in His hands...

You know how much I love Ethiopia. I love the country. I love the people at Ekklesia School - the staff, the students, and the community of Sendafa. When we travel to Ethiopia, our intentions are always to build relationships and serve together in this community. But the love I feel for Ethiopia goes beyond Sendafa. Actually, it started in a trash dump.

On my very first trip to Ethiopia, before I even knew Sendafa was on the map, I visited Korah - the trash dump right in the heart of the capital city of Addis Ababa. I met a young woman who would turn my world upside down. She would introduce me to the horrific life of human trafficking for the very first time. As she shared her story about being raped, impregnated, and infected with HIV, it took everything I had to hold it together. Before I left, we prayed together. When I reached my hands out to hold hers, she pulled away. The interpreter said she didn't want to touch me because she was sick. I gently asked the interpreter to tell her I was okay... if she was okay. She hesitantly put her hands in mine and we prayed. Then we made our way outside and said our farewells. I remember walking away from her makeshift home and sobbing. I couldn't even wrap my brain around what I had just heard.

Because of this woman, I believe God started stirring in me to work against this injustice so others never know this life. Korah will always remind me of this woman and how God used her to change my life.

Recently, as you may have seen in the news, Korah experienced a trash landslide which claimed the lives of over one hundred people. I don't know if the woman I met was affected, but I know of a little who one lost her life - a little girl named Kalkidan. I have never met her. But I know the name of a man who loved her dearly. A man who was also stirred by God. This man grew up in Korah and has started a non-profit to help others growing up in similar circumstances.

                                                      Cherenet and Kalkidan

So many things we see happening in our lives cause us to question. Question why human beings are trafficked, why little ones lose their lives too early, why we experience cancer and death, why relationships fall apart, why - why - why? When our world is shaking and our hearts are breaking, what do we do?

We rest in the promises offered in this song. We rest in His hands. 

Please join me in praying for the family and friends of Kalkidan and all those who have lost someone in this recent tragedy in Korah.