On the Road Again...

As I write this my house is empty.  I live in a nice four bedroom house.  Some of the time I live there alone.  Other times I live with other guys.  Some roommates move in and out as they are only here for a few days or weeks or months.  However my primary roommates have now been here several months with several to go.  The difference between the two of them and me is that while my work is in Addis theirs isn’t.  

A couple months ago they moved to a small town 400 kilometers from where I live.  They were there about a month and a half to learn language better.  When they left to go I think all parties involved were relieved.  

Most of you know I have lived by myself for a long time.  Now here I have had two roommates some of the time.  It is a stretch at times, for all of us.  We are still learning what it looks like to be community.  What does it look like for three guys who are very different to learn to live together?  Not sure yet, but trying hard to learn.  

As I said by the time they left we were at each others throats.  Then they returned.  I had been told they would be with me about a week.  I was so relieved at the short time we would be together.  However, things looked different this time.  One of the guys returned pretty sick…amoeba in his gut.  The three of us not only got along this time, we enjoyed our time together.  

Right now I’m sitting in the town they have moved back to.  They will be here about a month and I brought them out.  I decided this would be a good time to come and spend some time with them here.  It isn’t near as big as the city I live in but it is very nice.  

We are over 10,000 feet high.  The majority of the town life exists down one paved strip of road.  Many of the other roads are only dirt.  They live in a house with a family.  We had dinner with the family tonight.  Currently the house is a mess though.  They are adding a ceiling and painting all the walls.  The work is still in progress.  So at the moment the guys are staying at the same hotel I am.  The time here has been great.  The time together has been such a blessing.  

My favorite part of the last two days is to see their excitement for this place and this people.  They have a sense of pride and ownership of this place and these people.  It is wonderful.  They feel about this small town the way I do about my large city.  They were so ready to get back out here.  We walk the streets and they take turns pointing to landmarks and telling me what it is.  They share stories of people and places they have come in contact with.  It is exciting to watch the joy the fills their faces when they share.  

This is beautiful country and a neat town.  But my call isn’t to this place theirs is.  How amazing!  Each of us is blessed with a passion for a place or a people or a task.  Then we have the chance to follow the tug or run from the call.  Jonah ran…didn’t go well.  These guys have chosen not to run.  I hope you are choosing not to run.  Follow the master.  It is worth the sacrifice.

Join me in lifting up Jacob and John.  Lift up others who are faithful in following the call.