Turning 60 In Ethiopia

In Ethiopia the younger children take care of the older children. All the children are beautiful as you can see in this photo. Friday, October 28, 2011, I am headed back to Ethiopia for the third trip in a year. Each time I go, I leave a bigger piece of my heart there with the people who love God with all their heart and with so little, are so happy. Many things have changed since my first trip in 2010. My friend the director of the orphanage in Sodo has left to work at a school in Germany. I pray the orphanage is handling her departure well and managing the too many children they are responsible for every day. Secondly, the adoption laws in Ethiopia have changed making it much harder and longer to adopt a child through the laborious legal system. Christian World Adoption the organization that places these beautiful children is experiencing financial hardship because children are having to stay longer before getting adopted and more and more babies due to drought, death and poverty are being abandoned at birth. People ask me, what is the solution? I pray that the government of Ethiopia will speed up their process and figure out how to care for the nearly 6,000,000 orphans that need families, during these delays.

Other things have changed too. There is a drought and even more families are without enough water and without food. It is heartbreaking. The contrast between my life, where today I had a salty, carmel mocha from Starbucks and the mothers in Ethiopia who cannot care for their children is so very STARK. I struggle with what I am to do and with what I am to share with my friends. We have so very much.

I am hoping that "sad boy" will recognize me and that once again, I can cuddle with him and show him that he is a child of God and that he is indeed loved by me. I know my heart will be broken over and over again, for the women and children with such big eyes and only one, raggy change of clothes. I am hoping that the Holy Spirit will move me to new places spiritually when I talk with church planters and leaders in the Community Health Evangelism program.

I am thankful that I get so much quality time with my Ethiopian friends. I will miss my family and seeing these children makes me miss my own children and grandchildren deeply. This trip feels a little different. I will turn 60 in Ethiopia and in doing so I realize that I may not have that much time left on the earth to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow the command of Jesus to serve the poor. What do you have for me this time, Lord? Help me to be obedient to you every day. Help me know what is next in my ministry of service to you and others.

Thank you for the best birthday gift ever...turning 60 in Ethiopia, the land I love.