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As I reflect on our recent trip to Ethiopia, there are so many images and emotions that come to my mind. I can picture moments from our trip that capture both the joy and the heartache of our experiences there. So many images to process, and yet I keep coming back to one in particular.

It has taken time to process the trip, my experience, and the many emotions that I felt before, during, and after the trip.  It has been difficult to experience so many conflicting emotions over the past several months. 

As I sit writing this, on the cusp (hopefully) of the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can't help but look back on the past year and reflect on what I know and what I still don't yet know.

The COVID-19 virus has affected us all, in varying ways, and to different degrees. Throughout this global fight, we have seen that it does not discriminate, reminding us that we are all in this together.

How many times has a simple headache derailed your productivity? If you’ve got a report to write, a presentation, or a meeting, it’s nearly impossible to concentrate if your health isn’t cooperating.

The moment I set foot on RAEY’s campus I knew, without a doubt, why God had brought me there. Any feelings of inadequacy and unpreparedness vanished, replaced by a deep sense of love, belonging, and purpose. The warmth and kindness that we received from the children and the staff at RAEY were like nothing I had ever encountered before. It was as though God's presence was palpable there, radiating through the smiles and the genuine love of the staff and children alike.