I had the privilege of spending two weeks in Addis, Ethiopia with our global missions partner SIM/MTW Ethiopia. Our churches have been sending folks over there for the past four years and each year I hear all sorts of great stories about the project. This year was my turn and even after several years of hearing these stories about the work it still exceeded any expectations that I had when I arrived in Ethiopia. There is so much to process and learn and I'll share more about the trip here over the next few weeks. But one story is sticking with me and I'd like to share it, and its also helping me understand the season of Lent a little more:

One of the things that mission teams do during the two weeks is provide medical clinics for the beneficiaries of the project as well as other people in the city who are in need of medical attention. Given the fact that the project is committed to serving the sickest and poorest of Addis, you can only imagine that these clinics attract some very sick people.

One doctor saw a woman who had some severe skin lesions on her face. Having never seen or diagnosed leprosy before it wasn't until he consulted with another doctor that he realized that this woman had leprosy. With a diagnoses in hand the doctor returned to his patient very nervous about giving this woman such a serious diagnosis. Such news like this would certainly make her very upset and only add to the mountain of issues this woman has in her life. But he was surprised by her reaction, because instead of being upset she was relieved. She was relieved that finally after several years of having this ailment she finally knew what was wrong, and now she could get the medicine she needed. By not having a diagnosis, doctors had been treating her leprosy with basic skin creams thinking that would heal her.

This all happened the day after our team went to an Ash Wednesday service where we received our diagnosis, from dust you came and to dust shall you return. That doesn't sound like very good news not something we should be very happy about, but its a diagnosis, finally someone telling me the truth. And I walked away with great hope that having a diagnosis I was also assured of the remedy. Looking for healing with anything other than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is like trying to put skin cream on leprosy, it'll never work.

I'm glad that woman has her diagnosis, and I'm glad that Lent has given me mine. And I can't wait for Easter.