... And Back

As we pulled into Chicago, a sadness hit. Not only were Erica and I seperating from Sarah, but I realized, as Sarah so eloquently put it, "We're back in the States." And that was rather evident from the familiar restaurants and the SuperBowl on big screens around O'Hare. Reality soon took over. And, as we finished our last and shortest leg, my mind reeled. We were back. Back to the comfort of our own beds. Back to the security of our own language. Back to the freedom to not be attached to a wallet on a neck strap. All this familiar is a great relief. But it is accompanied by a great burden.
This blog could easily be titled, "A Trip to Addis" and then stop after the last post. But it is fittingly called "To Addis and Back". The trip may be over, but the journey has just begun. Now we are back among you, friends, family, readers. Now we have the daunting task before us of explaining (or attempting to explain) the experience of Addis. The smells, sights, sounds and textures of a world you have never experienced. And the people. The emotions. All these untangible things that built up in us over our week-long venture for which there are no words. To these things we now try to put words.
The question posed to us on this trip was, "What next?" I think that for now, that is simply to share. To let you know the great need that has fallen on the people of Ethiopia, and to invite you to join us on our journey to see where we fit in to God's plan for them. It is exciting, and scary. It may not be fun, and it definately won't be easy. The experience may leave you seeing yourself and others in a whole new light. But it is worth it. It is definately worth it.

So continue to pray for us as we seek God's will in our return to America and the every day adventure, now that we have been to Addis and Back.