The Red Viper...

This is our late 90's (not sure on the exact year), way over priced Suzuki Vitara. Isn't she a beauty? We call her the red viper, not because she in any way resembles a viper or acts like a viper, but because it just seems ironic. If you look closely at the left back side of the viper you will notice that she is a little lower to the ground then the other side. The reason this is the case, is because the springs need to be replaced and they have been replaced several times with other used springs. You might ask me why we don't just put new springs on. Well, the problem is there are no new ones in the country, believe me I have checked. In fact, when I went about four months ago they told me they would come in in about three months. I felt like Elaine from Seinfeld when she was dealing with the Soup Natzi, when he told her "come back one year!". So...untill new parts come in we are stuck replacing old parts with newer old parts...
So, what is the point of this frustrating story? Well here is the thing...the springs are used, and they are used for a reason. No one wants used springs, in fact the day I went to a llittle shop I saw used springs pilled ten feet high everywhere I look. I am replacing used parts with other used parts. It tends to be frustrating.
Here is the thing. Many times in our spiritual walk we tend to fill our lives up with a bunch of used springs. We tend to find happiness in anything other than Christ and we ultimately find out that the "parts" we use are just old and useless. Wether it is finding satisfaction in our job or money or even our family, we tend to feel that these things can bring us the joy and satisfaction that we need but in reality, Christ is the only one that can bring true joy into our lives. I know many times I fill my life with old parts that tend to break down and wear out. Colossians 3:2 says: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." It's not that ones family or ones job is bad, but if I try to fill my life with joy from my family that can only be satisfied in Christ, than ultimately it will miss the mark. If my family trying to find happiness in me than I will ultimate fail them. Christ, on the other had will never fail, will never disapoint and will bring true joy into ones life. That's something a bunch of used springs can never do.

Lie to me?

I have to admit I really like the whole blogging world and I think it is going to stick around :) I read a few and what I have come to realize is that people love blogs that are authentic. People dig people who are honest and forthright. This caused me to ponder and ask the question. "When did it start being cool to actually be honest"? Is honesty such a lost art that it is now refreshing to be honest? I think the answers in regards to the blogging sensation has to do more with being honestly candid. Being willing to share how bad things are - at times when often times we tend to put a smile on our face - is just refreshing. It is real. It is honest. It is life.

So...that made me think of life in Africa and answering the one question everyone will ask when we see people in the States. "How is Africa"? Ok, here is my answer:

Life in Ethiopia can be frustrating at times. It drives me crazy when I drive and people run out in front of me and seem not to care that I almost took their life. It makes me batty when people yell "forenge" (foreigner), as though I had forgotten. I don't like the fact that the vehicle we bought here would have cost 1/4 of the price in the States. Nor do I like the fact that the vehicle tends to break down a lot and the parts are never guaranteed to be in stock. "Three months" they tell me, knowing full well they no one has any idea when the actual parts will arrive. I get aggravated when people ignore me in line at the grocery store and cut in front of me and I get livid at times when people drive down the wrong way on the road because they don't feel like taking the time to drive the actual route. I can't stand the smog nor do I understand how taxi's can drive with smoke pouring out of their tailpipe and no break lights, but if I turn my lights on at dusk everyone freaks out. These things drive me insane!!!

But...I would not trade it for anything. You see, all these things tend to happen the majority of the time but wrapped around these frustration are some wonderful events. I smile when I see Jackson playing with kids from different cultures knowing good and well that when Amanda and I were kids we would have never known anyone from Ethiopia. I take joy in driving into the city in the morning and seeing the sun peak over the mountains. I am thrilled to be apart of a church plant where people from a variety of cultures sit and share with each other knowing they have nothing else in common apart from Jesus Christ. I am humbled to see our neighbor Hanna baptized and watch in amazement as God just continues to grow a church full of people who just want to serve Him. I love learning about the culture over a good meal with our Ethiopian friends and I enjoy spending time with missionaries who experience the same "culture shock" that we have experienced. These things bring me great joy!

Here is the point. Life (anywhere) can have it ups and downs, good days and bad. The Christian life is that way often yet so many times we don't want to let anyone know that. We are happy to say that life in Africa is fantastic but we don't want to share our hesitation for coming when we have our head over a toilet after eating some bad food. "That is just a bit too honest", we tell ourselves. Well, I am thankful that we can be honest and share our struggles because that is really what being a Christian is about as Galatians 6 puts it. Sharing our burdens, lifting each other up. Being willing to sit with each other in the good and the bad. You see, life in Ethiopia can be fantastic at times and really stinky (literally) at other times. But through all the good and the bad I am extremely grateful that God has given us the opportunity to grow and experience life in Ethiopia. He has taught us many things since we have been here, but one of the biggest is this: Regardless of how good or bad our days are, He is always, always faithful. And for that lesson, my day just got a whole lot better.