All Things New
From Outbreak to New Beginnings
If you read our last blog, “Calm Before the Storm,” you know that we were bracing for what felt like an uncertain and heavy season. And sure enough, the 9-10 weeks that followed brought just that. Since our last update, our hospital, our community, and Ethiopia have walked through a Marburg outbreak. It was a time marked by heightened vigilance, long days, difficult decisions, and a constant undercurrent of concern for both patients and staff.
We are incredibly thankful to share that the situation is now stable and that this chapter has come to a close, as the government recently announced the end of the outbreak. While outbreaks like this are never easy, we witnessed remarkable teamwork, leadership, and commitment to patient care. It was sobering, stretching, and at times exhausting, but also a powerful reminder of why strong systems and protocols, training, and community matter so deeply in places like this.
One of our SP volunteers helping during our staff PPE training
Life Didn’t Stop
Even in the midst of the outbreak, life and training continued. One particularly meaningful moment came in December, when we carved out time and space to celebrate our graduating surgical residents. Despite everything happening around us, we were able to pull together a graduation ceremony to honor their years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. It was a powerful reminder that milestones still matter, even in the middle of a crisis, and a chance to pause and give thanks for what God had already brought to completion.
A Much Needed Break
At the beginning of this month, as the situation at the hospital stabilized and all of our protocols were in place, our family was able to step away for a much-needed break with some friends from Addis. We traveled to Kenya for a short break and to put our feet in the sand and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. It was a gift that gave us time to breathe, to reconnect as a family and with friends, and to reflect on all that had transpired. We even got a chance to celebrate Rachel’s birthday from the end of November (more about that below). That pause allowed us to return refreshed and ready for what God was unfolding next.
All Things New
And what came next truly feels like a season of newness.
This month, we welcomed the start of the new academic year at the hospital with the arrival of three new surgical residents. Watching them step into training full of anticipation, nerves, and hope has been energizing for Rachel. Each new class represents not just future surgeons, but future leaders who will serve communities across Ethiopia and beyond.
Even more exciting has been the transition of three of our surgical graduates from December into attending faculty roles at our hospital. Seeing the men we once trained as residents return as colleagues, mentors, and leaders is incredibly meaningful. Their presence strengthens the department, enriches resident education, and represents a sustainable step forward for surgical care here.
As we look forward to this year, we keep thinking back to the verse at the top of this page:
“See, I am doing a new thing.”
A new year. New residents. New faculty. Renewed strength after a hard season. While challenges certainly remain, we’re encouraged by how God continues to bring growth, healing, and forward momentum even in times of uncertainty.
Thank you for continuing to walk with us, pray for us, and support this work. We’re grateful to be here, grateful for what has been, and hopeful for what lies ahead.
Praises:
Marburg is over!
New faculty (and help) for Rachel!
New residents starting their surgical journey.
Tsehay: Tsehay, our former houseworker in Addis, has found a new job with a new missionary family!
Things to Pray For:
The Cobos Family will be stateside! We’re coming to the US in May 2026 and will stay until mid-July. We would love to connect with as many of you as possible. We are still working out our logistics, but if anybody would like to host a crazy family of 6 or maybe just grab a meal, let us know! (We’ve already gotten messages from some of you that are willing to do this!)
We plan to be in Myrtle Beach, Texas, and Little Rock during our time in the U.S. and hope to find time to meet more of you!
If anyone has a spare car they aren’t using and would be willing to lend to us during our time in the US, we would be extremely grateful!
Our legs! Rachel turned 40 at the end of November, right during the height of our Marburg preparations. I asked her what she wanted to do to celebrate the big 4-0, and she said she wanted to do “something big.”
Run. A. Marathon.
So I said, let’s do it! We are now in week 6 of our marathon prep… so prayers that we can last the full 18-week training plan would be appreciated. If anyone wants to join us, we’ll be running the Madrid Marathon on April 26th, right before we head to the States!
If you have any prayer requests, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to set up a video chat, send us a message! You can contact us on WhatsApp or email us at LCRC@cobosethiopia.org.
If you want to learn more about how to help us on this journey, please click the link below!
