Tuesday – How does our garden grow

We got to meet with the BEZA staff today. As we met with individual staff members and heard their testimonies, we were all impacted by how God has worked in their lives and drawn them to the ministry they are doing now. One is a dear 78 year old man who didn’t get to go to school until he was 12, met Jesus at a Mennonite boarding school, and went on to get a master’s degree at Purdue in engineering. He has worked in road construction/design for the government, also with World Vision, and when most people would be fully “retired,” began working with BEZA just 18 months ago to help with the construction of their ministry centers. We then had a very special time with Betta Mengistu, the founder of BEZA with his wife, Sophie. Betta has a quiet, gentle nature and instantly made us feel like honored guests, reminding us that God had brought each of us here for a special purpose, one that we may not even realize. You cannot help but be caught up in his passion for the Lord, the reality of a loving, intimate relationship with Jesus. He was very transparent with us as he shared his own spiritual journey, which has led him to passionately pursue relationship with the Lord and others. It was a strong challenge to us to reflect on what specifically the Lord has designed for each of us personally. He drew us to Song of Solomon 4-5: “You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.” The comparison was made to what is often true of believers and institutions today, full of knowledge, but no outflow. Our gardens can be full of giftedness and knowledge, but not expressed or shared, not nourishing others. The springs of the Spirit’s work in our lives can be sealed up, not flowing out. So we are examining our gardens, our hearts and souls, to see if/how we are closed in, if there are things blocking the outflow of His spring in our lives that comes directly from a personal relationship with Him.

We had lunch at a pizza restaurant, whose Ethiopian owner had recently moved back to Ethiopia from Seattle with his family. His 7 yr. old son was there, seemed curious about us, and clutching his daddy’s hand, came to say Hello, even demonstrating for us what he was learning in his salsa dancing lessons. Yet another example of Ethiopians returning to their country.

After lunch, we learned a bit more about Ethiopian history and culture at the national university’s museum, where Birukti, our new friend, went to school. The exhibits revealed the rich history, culture, and craftsmanship of the Ethiopian people.

Every Tuesday Sophie hosts a women’s prayer meeting, so we were able to join them. Though we don’t understand Amharic, we could certainly identify with their spirit and His spirit in them! Their songs of worship and praise are beautiful and sung with such passion. It is obvious that prayer has high value here, and it was a special time to pray with and for one another. Sophie reminded us that the power of God is in prayer, that we truly are blessed women, and we can expect God to work mightily in our lives, restoring what the enemy has stolen or held captive; God delights in giving us His blessings and victory.

Tomorrow we will have opportunities to meet with those working in very special areas of outreach in Ethiopia. We are looking forward to all that God has to show us, how He is challenging us. We are both humbled and blessed by everyone we are meeting. We are so thankful that He is allowing us to build special relationships with our family here and that He purposed for us to be connected with them.