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!!!