, a material girl. I worry about what I wear, what car I drive, even what I serve my family for supper. But while I was there those concerns melted away and I found myself concerned—or more accurately—obsessed with following God’s will.

Looking back I know there were a lot of reasons for this dynamic shift. But the biggest reason was the overwhelming need I saw on every side. Everywhere I turned, every second of the day, I saw people with needs. I’d only been in the country for a few hours when I realized how truly powerless I was to meet anyone’s need. I knew immediately that the only way I’d be of any use at all was if God chose to use me—and He could only use me if I was focused on Him.

Coming home I’ve realized how much mental and physical energy I waste on trying to fulfill my own needs. For instance, in the past when I’ve felt down or depressed, I’ve tried to pick up my spirits with a shopping trip. And it is enjoyable—at least for a while. But the newness of what I’ve acquired wears off and the depression returns. Instead of material things, what if I’d turned to God to be uplifted and inspired? That would have brought about permanent changes, instead of fleeting happiness.

Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t ever buy things—far from it. The Bible assures us that God wants to bless us, in many ways. But if I let God be one hundred percent in charge of what I spent my money on can you imagine the things (spiritual and physical) that would follow?

• I wouldn’t have to worry about what I ate or drank, because God would be in charge.
• I wouldn’t have to worry about what I wore or how I looked because that too, would be covered by God.
• I wouldn’t even have to worry about what to do next, because His priorities would guarantee that I would have time for everything important.

Oh how real this series of verses has become to me! And what a blessing to have experienced this truth. I pray that all of us will daily find a way to live out this truth in our lives.

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia #2 - Contentment in All

. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

I’m already looking forward to returning to Ethiopia next year.

When I share this, my listeners always want to know why.  They want to know what it was that stood out most about the people of Ethiopia. My response is always immediate and emphatic—it’s their unwavering joy.

This usually catches the questioner by surprise. You see, by western standards, most people in Ethiopia live in extreme poverty. Many are homeless, and those that have homes live in circumstances we can only imagine. In comparison, here in America, we live with wealth beyond belief. Yet we’ve become a people who let our circumstances dictate our outlook. Our joy, or despair, is determined by what we have, or don’t have. We’ve let our riches replace our blessings.

I met countless people on my trip who had suffered extreme persecution for their faith, and yet their joy sustains them. One elderly woman, introduced to us as Mama, put it so well when we visited her small home. “I live like a princess. I am rich beyond measure because I’m finally free to worship my Jesus.” 

Weekend Worship—Meditations from Ethiopia

As many of you know, I’ve been privileged to spend the past few weeks in Ethiopia. It was an amazing experience and I’m excited to share many of my experiences, as well as my photos, in the Weekend Worship section of my blog.

Light Source
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14; 16

One of the first things I learned on my trip was that I’ve always taken light for granted—in so many ways. I’m used to flicking a switch and having all the light I need. But electricity during the rainy season in Ethiopia is a hit and miss proposition. And without electricity it’s hard to accomplish even the simplest of tasks.

The same is true spiritually. When I’m not plugged into the source of light—it’s almost impossible to be a light for someone else. My light is puny and unreliable. But attached to the source of all power I can shine His light for everyone to see.

In Ethiopia I truly felt like a city on a hill . . . exposed and vulnerable. But God proved Himself to be all the power I needed.

I’m interested to know what experiences you’ve had with being a light.

Don’t forget to join the conversation.

Blessings,

Edie