February 2004

Dear Friends,

This letter comes to you mostly from Rachel this time. So you’re going to read about the things that are important in my life these days. Though we live in a place that is, by some measures, exotic, my responsibilities are not unlike those many of you have. With three children in school in Addis Ababa and one in boarding school in Kenya, I spend a lot of time juggling school activities for the younger three and writing emails to our oldest. And I have recently added a new responsibility to my routine.

The Weller kids

Brian is in his senior year at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. He is looking forward to attending Geneva College next year where he hopes to pursue his dream of flying.

Amira is enrolled in the German School in Addis Ababa so that she can learn the language, which has been her interest for several years. She is enjoying getting to know a new set of friends and participating in the classes there. All the tenth-graders have to take a class in “hand-crafts” which suits Amira well.

Thomas and Lydia continue at the International Community School in Addis Ababa where they receive a good education and are exposed to children from all over the world with many different faiths. We pray that all our children will learn to show God’s hospitality in the various circumstances of life.

A partner in mission

Since the children are all attending schools this year, I have agreed to work in the Bethel Synods Coordination Office with Solomon Nega to facilitate a smooth flow of communication between the Bethel Synods and its various Presbyterian partners. I spend three mornings a week there typing letters in English while Asenakech Ragaasa types them in Amharic. (Imagine figuring out which of our twenty-six letters represents which of the 231 Amharic letters. You can’t tell by looking at the keys!)

For more than thirty years, Ato Solomon has been dedicated to the Bethel Synods and their Presbyterian partners. He knows more about the inner workings of the Presbyterian Church than most people sitting in the pews of one in Pittsburgh or Louisville. He understands the importance of the gospel for the world and knows that, in response to God’s love for us, we help those in need.

Solomon is a businessman. He handles money. He requests help when it is needed and distributes funds equitably when they come in. He is good at courteously requesting information—repeatedly, if necessary. Ato Solomon knows the importance of good recordkeeping as well as maintaining good relationships. Ato Solomon knows good hospitality. Ato Solomon is a real missionary.

Mission accomplished—mission changed

After our arrival in Ethiopia in 1994, Michael and I worked in Dembi Dollo where Michael was designing curriculum for and then teaching at the Gidada Bible School. More recently he became involved in “real” missionary work, as he moved on to work amongst the Majangir people who have recently understood the truth of the gospel and needed help in establishing a settled community as well. That work was satisfying and, in many ways, exciting. But both of those projects are being maintained without him now, which means, frankly, the mission is accomplished.

Just before Christmas Michael moved to Addis so that our family can live in one place again. He will continue to be involved with communication and fundraising for the Gidada Bible School and the Majangir Community Development and Evangelism project from Addis Ababa. He will be filling in at the Mekane Yesus Seminary in the Old Testament department for one semester and will be looking at some other opportunities for evangelism elsewhere.

A job with out-of-this-world benefits

Are you looking for a job? We’re looking for English teachers. The Bethel Synods of the Mekane Yesus Church run three schools, two in Dembi Dollo and one in Addis Ababa. Get in touch with me if you would like to know what you would be getting into. I once had a poster that said, “Volunteer—the benefits are out of this world.” It’s true.

In God’s grace,

Rachel for the Wellers

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 51