Thanks but No Thanks Pottery Barn

I love eggnog. I love it even more in my coffee. I ran out of half & half so I substituted with eggnog this morning.

Yes, eggnog is in full supply at your local grocery store. When I saw it on the shelf last week I thought I heard music playing and my eyes zeroed in on the half gallon. Some people don't like eggnog. Why? It's dee-lish-us.

Yum. Steaming cup of coffee with eggnog.

Eggnog also reminds me of Christmas. However, I feel much different about this Christmas than I have in years past. I'm disgusted in a way. Disgusted in a way that I want to tear up Christmas displays at stores (think of the image of Jesus overturning tables in the temple courts in disgust of how the temple had been turned into a market John 2:15). Perhaps this is a bit drastic and maybe I can blame it on the six holiday seasons that I worked for a national retailer and getting to hear for months the 4th quarter statistics and goals. While working for a national retailer there were $$ signs in the eyes of every employee and guests were walking doll-uh bills ($$). I don't want to be "preachy", because really, I am just like everyone else. I have gotten wrapped up in giving out of the sake of "giving" and never truly enjoying it. I'm disgusted with myself. I am saddened that I do not know the full meaning of Christmas any more. (Did I ever?)

When someone says the word "Christmas" images of cookies, and Christmas trees, and hot cocoa come to mind. I want to experience Christmas for the wonder that it truly is. This year, I want to understand Christmas on a whole new level. I want to:
1) worship fully
2) spend less and serve more
3) Give more - my time, encouragement (not necessarily gifts)
4) Love all

I have many ideas that I want to do this Christmas since this is the first Christmas that I will be spending with my side of the family since 2005. Not only is it special for that simple fact, but I want to celebrate this Christmas in a radically different way - a way that truly gives God all the glory and honor and changes me from the inside out.

This Christmas I have a few goals:
- In lieu of others giving me gifts, I would prefer those to give to Project Ethiopia. (I will have more information in the next week on how to do so with up-to-date reports on where that money is being spent and who is benefiting from the gift.)
- I will be encouraging others to do the same - to ask for gifts to be given to benefit those who have less. I promise you that you will never regret giving.
- Give meaningful gifts. The gifts I do give away must be handmade by either myself or from a third world artisan who benefits from fair trade.

Will you join me?

My mailbox has been full of magazines from stores who want to pocket my money and take away the real meaning of Christmas. Pottery Barn had this on their front cover:

Give Joyfully - yeah, I plan on it!

"Give Joyfully"

Yep, I plan on doing that this year...just not from the pages of their catalogs or from the shelves of their stores.

I feel like a kid again on Christmas day - the anticipation and excitement is bubbling over with uncovering the true meaning. And you know what? I think it will taste even better than eggnog!

Are My Feet Willing?

I'm going back to Ethiopia! I'm excited for so many reasons, but I'm most excited to see how God has brought it all together thus far and even more excited to see how he will continue to work and make things happen.

You want a little back story? Well, even if you said "no", get over it, because I said a "little"...I'm not going to share all the nitty gritty. (I'll save that for a later post).

I knew I had to go back to Africa. God told me. Oh, don't look at me like that (with that crazy look on your face). He started speaking to my heart about Africa years ago (see Post #1and I always prayed that if he wanted me to travel back then to never let the fire go out in my heart. So, the fire never went out...God spoke to me. :) See Post #1 to see how I felt in April of this year.

For months, I've researched, applied, interviewed, with countless organizations. But, mostly I've prayed. I prayed that God would give me a clear vision/goal of what he would want me to do and I kept coming back to clean water projects and unreached people and venture into places that are not appealing to most people.

In early April, my mom told me about her cousin (my second cousin), Tom and his wife Teresa Rieder, who have started their own project - Project Ethiopia and have committed to going to the Omo Region of Ethiopia and to live there for two years while working with the local church (Kale Heywet) of Southern Ethiopia. They are going there to work and minister and, ultimately, drill a well in Turmi, Ethiopia.

I was in contact with Tom for months while I was still applying with other organizations. Looking back, it seems so apparent that I should be traveling with Tom and Teresa, but it took me a while to get there. I just put my trust in God and continued to ask him for guidance. One night in particular, I was talking to Matty K about feeling pulled in a couple different directions (possible travel with the AIM - Africa Inland Mission or with Tom) and Matty put it bluntly, "Jen, I think the choice is obvious."

It was obvious. Matty K was right once again - thank you God for speaking some sense into me through Matty K! I emailed Tom and Teresa the next day. I was hoping that they would feel God leading them to accept me into their project just as much as I felt His hand guiding me. I received an email back from "T&T" (Tom and Teresa) and they accepted me with open arms.

Wow. I still can't get over how I got connected with a family member (whom I've never met face-to-face) who is passionate about clean water like I am and is taking "action" in a country that we both love. God keeps "wow-ing" me away with how much he provides in due time. There are so many more details to share about Project Ethiopia and how "T & T" have been blessed...how my sis-in-law, Lo, is joining. It's pretty cool "stuff".

Currently, I have plans to travel in March or April of 2011, but nothing set in stone (or even dirt) at this point since there are many other factors involved with the dates of travel. Lauren and I will be traveling for about 1 1/2-2 months and to assist T & T with Project Ethiopia since it will still be in its beginning phases.


But, for now, this is my 'phase 1' and I'll keep you updated on the different phases as they come.

 Ambo, Ethiopia 2008

"What if it's worth it? Can we afford to wait for things to become easy?
I don't know what to do with this. God is calling me to something, but is it something this hard?
I have these feet and they can go even if they are not experienced.
But the question I'm asking is this:
Are they willing?
Willing to walk some of the Earth's most beautiful and devastated lands?
Willing to stand side-by-side with those of my African brothers and sisters?
Willing to be trashed in the process and one day be called beautiful?
Are my feet willing to move against the fear?
I don't know what to do with this, but there's one thing I do know:


I can no longer just walk away..."

- AIM On-Field Media



Romans 10:15 "...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"