Week Two.

It finally hit me. Two weeks into life in Addis, I’ve realized that it’s only been two weeks. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been an incredible two weeks, and I’m so happy about the other 50 to come, but what was only a “mere year” last week just turned into a scary, heart-beating-faster-when-I-think-about-it, entire year. I’ve found a few remedies to battle the fear, though, so I’ll share them on here.

Plain and simply: The kids. It’s hard to miss anything when you’re staring into the big brown eyes of a genuinely happy child. And it’s hard to worry about anything when their bright smiles light up the room when I walk in with my camera…or without it for that matter. Who knew that random strangers could make me feel so special and loved? Especially at a time when all of the people I love most are half a world away from me. Another thing that diminishes my fears is when I’m holding the hand of someone else who is terrified. I’m just scared because I’ve had a change of scenery, but they’re getting prepped to have a life-altering surgery. Squeezing their hands when they get the IV put in are some of my favorite moments.

Next: Facebook, Twitter, Skype/All forms of social media. I remember one time I was listening to Frank Sinatra, and I thought to God, “Why didn’t you make me in that time period? I should be in that era.” And almost immediately I felt like God was laughing at me and saying, “You know you can’t live without Skype.” It’s true, ever since I’ve moved away from my family and friends, seeing them on video as if they’re in the same room as me is like a drug. And if I have to join my family through Skype to watch the American Idol auditions, then so be it. I can’t miss out on traditions like that. And if I have to FaceTime my grandma from my computer to hear her sweet words of encouragement and all of the funny things she says, then how lucky am I that I have a grandma who understands technology? And if Facebook messaging all my best friends in the world is my only means of communication with an 8 or 9 hour time difference, then thank you Mark Zuckerberg, I think you’re awesome. And thank you Macbook pro for having a screen shot option so I can be creepy and take pictures of my boyfriend when we’re video chatting and the internet freezes up.

Good Music helps, too. Thank you U2 as always, Needtobreathe, Mumford and Sons, Casey Darnell, Kristian Stanfill, Davis Harwell, Ben Rector, and everybody else on my “Favorites” playlist. Yeah, you too T-swift and Celine Dion. Y’all know where I’m at.

Finally: God keeps giving me the best words to meditate on every day when I do my laps around the balcony. First of all, let me describe this sweet gym set up I’ve got going on. I live in the private ward up above all the kids. The balcony is a wrap around rectangle. The first side doesn’t have much of a view, but I like that one because it’s my starting point, so I get to count another lap every time I come around that corner. The next side of the balcony is the first view of the sky. I usually run around dinner time which means there is some sort of beautiful sunset going on. The next corner is the long stretch of sunset/the city skyline of Addis Ababa in the distance/giant African trees as far as my eye can see. And finally, the best side of the balcony: the little sitting area that the kids are all looking up from waiting for me to turn the corner so they can cheer me on. I lose my breath every time because I laugh so hard when they yell up at me. I love it. But back to the words. Some things I’ve just stumbled upon since my time here that have given me so much peace and some extra strength.

1 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

1 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

AND From my Jesus Calling book for January 25th: “LET MY LOVE ENFOLD YOU in the radiance of My Glory. Sit still in the Light of My Presence, and receive My Peace. These quiet moments with Me transcend time, accomplishing far more than you can imagine. Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones. Through the intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out. As you keep your focus on Me, I form you into the one I desire you to be. Your part is to yield to My creative work in you, neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up. Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace. Hold my hand in childlike trust, and the way before you will open up step by step.”

Hebrews 13:15, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Psalm 73:23-24