Thoughts and Ethiopia

I'm feeling the need to do a little thinking in print. I have conflicting, swirling thoughts competing for my undivided attention. We all battle with those, but I know whichever thoughts win will have a powerful impact on my attitude, emotions, and general outlook right now.

1) I am REALLY tired of having most of our earthly possessions in storage! We are so well-provided for as we share a home with gracious, loving family. However, Grace came jubilantly out of her children's class at church this morning talking of nothing but the upcoming indoor swim party for all of the children and their families next Saturday. Grace's big box of clothes did not make it to our current shared home. In the whirlwind of the move, it somehow made it to the back of the storage room with all of the other boxes. Her swimsuit is in there - along with all of her dresses and skirts and anything else I didn't specifically pack into a suitcase for her when we moved. This is not a great time of year to be buying a new swimsuit. Just an example of little almost falling apart moments for me lately.

2) I am looking forward to getting into our own home and putting our roots down with things like our own address and neighborhood, inviting people over, etc. Our home in Kansas has not yet sold, because our renters/eventual buyers have yet to sell theirs. I'm occasionally getting into a blue funk over this waiting period. It's interesting how much of my identity can be wrapped up in my own home.

3) I recently received a letter in the mail from the Ethiopian director of the Dakota 1 project in a village where we sponsor a precious little girl named Ethiopia through World Vision. She will be 10 in May. This is a high risk area for AIDS. We receive wonderful letters from Ethiopia as well as her yearly report card and picture. The letter was expressing this man's concern over the economic crisis he has been made aware of in America. He wanted to let us know that he is praying for us and is humbled by and deeply grateful for our continued financial support. Our support provides things like clean water, clothing, food, shelter, medical supplies, and education (none of which is lacking in our lives, I might add).

4) We had the opportunity shortly before we knew we would be moving so quickly to send a special gift to Ethiopia. I honestly had forgotten about it until we had a forwarded letter from Ethiopia's village arrive here in the mail. The letter was from Ethiopia letting us know how thankful she was for the $45 USD that supplied a goat for her family and several items for the World Vision office in her village. She included a picture of herself beaming and standing next to her beautiful goat and one of a joyful Ethiopian World Vision worker holding his new items for the office. Tears of joy and shame leaped to my eyes. So much there for so little impact to my finances.

Anyway, as you can tell, it all depends upon my perspective. Gifts, rights, grace, expectations, needs?

In Ethiopia's words at the end of her letters: "May the peace and grace of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all here and there."