Serving Others

I was part of the team of women designated to refurbish the SIM guest house.  This is a dwelling place the Lord has provided for missionaries and teams working or traveling through the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  SIM (Serving in Mission) built the hostel to provide lodging, good meals, hot showers, and a guarded and gated campus and garden in the early 1950’s and it remains nearly unchanged.  That is, until now!  Our goal was to do some renovating as a way to encourage those who work there and as a thank you for the kindness and care they have shown to those who have passed through its doors.  Little did we know that these special women (and a few men) have been asking the Lord for just about 1 year to provide a way for them to make their dwelling place lovely once again.  God is amazing how He knit the hearts of these 2 groups together before they had even met! 

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!”  Psalm 84:1.  I must admit, that I first thought that this project was bordering along the lines of “fluff”.  “How is this going to help someone with HIV or the one who is struggling to feed his family, or the child with no mommy to hug,” I wondered?  However, as we met together with Yemeneshu, Marta, Genit, and Salam on Monday morning, my impressions were forever changed.  They shared their hearts about creating a beautiful place that will bless those who pass through on their way to doing the work that the Lord has called them to do.  They mentioned feeling “ashamed” about the appearance of, not their workplace, but their home.  They wanted to use their gifts of hospitality to create a place of peace for all who gathered.  The girls offered their hearts, souls, minds, and especially their strength to serve the Lord along side of us all week long.  As we moved furniture, washed walls, cleaned windows, made beds, and hung curtains we shared prayers, songs, scripture, tears, neck massages, and even advil!  Women in America are no different than women in Ethiopia.  We all like beautiful things.  We were created in the image of God, the Creator of Beautiful Things!

Many people passed through during our remodel process to thank us for the new look and peaceful surroundings.  Their kind words brought us much encouragement.  Each morning as Yemeneshu, Marta, Genit, and Salam would arrive for work, we would be greeted by huge smiles of excitement and a warm Ethiopian greeting of kisses on the cheek.  They were thrilled with the fresh, clean, and new updated look.  Their dwelling place had become lovely.  This, however, was the outward transformation.  The inward transformation is a thrilling story as well.

I looked back over my prayer request letter that I sent prior to our departure.  I offer my humble thanks for your faithful prayers on our behalf.  Once again, I am amazed at the provisions from the Lord.  He answered each one of those requests in ways that were beyond what I asked or imagined.  To Him I offer my praise!