There is only one thing better than drinking a rich cup of Ethiopian coffee in the morning… That is to drink it with an Ethiopian!

For the past few days we have had a dear Ethiopian friend stay with us. This morning we drank our coffee under the arbor in the backyard. The weather was so pleasant because of the hurricane south of us. It really cooled the weather down for us.

We enjoyed such rich conversation and exchange, discussing the good things the Lord is doing in Ethiopia. The people are so hungry for God and coming to salvation. It is harvest time in Africa. Amid the famine and starvation, God is revealing Himself, showing His love and power to overcome. People are responding. Our friend told of healings and manfistations of God’s glory.

I am always amazed at the common threads of unity that bind all believers together. Here we are oceans apart literally and virtually in culture, custom, and lifestyle. Still we are brothers and sister because of Jesus. There is so much to share, so many commonalities. And we definitely share the same goals and vision… to preach the Gospel to the ends of the Earth before the second coming of our Lord and Savior.

This morning as we enjoyed the morning our “hearts burned within us” as we shared our common purposes and goals… as we shared our common love for the Redeemer. We spoke about how we yearn for the day when the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea…

Yes, our hearts burned within us…

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).