So this weekend was Sharefest, where our church "leaves the building" and goes out and serves all over the county/city. We had several projects @ local schools, organizations, nursing homes,cemetary, homes that needed repair, children's home, and many more. I have loved this ever since I heard about my "home church" growing up doing it many years ago, where you come together to serve and love on the community you live in. We don't do it for notarity or to try and get them to go to "our" church, we just do it because we love God and therefore love them and want to help. We had the honor of going to a local elementary school where many projects took place, there was landscaping and planting going on all over the school, a courtyard that was cleaned up, washed over with a power sprayer, and given a facelife with some new umbrellas, some beautiful plants and fresh paint on doors and the gym. We put phrases picked out by the school on their windows, a painted a USA map out on there concrete behind the school for teaching purposes and to have fun. We had people there to cook food for all those serving and those being served. It was amazing! The staff at Christie was so supportive and many came and helped out with the work. There was much more done there than just projects, it was a way to look at a people group doing sooooo much to love and teach our kids, and say HEY we notice..we see it..we appreciate it...we appreciate you for how you serve our community...we love you...and showing it through the work of our hands and feet was how we did. What a blessing it was, and this multiplied by so many projects over the city. I for one can't wait to hear all the stories out of "one day", I know those who served were blessed just as much if not more than those serving. I love the people of Ethiopia, of Haiti, and those all over the world, but it feels good to "love where you live" God places each of us where we are for a reason. I know I need to get out more and love on those around me. It's such a beautiful picture of the body of Christ, coming together to take care of each other. Looking forward to going out and serving again.

Wow, well we are back from Ethiopia and all in one piece- I think. Atleast physically that is. Coming back from a place like Gondar, there is a part of you that is forever changed and yes a piece of you stays there. It was a great trip with many highlights that I will share over the next days, but I think the piece that sticks with me the most right now is the opportunity for change. As you drive along the roads and go out to the villages you see a land of milk and honey, miles of farming land and beautiful scenery of green, and yet around the corner our lives tokened with disparity and poverty. This is my third trip there and I seem to find out something new about the country every time. I never cease to be amazed at the children and their contentment with what they have. At the schoolyard, they play with a soccer ball tethered for who knows how long, barely staying together in a circle, yet entertained and full of joy to be playing together. At this time of year, as Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of not the things that separate us, such as(homes,jobs,miles,material things, abundance) but the things that unite us, the need for friendship, for love, for security, for life, abudant life, one God) As I was in Gondar one evening outside a hotel overlooking the city, I could hear whispers of the people in Gondar "living" conversations of families, of laughter, of tears..I was reminded of the song You're the God of this city, your'e the king of this Nation..you are..and He is..I for one am thankful this Thanksgiving for who He is, that He is victorious even when things feel at loss, let's all be reminded He is the King! Happy Thanksgiving!

On a Mission

Well, we've been praying about this for quite some time, and the time is almost here. Yes, headed back into Ethiopia to serve the people in Gondar through e3 Partners and Chase Oaks. I am so excited to be going in this time to provide help through wheelchair distribution. The other day we met together as teams and I saw for the first time the wheelchair we will be taking with us-thanks to all your generosity in helping make this happen. The thing that excites me the most is having the opportunity to love on the people in Ethiopia, to be able to provide for some of the most needy people there in Gondar, "legs" to view there surroundings in a whole new way. How exciting is that. We will also be providing eyeglasses for people to give them a new opportunity to read. Along with that Aids awareness and just offering hope to the people there. So please continue to pray for us as we prepare to go. I am asking God to prepare my heart in what he wants to teach me, in how He wants to use me and our team, and for the people we will have the opportunity to meet-that they would meet God. I am once again so thankful for God allowing me to live into the passion He has given me to go....