Almost three years and counting...

A Song of Ascents.

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who DREAM.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.  Psa 126:1-6 

If there is a chapter in the Bible that resonates with my experiences with Ethiopia, it is this one.  Not only because verse 3 was written above the doorway of the first Kale Hiwot church I visited in Ambo, but also because it was the first chapter I heard read in our first church service in the Meseret Kristos Church here in Debre Zeit. 

Then of course there are the practical applications.  Let me break it down.

Verse 1- There are fortunes that once were associated with Ethiopia.  The Queen of Sheba came from Ethiopia to visit King Solomon bearing her truckloads of riches.  I recently found out that some of those riches were discovered in the Northern part of Ethiopia just a few years ago.  The people of Ethiopia have a rich heritage of wealth and prosperity but somewhere along the way, that fortune was displaced.  As a result, the identity has been lost somewhere.  And in that loss, was the loss of their ability to dream.  

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who DREAM

We who live or have lived in lands where opportunities and possibilities are endless to the point where we attach the word DREAM to our countries identity and vision more often than not take dreaming for granted. We think that the ability to CREATE, to think outside the box, to IMAGINE and ENVISION then build a pathway (often called a Strategic Plan) to see that Vision become REALITY is all a part of life ...but not so for all. 

Years ago a colleague of mine asked me what is my dream. At that stage I was helping other people put together plans and apply for funding to build their community groups. I said that this was MY dream, to help others realize THEIR dreams. But he challenged me to reengage with the dream that I had potentially buried and filed away in the NULL AND VOID folder of my life. I told him of my crazy dream to some day go to Ethiopia. Once that dream had been revisited and reawakened in my heart by the voicing of it, it didn't take long for me to make it happen to explore whether or not this was a God dream or a me dream. Turns out it was HIS.

But what a responsibility we have as Gods ambassadors to reawaken the dream in those around us. That they would become like those of us who take dreaming for granted. I love now to do the favour that man did for me - to ask "what is YOUR dream?" and then when a blank is drawn, to ask again "what WAS your dream when you were a little girl and all of life's cares weren't overwhelming your ability to dream?" then I hear an answer.. And their normally pretty achievable. But they didn't think it was so...

There is a day coming when the fortunes of Ethiopia will be restored and it will no longer be affiliated with the term FAMINE, but the word FORTUNE.  No longer with the word POVERTY but the word PROSPERITY.  I see the sun rising on that day.  Slowly it is bringing hope and the ability to dream again for it’s people.  No longer will the desire to dream be quashed by their own inability to provide for the dream, but even within their very own capacity and God’s provision and restoration dreams will be so big others will be astonished.  

They will say like verse 2:

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad

I read this last verse among the verses posted on the Ambo Kale Hiwot church on my short term visit in 2009.  It wasn’t a prophetic statement of what they will say when God restores their fortunes but it resembled their gratitude for what God had already done.  I hear this song of thanksgiving here from the ash heap, from the mud huts, from the under-resourced, unfurnished Sunday school class room.  A song of praise to a God who has done great things for His people.  Their mouths are filled with Ellilta praise.  The movement of their tongues which fills their mouth and manifests from a heart that is filled with joy. 

Joy that transcends circumstances.  

Joy that isn’t dependant upon receipt of goods.  

But Joy that comes with the knowing of Who is in control.  

They are believing for the restoration to occur, for the God of the Bible to do what He has done before.  I love to sit in the Wednesday healing services at Tsion Church because the building is filled with people hungry for God to move and answer their prayers.  They gather in droves and agree in harmonious unity to the preaching of Life that is typical in such meetings.  Here I have filled my “Amharic words” folder on my phone with phrases that have required repeating from the audience.  Phrases like:

I will not stop!

I will pass over!

I will speak!

I am not afraid!

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

I hear the tear filled prayers here.  Prayers said face down in the rocks to a God who may take up the cause of the humble servant.  Simultaneously I hear the SHOUTS OF JOY when prayers are answered.  Shouts unrestrained, unashamed, unaware of people around or cultural norms, but FULLY aware of the God who answered their prayers.  HALLELUJAHs that startle the crowd as right in the pew, God answers a prayer.  People being healed, people having revelations of God’s goodness in their situation, people shouting out to a God who has delivered them of demonic forces.  People who are about to reap their harvest. 

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

As we head into the end of our third year here, I am thankful for the God who gives the desire to DREAM and for the dreams HE has even enabled US to dream again and see come to reality.  I thank HIM for the opportunity He has given us to be able to serve in such a special country that perhaps HE placed in our Hearts because of His heart for this country.  What a privilege it is to be an ambassador of that heart.  Thanks for all those who pray for us.