Roses & Rims
God has been providing for us in so many ways as we prepare to move to Ethiopia. We have seen His personal hand in details and His consistent grace. As we open the door wider into this new adventure of moving our family across the globe to Addis Ababa, we started to explore our housing options.
We have been offered a temporary home that is on the SIM compound. We cannot live there permanently since we are not working for SIM. This was still good news since we had heard it is a wonderful place to live, and there are families there and lots of outdoor space. We had become friends via zoom with a couple who has 3 boys. We began talking and emailing with them.
They sent us an email titled good and bad news. They had decided it was time for them to return to the States, BUT they wanted to sell us their household. This means we could pay them and take all of their furniture and kitchen supplies and appliances. They had purchased much of their things this same way. They had bunk beds for the boys and games and DVDs. It would take months and even years to purchase and find all the items. What a gift. Then we heard that we could just move into their house on the compound. A sigh of relief. That sounded great!!
But God had other plans. We heard from one of the elders who had agreed to help us find a permeant house there. He had found an amazing house. Lots of space for Ethiopia and a great location. Steve and I sat down to look at the pictures. The first picture I see is the most beautiful garden with lots of beautiful roses. I love roses. I have always wanted a rose bush, but with four boys and balls in a backyard roses are not a top priority. I had been walking just two days before and was telling God how much I love roses. And there they were. Right in front of me. I couldn’t believe it. God was giving me the most gorgeous rose bushes. We began to explore all of the options with this house and after much prayer and discussion with friends in Addis, we decided to rent this house.
Our rental house in Addis Ababa which close to friends (1/2-1 mile), church (2 miles from IEC), and school (3 miles from Bingham).
View from the front balcony of around 20 rose bushes
View from inside
We knew we would need something for our boys to do outside other than look at the pretty roses. Our friend who was helping with the house said that there was the perfect spot for a basketball goal before we even asked. All we would need to do was bring a rim because those are hard to find. Well, Steve disappeared and came back in from the garage with a basketball rim!! We had gotten a new goal a year or so ago and for some reason, Steve kept the rim of the old goal. I just laughed and laughed. God even provided a basketball goal!!
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
God promises to go before us like he told Joshua before they entered the promised land. And He promises to go WITH him. I know God is going before us, but He continually reminds us that He is near. He cares. He hears.