Out of Africa & Coming to America

This past Saturday, our family left Ethiopia. It was a day filled with tears as we said goodbye to so many dear friends. It’s amazing how fast a year can go by. It’s amazing how much can happen in a year. It’s amazing that you can form such deep relationships in such a short time. Last summer, we moved to Ethiopia for Will to teach at ETC, and for our family to experience life and ministry in another culture. It’s been a rich year of experiences, and we have learned and grown in ways we could have never imagined. Last week was a busy week of packing and saying goodbyes. It was a tough week for so many reasons. Our emotions were raw and real. Even though I hate “goodbyes,” I am so grateful we had the chance to say them. We are so thankful for the opportunities and friendships that God gave us this past year. God has forever woven our lives together with a network of wonderful people in Ethiopia. We were moved by the prayers, gifts, acts of service, notes, and encouragement we received as we left. We feel loved. Humbled. Grateful. Blessed.

Our family is enjoying some down time in London, England this week. After such a hectic week wrapping up our work in Ethiopia, we needed some rest & relaxation. The kids had a full week of goodbyes too, and we were all physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted by the time we boarded the plane. We had a safe flight from Addis to London, and our first day in London was spent enjoying our hotel’s amenities and eating FOOD! We took a double-decker red bus to a mall near the Olympic Stadium, and we enjoyed food from Subway, McDonald’s, and Krispy Kreme. We’re also experiencing a reverse sort of culture shock that comes from living overseas and returning to a land of plenty. We have so much to process over the next few weeks as we begin life again in America. We are excited about the things God has planned for us, even though right now, we can only see the next few steps. Please pray for us as we travel to America this week, and reunite with family & friends. Also, pray for us as we resettle into our home, and for Will as he starts a new business. And finally, please pray for the people and nation of Ethiopia. We are praying that God will show us how He wants us to continue to be involved in Ethiopia in the future. I’m thankful that we serve a faithful God who will continue to work to complete the good things He has started there. We look forward to seeing many of you soon! Can’t wait to swap stories about our lives over the past year. – Susan