I returned from my trip with Compassion International in Ethiopia. It was an incredible experience. I am confident that I have been marked by the Spirit in ways that I will not fully know for quite some time.
On the way home I missed my flight out of Dulles to Mpls. due to a delay taking off from Addis Ababa. Our 17 hour plane ride had been delayed by an hour so I was unable to make my connection. I was put on stand-by for the next several flights. Finally, at 5:22 (EST) I had my seat and was on my way to Minneapolis where I would catch another flight to home in Grand Forks. I arrived home sometime after 11:00 p.m. (CST) I was picked up at the airport by my son, who said to me, "I am looking forward to hearing about what you saw dad." He has been to Africa. We will share something together of the pain and wonder.
When I got home I decided to pull my toothbrush (with plans to kiss my wife Bonnie) from my luggage. While I was looking for my toothbrush I was really disappionted to find that my Ethipopian coffee pot was broken along with two of the five cups I had purchased. The coffee pot was intended to be a reminder of the coffee ceremony that was so graciously performed at almost every home we entered. It was a beautiful sign of hospitality. And my coffee pot was now broken. I had not packed it well.
Holding the broken pot in my hand my immediate thought was, "well I will have to replace this some day!" I will have to replace it someday because, I guess, I can. And that is what hurts. It was only going to be a decoration. Not something I would use. The coffee pot was to be added to the artifacts of my travels. And I can replace it. And I will most likely have opportunity. And I will most likely have the means. So I went to bed.
Today, I began gluing up my broken Ethiopian coffee pot. I am gluing it because I feel like I must. Other than the coffee pot, I am not sure what else "I must." I am sure that the Father will teach me and I hope that as He does that I will say, "I must."
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul
On the way home I missed my flight out of Dulles to Mpls. due to a delay taking off from Addis Ababa. Our 17 hour plane ride had been delayed by an hour so I was unable to make my connection. I was put on stand-by for the next several flights. Finally, at 5:22 (EST) I had my seat and was on my way to Minneapolis where I would catch another flight to home in Grand Forks. I arrived home sometime after 11:00 p.m. (CST) I was picked up at the airport by my son, who said to me, "I am looking forward to hearing about what you saw dad." He has been to Africa. We will share something together of the pain and wonder.
When I got home I decided to pull my toothbrush (with plans to kiss my wife Bonnie) from my luggage. While I was looking for my toothbrush I was really disappionted to find that my Ethipopian coffee pot was broken along with two of the five cups I had purchased. The coffee pot was intended to be a reminder of the coffee ceremony that was so graciously performed at almost every home we entered. It was a beautiful sign of hospitality. And my coffee pot was now broken. I had not packed it well.
Holding the broken pot in my hand my immediate thought was, "well I will have to replace this some day!" I will have to replace it someday because, I guess, I can. And that is what hurts. It was only going to be a decoration. Not something I would use. The coffee pot was to be added to the artifacts of my travels. And I can replace it. And I will most likely have opportunity. And I will most likely have the means. So I went to bed.
Today, I began gluing up my broken Ethiopian coffee pot. I am gluing it because I feel like I must. Other than the coffee pot, I am not sure what else "I must." I am sure that the Father will teach me and I hope that as He does that I will say, "I must."
Your partner in the gospel,
Pastor Paul
Here is a link in case you would like to check out Compassion:
http://www.compassion.com/default.htm
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