“Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape.” Those were wise words Hannah spoke at our final Ethiopia team meeting. I thought how true, and prayed for God make me flexible to adjust to His plans. I liked the quote so much I was going to use it for the title of the first blog I wrote after returning from this grand adventure. But that was not God’s plan.

Blessed are the flexible. Instead of writing about Ethiopia, I am sitting in my living room typing this blog learning to be flexible when God cancelled the trip and changed the plan. Why? The country is in a state of upheaval and civil unrest. I know the given reason, but I can’t comprehend God’s purposes behind the changes. I do have faith that God is continuing to fulfill His good and perfect work in the people of Ethiopia whether we are on the ground or not.

God reminded me I am still on a grand adventure because He is with me and His presence is what makes it grand. The Lord reminded me that I can love the people right where I am even as I was planning to love those I have never met far away.

That is not to say I am not really disappointed. But my hope is in Jesus not in a trip no matter how amazing it was going to be. I trust He will do marvelous things in the lives of the people who come to the clinic or children who are enrolled in the school. We will keep praying for the church and clinic staff. And I will wait in the Lord’s presence, willing to remain here or go to the ends of the earth, whichever is most pleasing to my beloved.