LoveJodyLynn | Ethiopia

Thank you! So many of you prayed for, supported and cheered our team on as we travelled to Ethiopia! It was just a short 2 weeks ago that we landed back in the US. There are so many stories to tell, pictures to share, lessons to treasures, faces to pray for, but I wanted to give you a little peak into some of the big take away lessons I brought home.

1. When you have “nothing” you will share everything. Not only did Ethiopia have beautiful people, they had beautiful souls! They get the meaning of community – their share purpose, resources and encouragment!

2. You do even the smallest things for them and they are so thankful! A pair of sunglasses, a hug, a handclap game, a full meal, a chance at a new beginning, vinyl flooring…be it time, resources or attention they were grateful. This is not a comparison of poor vs poor but people vs people. I had so much fun loving them. Because they allowed it to be simply that.

I feel like so often in America we are underwhelmed by anything people do for us, it slips our mind, we don’t notice, it was a “nice effort” but not enough, they failed blah blah blah. There you give a kid a pair of flip flops and it’s Christmas morning. It doesn’t matter what color they are or the name brand – they were just so thankful.

It really challenged me to look at my life and ask “am I grateful for the attempt” Do I acknowledge the “imperfect” gifts and exchanges and moments I have with people or am I always so concerned with what’s next/best that I miss the magic in the here and now moments?

But we made a great attempt to love everyone we came across. It was a trip of loving without thinking and that love being received.

I don’t love like that here. I know I should. I know I should smile and acknowledge all who walk by. I know my love should be “free” in the regards that I have been loved deeply, beyond what I deserve by the God who understands love far better than I ever will. But I love with fear, with the anticipation that it will fail, that it won’t work, be enough or fix the problem. Needing love is not a geographical or income issue – it’s a people issue. People need to be loved. People need to understand that God is love and actively loves them. So even though people can drive me bonkers – they shouldn’t. Because it’s even playing field when it comes to basic needs. We need the same things God provided for Adam and Eve at the beginning of time —– Purpose (to rule over the animals) Water (He did separate the water from the earth) Food (moo) Relationship (each other).

The ocean should not change the way I love. There was a peacefulness there because each day began with an open heart to what God had planned and who God needed me to love.