Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us.

Empty airport at Dulles in DC

We are thrilled to report that after a somewhat arduous journey, we are again in our place here in Africa… and yes…looking at MY mountain and doing the work that others have so graciously done for us for the past FIVE months. I glanced at my perpetual calendar this morning and it still has the February calendar in place!! It is nearly like time stood still for five months. Some of the time in the States, when going out at all was very frightening, it really seemed like time stood still. Time is whirring on here again.

 How true this verse rings as we reflect on the past 5 months and look to where we are at the present time. God provided so well for us during this unsettling time. We had a house to go to in the States and we did not have to make a decision about going back to our work in Africa as the flights were stopped and our country closed. We had a car to drive and even people to deliver the things we needed. God provided the circumstances and direction for us. No, the time was not easy but it wasn’t and isn't easy for anyone right now. We have to remember that God is in control and He knows what He is doing…..and the hardest part for me…..He does NOT have to explain it to me. 

Our flight to Addis Ababa

The trip on Ethiopian Air was adequate but a bit unnerving and a bit tedious overall. The airports are nearly empty and you certainly don’t have to wait in lines of jets taking off on your flight to leave. There are only rare shops open and no hustle and bustle in the airports. Everyone seems to be avoiding contact with everyone else. Even the attendants at the gates and on the flights seem extra uptight and stressed. The planes on Ethiopian Air were both the new 787s, however, there was no entertainment system on the 14 hour flight or on the 5 hour flight…so nearly 20 hours of just flying and no movies, games or music. You could not charge you own devices so when your reader ran out of power….sorry… I must say we did a lot of sleeping. 

We were overjoyed to see the mountain as we landed in our “home country”. We arrived with all 4 of our suitcases and to the cool temperatures of the early evening. Our house and yard were lovely and well taken care of while we were gone. Neither Kent nor I suffered much jet lag as I think our bodies were ready to be “home”. We arrived on Monday evening August 3rd and our 3 colleagues had planned a cookout over the campfire for us. We all thought this was best as we were just out of COVID country and needed to wash off the “germs” before being too close to people. It was a great home-coming.

"My mountain" during landing

HOME again

Masks required! on flights and in airports!

On Tuesday we jumped right into our work and being my birthday, our whole team went out to a nice dinner at a restaurant in town….another thing we had done only once in five months in the States. All the staff and children were so happy we were back and told us how they prayed for us every day. It was great to be an answer to their prayers. 

So far, COVID 19 seems to be absent from our environment here. The children have been in school for 4 weeks and no one has any signs of the virus. We have yet to talk to anyone here who has any knowledge of anyone with COVID. Is is just because the virus is not here or will it come later? No one but God knows the answer to this, so for now we choose to be thankful. That being said, the people of this and all African countries are greatly suffering as there is no tourist industry at all right now. Many of the African countries depend on tourism for half or more of their foreign income. The street vendors and safari companies are literally starving. I would say on a flight that holds around 400 passengers, there were about 200 on the flight and only about 25 got off at our stop when usually the whole plane gets off here. Yes people are suffering unemployment here as well as in the USA but there is no government money to help these people. 

We are now in my very favorite time of year. I do love all the “seasons” here, except for a few weeks before the rains…but this is my favorite season. The mornings are nearly cold in the high 50’s and the days in the mid to upper 70s. there is usually a breeze which make you run for a sweater and I am fine with that. There is LOTS to catch up on, but the work is rewarding and we are grateful to a God whose timing is perfect and we are in His hands. Thanks for rejoicing with us as we return to our real work in our Rafiki Village!!