WHO YOU SAY I AM

WHO YOU SAY I AM

In preparation for this trip, our team got together once a month for a team meeting. During these meetings we would go over logistics, study the word, and get the run down on preparations that needed to be finished. Our team heard multiple times about two new houses of kids who had recently been adopted by Bring Love In. As our trip was getting closer, I was counting down the days, but also trying to prepare my heart for what I was going to experience and for what God wanted to do in my life and my team. As soon as I stepped off the plane I was filled with many emotions, excitement, joy, sadness, weariness, but also mainly anticipation for getting to meet all these kids!

This group of teenage girls were such a joy to be around this week! They would ask questions, give hugs, make us gifts, say “I love you, see you tomorrow!”, and always wanted to be around us! These girls completely changed my perspective on the word “strong.” This past week I was able to hear personal stories of what life was like for these girls before Bring Love In and before they were told about the love that Jesus has for each and every one of them. I heard stories of abandonment, running away, struggling to make money, feeling forsaken, forgotten….:alone.

These young girls were telling their stories with tears streaming down their faces. In that moment I came to the realization that I have no clue what it means to actually be strong. THESE girls have painfully had to experience what it means to be forced to be strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is a verse that I hold near and dear to my heart, and that has helped me through many different seasons in my life. It states “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I can think of many different times in my life where I have clung to the last line of these verses with what felt like very little strength. “For when I am weak then I am strong.”

Throughout this week the Lord has so kindly brought each of these girls and their stories into my life to truly teach me what it means to be strong. In each of these stories I heard about the daily lives these girls had to live (before Bring Love In) and the horrors that persisted. In each of these stories I also heard how God provided for them, equipping them, and strengthening them, which taught me a whole new meaning and understanding to the word STRONG. When I think of the word STRONG, I know see the faces of so many beautiful girls who have fought and have fought hard. I see the faces of girls who have been redeemed, chosen, loved unconditionally, and all that flows out of them is pure joy. Joy that cannot be taken away because Jesus has captivated their lives and their hearts. Taking them from a life of hardship, turmoil, darkness, and bringing them into a life of light, joy, and love, surrounded by so many amazing people who have loved them as Jesus would at Bring Love In.

In a VBS lesson this week, I had the honor to teach these girls about who we are in Christ and how that can never be taken away from them. I was able to remind them that they are chosen, loved, HIS, God’s child’s, worthy, and not forgotten. It truly felt like a gift getting to remind them of how truly special they are, to God, the JRNY team, their friends, sisters, aunties, moms, etc.

We were able to sing the song “Who you Say I Am” all together with children ages two and half to adult. All together we were declaring

“Who the Son sees free, is free indeed, I am a child of God, yes I am.


As I think about heading back home to Montana here very soon, where things are comfortable for us and easy. My prayer is to remember the names and faces of each one of these beautiful girls, the stories of redemption that they hold, and this new definition of strength. I am at a loss of words for how this group of incredible girls and Bring Love In has changed my heart. I pray that every person who experienced God’s love this week would be able to declare that they are a Child of God who is set free. I now have a new understanding of what it means to be strong but also what it looks like to truly be apart of God’s kingdom with people back home in Montana but also with amazing people in Addis Ababa.

Thank you Jesus for Bring Love In and the AMAZING work that they have so faithfully followed Jesus in doing.

Until next time!!!

– Mariah
Kibebe Tsehai

Kibebe Tsehai

Today we got to visit Kibebe Tsehai, the government orphanage that all of the children in Bring Love In came from before they were put into forever families with a mom and brothers and sisters. Kibebe Tsehai means sun.

When we pulled up to the front gate, we saw the walls all around the compound with razor wire on top. Then we saw two men that were dressed in military-like uniforms who let us in.

We parked and got out and went straight to the infants room, made up of infants to 2 years of age. Each room held 20-25 babies often 3-4 infants to a crib, and only one worker to care for 20-25 of them, only having time to feed them and change their diapers, rarely holding them, we didn’t see any workers holding any babies).

There was a room with the newest babies who had arrived, only a few weeks old. Many of them were malnourished or sick and coughing. It was explained to us that those 25+ sick babies will stay in that room till their health improves.

Kids arrive at the orphanage from four different ways. Many are left by their mothers on the door step of a church, or have been left by a river (two of the newest girls at Bring Love In, Betty and Yodi, had been abandoned by their grandmother at a river), or they are war orphans whose parents were killed in the recent conflict in the north.

After seeing 80 babies we proceeded to another building with 50 two year olds who all wanted us to pick them up and hold them but we couldn’t because of their infections and sicknesses such as ringworm. The two year olds were all wearing the same type of outfit. One two year old had something like polio, her legs were malformed and she couldn’t stand. This hit me and I couldn’t cry or do anything because the orphanage might get offended. We want to be very careful in how we behave around the government orphanage so we don’t do anything that could prevent Bring Love In from adopting more children out of there.

While I was in another room filled with disabled children I saw Thomas go up to one girl who was very disabled. He told her that she would be getting a wheelchair the next week from Bozeman, and she got super excited.

I was shocked how happy these kids were in such a sad place. I mean their parents left them either to die or to be taken care by someone else. After that we went to our driver Ishy’s car and drove to another our next stop.

We went to the poorest part of town (near Koshe dump) to visit Tariku, the older brother of Ybeltal, Akele, and. Buzye, three siblings in Bring Love In.

Tariku’s house was 10 foot by 12 foot hut made of mud and grass or hay, with a dirt floor and a sheet metal roof. It had flooded earlier that day. Tariku had worked in the Nile dam project but hadn’t found work since then. He didn’t have enough money to pay for enough food for his family and his 8 month old daughter had some kind of ear infection that was oozing, but he couldn’t afford to take her to the doctor to get it checked.

Their house was smaller than some of our living rooms and he had to house 8 people. (Tariku and his 3 children plus, his wife, and her two brothers and a sister in law). And they all shared one bed, no kitchen.

We found out later that Tariku was going to be evicted the next day. I’m really thankful we were able to visit them.

– Jack
To Just Be

To Just Be

The Western world is built on hustle—on doing. But I just can’t help thinking about how Jesus modeled a different way, and sadly, it took being on the other side of the world for me to even begin to grasp that. Jesus taught his disciples how to be. This means stopping the grind, the hustle, and the need to “fix” everything, and simply enjoying someone’s presence. I described this briefly during one of our early morning team devotional times, stating that I think deep, meaningful acts of service rely on intentionality. That means taking the time to send that text, noticing that person in the corner, or even just giving a genuine smile to a stranger.

The reason I say this is because the true impact of service is making someone feel seen, loved, and known. The only way to do that well is to put down our phones and sit with that person. There truly is no better example of this than Jesus—a man who pushed past the people who already thought they were important, focusing instead on the ones our Father knew needed to understand how deeply valuable they are.

This hit me as soon as I landed. I even remember telling Mariah at our first breakfast how much I love their long coffee ceremony because it takes time, and you do it with everyone talking around you. There is no rush, no urgency—just simple but potent connection. This is the exact feeling I would describe when walking into Bring Love for the first time. Those kids greeted us at the door with such joy, and all they wanted to do was simply talk and play with me.

I think the issue with our Western world is that sometimes we forget the joy of being around people isn’t about trying to find all the answers. It can just be to sit there and cherish the fact that you get to be near somebody you enjoy. Now that is the real, raw gift of community. Now that is true belonging.

So, when I head back to the States, my goal is to be better at just sitting and being, rather than constantly having to be on the go. I want to be a Mary in a Martha world—with Mary knowing what the most important thing in the world was. That is to know Jesus and make him known!

– Capri

Highlights And Culture

Highlights And Culture

Today marks the first day for your group meeting the kids and staff of Bring Love In. The past couple of days though have yielded amazing memories while continuing to connect with locals and deepen our relationships as team members. Jet lag has definitely gotten the better of us for the most part, but we are holding out! The days leading up to meeting the kids at embracing hope, Ishy (our driver) has been AMAZING! by showing us Ethiopia’s cultural foods and sharing stories beyond our comprehension that had us questioning “why is this a thing” or “this is not right.” On top of hearing his personal testimony and how he has become who he is today.

We have not reached the pinnacle of the trip and we are already overwhelmed with emotions and the difficulties they must deal with on a day to day basis. Their cultural dinner was also a highlight for the past few days, though the food was not new to us, it still didn’t fail to be magically delicious! After we had finished our portions, the dancing began and throughout the night continued to get more intense. And close to the end we were invited up to make total fools of ourselves by “participating” in there dancing. Afterwards we had called it a night and went back to the hotel.

The next day was when we went to Embracing Hope. As we arrived, the kids were filled with joy and had grins on their faces no one could wipe off. We did classroom crafts demonstrating Jesus calming the storm, and afterwards we played Simon says and a fun rock paper scissors game. Though our team and the kids could not figure out who Simon was, we continued to have a blast. Hope things continue to go smoothly and we will do our best to keep everyone updated!

– Scott

Sharing What I Love With People I Love.

Sharing What I Love With People I Love.

This year all of the people on our Ethiopia short term trip team will be visiting Ethiopia for the first time. It is exciting to have a trip where every car ride and every place we visit is new for the rest of the team I’m leading.

If you know me, you know I love sharing things I love with people. It’s one of the ways I show love is by inviting people to enjoy the things I think are really good. It’s exciting to me to share the books I love, the movies, music, comedians and sports and food and restaurants that I love with others.

And I am really into sharing the things I love. A few weeks ago I rented out one of the opening night showings for the new Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and invited over 150 friends from Journey as well as family and neighbors (and friends of friends) to come, and we all enjoyed the move together. And that’s the fourth Star Wars release I’ve invited friends to. My friends call it the “Brandon Edwards Star Wars Experience.” But you can pretty much apply that to all the things I love.

Part of the reason I love Journey is because our staff and volunteers work so hard to make it a great church to invite people to be a part of. I know people love inviting friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to our church because it’s welcoming and we are genuinely excited to have them as guests. Our whole church is geared towards being inviting and hospitable and very high quality from the welcome ministry team to the children’s ministry, to the worship and the sermon.

And I want to invite people to Journey because I want them to experience how much Jesus loves us through the lens of our church. Jesus’ love has changed my life, made me a better version of who he made me to be, in ways I couldn’t have changed on my own, more loving and patient (fruits of the spirit) and a purpose, something to live for. And so I want everyone to have the opportunity to experience his life changing love.

I know in order for them to experience Jesus’ love, someone needs to share that love with them, just like my best friend’s family did when they invited me to church with them when I was growing up. They shared Jesus with me and changed my life forever, for the better.

Missions is a passion for me because I want everyone to be able to hear about Jesus and his love, especially unreached people groups who have no access to the gospel in their own language. They have no one in their lives or country to share about Jesus with them. I also care about who Jesus calls the least of these (the poor, the hungry, the thirst, the sick, the orphan and the widow). Jesus said, where we see them, he is there among them. He is present with them and suffers with them. Our suffering King. We are to love them and treat them as if they are Jesus.

And so as a part of our vision for missions at Journey we partner with Elevate Orphan in Ethiopia. And you guessed it! I love Ethiopia. I love sharing not just the travel, the flights and new foods, with my friends and my son on this team, but most of all I love sharing the people of Ethiopia, my friends who I love and who I know they’ll love.

They’ve met and I know they already love our host and driver Ishy. They’ve already gotten to know him so well and I heard new things about his life that he hadn’t shared before with me and it was so good to know my friend more, who I love.

But I’m the most excited for our team to meet the children at Elevate Orphan tomorrow. And Thomas, the director of Elevate Orphan and all of the mom’s and aunties, and counselors and staff that care for them so well. It’s a family reunion that is always guaranteed to be a wonderful time, infused with great Ethiopian food, amazing coffee from the birthplace of coffee and the love of our friends who love Jesus and love like Jesus. It’s especially special because I get to bring my son, Jack, to Ethiopia for the first time. I’ve promised all of my kids I would bring them here. He’s a very adventurous eater, loves new things like I do and loves working with kids. I can’t wait! Giddyup!

– Brandon

Open My Eyes, Lord

Open My Eyes, Lord

A Jesus follower has to be one who can SEE what Jesus sees. The element of seeing ought to be easy. Just look around – what’s happening in the lives of those in our proximity?

Yet as I reflect on my time in Addis I realize I spent half of it not even seeing what Jesus sees. As we drove around this city of 4 million souls my eyes were drawn to the run down, half completed buildings or the piles of debris, garbage and rubble. I saw the dust and dirt and odd things unique to this place. But for 4 days I didn’t see the people. I realized I didn’t look into their eyes and really see them.

I asked myself how is it possible in the midst of this extreme poverty to not see the people? Individuals who are hurting at a level I can’t even imagine. It wasn’t intentional – but after a morning team devotional I realized it was what I was doing.

Then in my own quiet time I read Philippians 2:20-21: “I have no one else like him (Timothy), who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

It seems really seeing people where they are might be a rare thing. Paul saw it in Timothy, but I wasn’t seeing it in myself. So I prayed to be able to see as Jesus sees. See people where they are and try to help in some way.

I was surprised when the first two people I felt like I really saw were on our team – they were each wrestling with different things but needed to talk and process through what they were experiencing and feeling. I don’t know how helpful I was in those conversations, but I felt different having seen what I hadn’t been seeing.

The next person I saw was a 7th grade boy from Bring Love In. Beyond shy, with a lisp and a bit different from the other boys at BLI. I’m thankful God helped me see him, give him an opportunity to score in a meaningless football game and see his joy and smile.

Reflecting on this, it feels like this is a huge issue in our culture. People feeling unseen and people not seeing others as Jesus sees them. I’m convicted as we fly back home to try and see the people around me. To be like Timothy and have genuine concern for others. To place their needs above my own. To love my neighbor as Jesus commanded. I pray Lord that you would open my eyes to see what you see.

– Brian

See You Tomorrow

See You Tomorrow

After each day we spent at Bring Love In this last week, and as lunch was being prepared in the homes, “see you tomorrow”, echoed through the halls, down the streets, and among the kids and adults. It’s always followed by big hugs and even bigger smiles. This phrase brought about the feeling that this incredible time we spent together today is going to be continued tomorrow morning, and we are each expecting God to show up.

See you tomorrow!

When a young child who does not speak great English told me excitedly, “see you tomorrow!” on Monday, I felt like there is no possible way that the short time we are going to be separated would diminish the friendship we created that day, and they would remember all we shared when we saw each other on Tuesday. We arrive for another day and it’s finally tomorrow, and they embrace us. What else can God do? Where else can I see him move?

See you tomorrow!

With this phrase exchanged between us and the kids at Bring Love In, there is an expectation that something will happen tomorrow, and I believe that truth is far more sweet with Jesus in the center. As it is said in Lamentations “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”, a truth I feel like the kids know far better than me.

See you tomorrow!

We might have spent our days cooking, doing crafts, playing sports, and learning the Bible but in reality, we are simply getting to know each other and the ways that God created us. We talk about what we like, what we don’t like, what we want to do. Each day is different, but it ends the same…

See you tomorrow!

At the end of our time in Addis Ababa, see you tomorrow’s and smiles turned into tears and goodbyes. Looking back at the week, there is no doubt that I have been moved by the kids and staff I met at Bring Love In, and it is extremely hard to describe. What I can say, is something inside of me has changed, and I thank God for this experience. As I head home and reflect on my conversations, pray for the families, ask God to help me bring these lessons home, and write this message, I am brought back to the last thing I heard from the kids that I know is eternally true…

Until we meet again!

Love,
Halle

What We Deserve

What We Deserve

As I sit in the lobby of the Z Addis Hotel trying to write this blog, what seems like a year’s worth of sights, sounds, and experiences flood my mind. Trying to summarize them is a difficult task – I expect it to be weeks before I’ve fully processed what we’ve seen in Addis Ababa so far, or maybe I never completely will.

Some of the sights have been somewhat comical (at least by American standards), such as three live goats tied to the roof of a sedan, a man standing on a cart being pulled by a horse down the middle of a busy street, or the grill at our hotel being cleaned by a mop that may or may not have just finished cleaning the floor.

Other sights have cut me with sadness, such as human beings living amongst massive vultures in the confines of the city’s massive dump, single mothers lining the streets and begging us for handouts whenever we step out of the car, or a disabled man lying on a mat in a crowd of people in near Biblical fashion.

These types of sights are so common in Addis, that I already feel myself starting to dismiss them, when only a week ago they captivated my full attention.

Amidst this chaotic setting, Bring Love In is attempting to break the cycles that have resulted in so much hurt and brokenness by giving orphaned children loving homes, constant support, and pointing them towards the Lord. Stepping onto their campus for the first time after 1.5 days of roaming Addis, I felt my soul almost sigh with relief as I was greeted by a wave of children that were smiling, laughing, and holding their arms out for big hugs.

Just as bright lights seem so much brighter when they shine in total darkness, the joy of Bring Love In seems so much greater in the midst of the city around it.

A word I’ve been pondering a lot this week is “deserve”. In the United States, we often operate with an underlying assumption that certain actions “deserve” certain results: Criminals deserve punishment. Workers deserve fair pay. Children deserve quality schooling.

When we experience things that go against what we believe we “deserve”, we often become upset or outright angry. However, after my time with both the children and staff of Bring Love In, I can say that I’ve never met a group of people that seems more deserving than they.

The little children live in tiny bedrooms with 3-4 other siblings. Their possessions fit in the boundaries of one closet drawer or suit case, and yet they beam with pride when showing you their things. The older kids care well for their younger siblings, and many now live out their Faith at the universities they are attending. The staff loves on the kids constantly and makes great personal sacrifice in order to support the vision of Bring Love In. We learned that one of the house mothers has children of her own that live in Canada. Still, she has chosen to stay in Addis raising the children of Bring Love In, because she sees it as more important than going to be with her own kids.

When I look at all these incredible examples of Faith, selflessness, and joy in the midst of trial, it’s hard to understand why these children have endured such difficult lives with so little, while I’ve lived in such comfort with so much. From an American standpoint, these wonderful kids seem like they “deserve the world”.

Rattling around in my head are questions like: Why do I have so many possessions, when these kids do not? Why do I have two loving parents, when these kids are without theirs? Why do I have a job that I love, when these kids may struggle to find work in a hurting economy?

Ephesians 2:3 tells us that naturally, none of us is deserving of any of the grace that we have been given. While I knew this theologically, I don’t ever think I’ve ever had to confront the idea of “deserving” as practically as I have this week.

Coming home from Ethiopia, it’s my sincere prayer that I learn to not take for granted the blessings I’ve been given and that I use them to honor God’s kingdom – not seek my own glory. I want to be a man who gives constant thanks for God’s grace in both the small things and the big things in life, because I’ve now experience the gratitude of a community who knows the true value of the Lord’s provision in times of need.

To close, I’m in awe that people of Bozeman, Montana and people of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia worship and have Faith in the same wonderful God, despite our drastic differences in environment and culture. Though half a world apart, we find ourselves headed toward the same eternal destination. What a beautiful thought that one day, we could see the children of Bring Love In again in Heaven.

– Alec

Hospitality

Hospitality

The first day we got to Ethiopia we went to a traditional dinner. A stranger walked up to me and the team (the manager of the restaurant) he hugged everyone of us, even though it was the first time ever seeing seven out of nine people on the team. The shock of how kind that man was stunned me the same day everyone in the restaurant treated us as family. We sat in the front row, and everyone said hi. The first day at Bring Love In, it was the same. Hugs and kisses from all the Littles and sweet conversations and hugs with the teens. After just meeting them when you walk in the doors you get a good morning and a hug. When you come to their house they greet you with a warm welcome and a warm cup of coffee made in front of you right then. The hospitality is amazing and not expected of Americans. Tomorrow we have to say goodbye. I’m not ready for this day because of the amazing relationships and people I have met on this trip. This experience is a present in and around itself. I want to come back and build stronger relationships with these kids. I love them dearly and will never forget these relationships I have with them.


-Parker

What’s my role?

What’s my role?

I have been in the country for just over 72 hours and it’s been a whirlwind of thoughts, and emotions. I’m struck with my inability to fully express myself, as I am usually very good with unpacking what is going on around me.

Today’s devotion focused on, the works God has prepared in advance for us to do and our ability to listen to him. “How does this play out in the real world?” was my question, and how do I know I’m not doing this for me but for the reasons God directed me to this place. As a social introvert it can take some time for my impact to be seen or felt. Although I know this, I always hope my impact will be revealed earlier so I can extend my time in those opportunities. I know I must be patient. James 1:19, so I wait.

Slowly but surely the impact of my presence began to take shape. As a group we challenged ourselves to listen to those “nudges” so often discussed at Journey. I had been nudged the prior day to engage one of the younger kids playing sports. Simple high fives and “good job” began a relationship. She began seeking me out when a play ended. We just completed an incredible game of American football which they have never seen before (That’s a hilarious and fun story for another day), and we’re riding the bus back to the center. I sat behind two girls and one of their friends was behind me. Matt began playing rock/paper/scissors/ with one, and it opened them up. Matt has an inviting and fun personality that brings others in. I am grateful for Matt’s engagement as it began a series of events.

Soon, one was sitting with me, and we were talking favorite animals, color, food and things. The ones in front were also involved and opening up. Then we began English lessons. She was pointing at eye lashes, “eye brow?”, no, eye lash, etc. She pointed at her feet and I said shoes, she said “Chama, in Amharic”. I said “my Chama are smelly” and she laughed with such enthusiasm and understanding, tapping her friends and retelling the story. The interaction grew and continued all the way back to the center. With this simple interaction, a relationship was born and now it will grow.

God has created me for subtle impacts, I’m not the loud one, I’m observant, I see emotions, I see feelings, but I must wait for those opportunities to arise. In a country so full of need, it’s easy to want to jump in and do something, anything, that may make a difference. One must stay true to how we were created though, for me, that means I must wait, I must be patient, I must trust the slow process of impact.

I believe the only answer to the myriad of issues confronting these lovely people will require the same process, one conversation about smelly shoes, one bright smile, one correction of eyebrow to eyelash at a time. The founders and staff at Bring Love In seem to know this. They are in it for the long game and their impact will be slow and steady but changing lives every step of the way.

The pain and suffering seen throughout my short time here is real and palpable. However, so is the love, the resilience, and the joy. There are no quick fixes in this world, so I will remain patient and observant and I will find those small moments and opportunities for impact. I thank God for the reminder and I am thankful for this opportunity.

– Dan