What's On My Mind?

I have been thinking about Ethiopia a lot lately. I have been praying for rain in Africa, pondering suffering, wondering how I can do more. Do I work harder here? Do I find a way to move my family there? How do I advocate for these people? This is what rolls around in my head most of the time. Yes, I realize that there is a lot of I's in those questions. God stopped the noise yesterday by pointing out that these are His people, and He has a plan for them. He also has a plan for me. My job is to be content where I am, and to pray for Ethiopia, to help where I am able.

I got a call from Hanna at Children's Heaven. She gave me an update on our sponsored daughter. It was good and bad news, requiring more prayer. AAI reported on the power situation in Addis. I also read an article about the port in Djibouti, and some of the obstacles that they are facing. Ethiopia is such a beautiful place, facing so many difficulties.

It makes me consider well life in America. We think we are past the difficulties that Ethiopia faces. I was watching a youtube video yesterday on primitive ways to drill for water that are being used in many third world countries. Some one posted a comment about how stupid it was to use these methods when there is so much better technology available. I was so tempted to blast this person with how ignorant they are. Yes, there is better technology, if you have power available, paved roads everywhere, trucks that can haul gas, gas available to be hauled, and people that are healthy enough to make all of this happen. We think the entire world has what we have. They don't. We didn't have all of this until recently. My dad, who is not that old, did not have running water and electricity at his rural home growing up. We have gotten used to life with hot showers, climate controls, paved roads, instant communication, excellent (although expensive) medical care. We somehow think we deserve all of this, it is our right.

Being in Ethiopia opened my eyes in so many ways. I realize every morning when I wake up on my comfy mattress, to my alarm clock that is plugged into the wall, and my coffee already brewing in the kitchen, that I am the recipient of some amazing gifts. These things are not my rights, they are delightful gifts. I also recognize that they may be revoked at anytime. We Americans have taken for granted that we are blessed, but it may not always be this way. Wars, famine, diseases do come. We think we can stop them with all of our scientific knowledge and technology. I doubt that. One storm event caused havoc in a large part of America that is still recovering. Droughts happen, crops fail, fires come, and we don't have endless money to fix it all, no matter what the government tries to tell you. Our lives here are very blessed, and we should be deeply grateful for them. We should not get comfortable in these blessings however; we need to remember the people that have gone before us. There are countries that were great when we were still a wilderness. They too had great riches, but now they are suffering. To whom much is given much will be required. I am grateful that my son has brought home to me how much I have been given, and caused me to contemplate how much is required.