LIFE!

Highlights from the last few weeks... blogspot hasn't been working in Ethiopia lately... please accept my sincere apology!

#1

(On our way home from America) Wednesday, February 3 -- 5:30am... we took off from Addis Ababa on a (usually) 9 hour journey home to Harar. On this day though, our incredible Katrine and Filip (electricians, plumbers, preachers, carpenters, chefs...) had driven our 1975 Peugeout to Addis to pick us up rather than taking Skybus which had left us with tragic nerves from 3 near-head-ons and reckless driving among the cliffs and mountains of Ethiopia two weeks earlier.

15 minutes into the journey.. before the sun...

We had 4 flat tires, died about 10 times, ran out of gas more times than I can remember, had no food, a poor sick Katrine, flat spare tire... gotta love African adventures! Maybe it was our excessively-overweight luggage, but we won't mention that to my husband...

#2

We completely remodeled our home!! We have 2 white walls and 2 deep chocolate brown walls. Plus a huge black and white canvas with photos pinned to it, new lighting, new bedding... it's magnificent! Still in search for shelves and a gigantic black and white photo above the bed!

#3

While Youngstown is daily being buried in white diamonds, we're working on our tans.... mmmm.... gotta love life! Missionary LIFE!

#4

Our second class of Bibleschool students led their first outreach under the city's mosque today. Sooo proud! The Ethiopians are becoming their own missionaries!

#5

I have the best husband in the universe! Yep, it's true. Woke up on valentine's day to the most gorgeous necklace... then surprised him with a secret night-for-two! The guys helped me by taking him out of the house for a while and the girls and I made preparations... then Katrine personally and silently escorted him through the city to where I was... it was amazing!

#6

Saturday night is my favorite night of the week. Why? Women's house church!!!! This morning I sat for a long fika with Selam... my dear friend and disciple. She has been my translator, bibleschool-graduate and leader in the group for several months but today she shared her vision for the house church with me... what a gem, mother and gift she is becoming to the people in this city. Tonight I officially made her the new house church leader!!! Sooo proud! Time to pioneer new things!!!

#7

As I type, my best friend is on her way to India for 2 weeks. Then she's coming to live in Harar with me for ONE MONTH!!! GAH!! I'm exploding inside and out!! Longing to share life with you among the unreached my Joelle! (And longing for you Lauren!)

#8

I'm grateful to live in the age of email and MAC. Completely in love with my family and hanging on every word from America!

#9

We bought our 4 tickets to Tanzania in May!! Me, Samuel and our Ethiopian pastors, Mohammed and Ashagre will join Mission SOS for their festival in Tanzania!! Demon clinic... here the Ethiopian base comes!!!!!!

I had amazing photos for each of these points but blogspot still isn't 100% Forgive me again. Maybe tomorrow...

Harar Church of Joy with Pastor Samuel at 9:30 tomorrow morning!!! Wohoo!! Come if you're around!!!

Goodbye

Yesterday was goodbye. I've been traveling the world for years... yet all the goodbyes have never gotten easier. I hate them. I wish I could just bring everyone with me. In my case, that's the most difficult part of pioneering. Of course my heart and life is in Harar, Ethiopia but I just wish my mama and daddy were there with me too. My brother Jeffrey is leaving for the Marines soon as well... don't know when I'll see him again. So proud though!!

Samuel and I have been so blessed and taken care of in Pittsburgh, NYC and Youngstown. Thanks EVERYONE! Wow wow. Our spirits are rejoicing and ready to run. There were so many incredible words spoken over us. Thanks Holy Spirit. Plus, it was amazing to simply eat subway, sit by the fire place, shop, wear skirts that went against missionary dress code -- yesterday at Church one of the MC girls came up to me and said, "You're stylish for a missionary".. haha.. I think that was a compliment;) -- celebrate Christmas again, kiss my grandma and wrestle with my baby brother(who is atleast double my size and quadruple my strength).

My mama... rockin the boots we got her in NYC! So cute!

Dad in his Oromo skirt.. getting ready for Harar!

My birthday was so fun. Mom gave me the gift of getting my hair done my first day in USA! After 3 hours it was not so sun-soaked blonde and long. But I love it. Also got the camera from Kristin, an adorable bag from Lauren. Dad filled our suitcases with tons of things for our home(longing to paint and remodel a bit!) and Samuel got me a stunning Fossil watch. Mmmm..

Yep.. that's my man...

My beauty...

Samuel and I are in Istanbul now.. boarding our plane to Addis Ababa in about an Hour. I can't remember what that burning African sun feels like. I've had too much burning frost stuck to the depths of my bones these two weeks!

Katrine and Filip are driving our baby blue Peugeout to Addis Ababa to get us! We have about 200lbs worth of luggage and that's just too difficult to bring by minibus. Spending Tuesday afternoon with our hero Daniel Elvelyck and then taking the long drive home to Harar... just in time for Bibleschool class!! I need to hug on those disciples!!!!

If you're living in Youngstown and reading this... hug and love on my family for me. Praying for lots of money to fall in their laps so they can fly to us!! Just one month until my Joelle comes to live with me for ONE MONTH!!