Provision

Moving to four different countries in nine months has taught me so much. Living in a town full of refugees, Aid workers, and people I don’t know, who don’t speak my language, or understand my culture has taught me even more. 

One of the lessons I have learned (which I previously thought I knew) is that whatever God intends to happen will come to fruition. There is absolutely nothing I can do but be faithful to what He is asking of me. Being here has made me realize that God doesn’t NEED me to do anything for Him. His purposes will be fulfilled with or without me. I am so extremely privileged that he has ALLOWED me to be here. If by his grace He uses me in the lives of others for His glory, praise be to Him.

Let me share a few stories of God’s provision for our team...

Every friend I have here has literally walked up to us or stumbled onto our compound. We haven’t searched out anybody. From day one when Laura and I went to buy phone SIM cards, we have met person after person who God has brought to us as an answer to our prayers, to become our friends, and to help us as we do life here.

Brooke getting her hair braided by Nyatet and Molan

Our friend Nyatet enjoying the swing Jared made

Me visiting with my friend Nyatuok

Two of my little buddies, Buay and Kir

Since the conflict began in South Sudan we haven’t been able to contact any of our workers in Nasir due to cell towers being shut off. Because of this, we have some compound workers that we hadn’t been able to pay since December. With no way of contacting them to let them know we hadn’t forgotten about them, we began to pray for a way to communicate as well as a way to get them money. We prayed for almost four months. Then one day here in Ethiopia, Jared was getting off a Bajaj (public transport motorized rickshaw), and there stood James, one of our guards from Nasir! He had come with one of our radio workers for medical care. If that isn’t a divine appointment I don’t know what is. We were able to pay our workers through people going back to Nasir, and since then we have run into more of our friends from Nasir. James is even continuing his work here with us in Ethiopia as our night guard. God is good.

Meeting with some of our friends from Nasir, John, Nyakang, and James

God has provided abundantly for all of our housing. We started out in the nightclub hotel. We prayed for a better housing solution, and soon we were able to transition to the mudhuts. As the rainy season approached, we realized that with the kids the mudhuts weren’t the best option, so we began to pray again. Shortly after we started praying, one of our friends informed us of a brand new house in the Nuer area of town. It works out perfectly for our needs.

Our new home