Adventist Mission

Meet the Howes

Paul & Petra

Adventist missionaries in Ethiopia

Paul and Petra first met at an afternoon classical music concert at the Frederick Seventh-day Adventist church in Maryland. Paul was setting up chairs and Petra was passing out programs. They struck up a conversation about backpacking, and each made mental note that the other was attractive. Several months later, at Columbia Union College, they found themselves with ample opportunity for further acquaintance when they discovered they were both taking Biblical Greek. Study dates led to hiking dates, and hiking dates led to ice cream dates, and soon Paul and Petra were in a relationship.

All went well, until they were forced to acknowledge that they were fostering different life goals. Paul wanted to run for Congress in the U.S. government, and Petra wanted to serve among the head hunters of New Guinea. Thinking that things could never work out, they broke up. God had different plans, however. After having written each other off entirely, Paul and Petra unexpectedly crossed paths sometime later. To the amazement of both, they distinctly felt the Lord calling them back together with specific instructions: “Submit all your life goals to Me. Give up your personal agendas. I created you to be a team, and I’ll lead you to where you’ll serve Me best.” Paul and Petra decided to take the leap of faith and get married. Paul surrendered his dreams of American fame, and Petra gave up her ideas of cannibal martyrdom. They would remain open to whatever God had in mind.

In May of 2007, Paul and Petra were married on top of a mountain. They spent the successive summer in Maine, where Paul worked at a large law firm, and Petra took classes at the state university. Despite a comfortable lifestyle, neither of them felt satisfied. At the end of the day, they could only look back on tasks that had been performed for self promotion. They wanted a life with more meaning. Gradually, Paul and Petra began to pray for something unusual: a life of adventure that was so intense they would have to hold on to God in order to survive. Nothing happened at first… In the autumn, Paul and Petra moved down to Virginia so that Paul could finish his law degree at Washington & Lee University and Petra could finish her undergrad studies at the University of Southern Virginia. They began to wonder when God would answer their prayers.

Then it happened. Shortly before their graduations, they heard of an opening for missionaries in Afghanistan through Adventist Health International. It seemed like the perfect fit for a life of adventure, and they eagerly followed up on the position. Much to their disappointment, however, they learned that the hospital in Afghanistan was closing due to unrest. Before they had a chance to become too despondent, they were surprised by an offer for placement at Gimbie Adventist Hospital in Ethiopia. What could they do but say, “Yes”?

Paul and Petra have now been in Ethiopia for over a year, where Paul serves as CEO of the hospital and Petra serves as chaplain. They absolutely love it – the work, the people, the countryside, the food, everything. They know that God has led them to this place at this time, and they are happy to stay there for as long as God wants them to. After that, who knows? The one thing they can count on is that it will be an adventure!

Zenabou's Smile
Not a Moment Too Soon
Ethiopian Scent Mosaic
Radiya and the Radio
Ant Attack

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