the lost practice of Sabbath

(Photo of my view from the top-floor restaurant. Cows walking in the lane of traffic, on their merry way.)

I love Sunday's in Ethiopia! In America, people tend to carry on with business as usual. Here, Sabbath is just a part of life. I walk to church from where I live. It's about a 30 minute walk. The streets are much quieter than the other days of the week and the frequent calls of "Farenge" (foreigner) are much less. There is time to think, time to pray, and time to just enjoy walking in the presence of God and worshiping Him for who He is and what He is doing in this city. My prayer over the last week or so is that I would have eyes to see where He is at work, and that I would be attentive to how He's asking me to join in His work. I want to do nothing out of my own desires or ambition, but only what the Father is already doing- otherwise, it's all in my own human effort and has no eternal value.

After church, I had a wonderful lunch with new friends: a woman from Romania, one from Canada, and 4 of us from America, atop a large building overlooking some of the city. We have found that much time and conversation are spent on the topic of food. What to eat. Where to eat. Is it safe? What will we eat next?...You get the picture. Afterwards, we strolled downstairs to Kaldi's the local "Starbucks" where I enjoyed the most splendid caramel macchiato! Have I mentioned I love this place?

It was just so refreshing to talk, laugh and not have to be on a time schedule. No place to be. No things that need to be done. Just be. Right here. Right now. I'm still learning to do this, and I pray that with each passing week, I will be better at it.