Well, everyone, nearly 25 hours later, the team should be close to landing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!! They arrived safely in Amsterdam about 1 am (Indiana time) last night, so they should be close to landing for good now.
Be sure to say some serious prayers for the team as they go through Ethiopian customs, a process that can be daunting and a huge challenge, especially with the language barrier. Often, a large group of people coming into Ethiopia in this way can draw special attention to the workers at the airport. At times, this can be a huge help, but it can also make the process challenging, depending on who is working and making the decisions about how the process will go. Please be praying as they go through this process so that they can safely get to the guest house and be rested up before church in the morning!
I received an email from Cindy Schrier, one of the members on the team, on Thursday discussing some of her fears and worries, but also her overwhelming excitement about the trip! As they get ready to land and start working for the Lord, I wanted to share her thoughts with you guys!!
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As we've prepared for this trip, we've been told that things in Africa aren't like they are in the USA. The physical conditions - the "creature comforts" maybe considered somewhat different than what we are used to. Some things I've heard (which may or may not be true):
• there might not be hot water for a shower,
• the toliets may not always flush or there may be a hole in the ground that is the toliet,
• there are bugs,
• there may or may not be power,
• no consistent internet access,
• be sure to take hand sanitizer,
• the food is different - take some protein sources with you,
• you might get dehydrated because of the altitude,
• its very dirty and smelly there
And because of all the things I heard, my mind began to think about the other negatives:
• what if one of my loved ones gets very sick or dies while I'm half way around the world,
• what if I have a reaction to all those shots that I have to have to go there,
• what if our plane crashes,
• what if I don't like the food,
• what if I get sick while I'm there,
• what if a wild band of terrorists kidnap us,
• what if . . . . .
. . . . you can see where this is going. All kinds of doubts and fears can crop up if we dwell on them. So I had to get a grip! I confessed my doubts to God and asked Him to help me. I asked some close friends to pray for me. I knew that I had to begin to think and talk about the positives of this trip:
• what an adventure to travel to Africa,
• what an incredible opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus,
• what an eye opening experience to see how other people live every day,
• what a blessing to understand how good God has been to me to allow me to live where I do,
• what a joy to give His love to an orphaned, abandoned, or impoverished child,
• what a privilege to encourage those who minister daily to these children,
• what an honor to be able to give new socks & shoes, blankets, sheets, vitamins, books, and other gifts to these children,
• what a thrill to serve with this team of ordinary people, like me, who are holding onto Jesus to guide us in this great journey,
• what a . . . . . .
So as I finish packing our bug spray, beef jerky, peanut butter, etc. I am meditating on Philippians 2:5 - 8:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"
If Jesus could leave the glory of heaven to come to earth as a man and die on a cross for me and my sin, then the least I can do is gladly leave the comfort of my home for a few days to share His love with His children in Ethiopia.
It truly is a privilege. Great post!
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