May 18, 2005
Dear Friends,
On Sunday, May 15 Ethiopia held elections for only the third
time in its long history. We were living in remote Dembi Dollo
when the last two elections were held, so we were surprised by
the long lines of voters at the polls. We are thankful that the
voting was accomplished without any major incidents. We have heard
several times about Jimmy Carter’s visit here and how optimistic
he is for success. Continue to pray for peace. The official results
won’t be known for a month.
Living in Addis Ababa, attending school and church in English,
and being surrounded by so many people whose first language is
English, makes us feel somewhat removed from the people we came
to work with. There are days when we wonder why we have to live
in the city, seemingly out of the mainstream of the lives of our
friends in Dembi Dollo. But we continue our relationships with
people far west of Addis in various ways, and we are making new
connections here, too. And when we think about it, we realize
this is what it means to be in partnership: Living daily life
side by side. Recently, we haven’t had spectacular experiences
and neither have the vast majority of our Ethiopian brothers and
sisters. As they continue faithfully in their lives as Christian
fathers, mothers, teachers, nurses, secretaries, managers, etc.,
so do Michael and I, along with our children.
It was very nice to have our daughter Amira home from school
in South Africa for April. She is growing into a mature and delightful
teenager. Now that the new school is no longer so new for her,
she is settling down to the mundane tasks of getting the work
done. To break the monotony of book work, she has decided to learn
to play the cello. I enjoyed accompanying her on the piano while
she was at home. She has also taken up surfing in the Indian Ocean,
the only female in her group.
Thomas, in grade nine, is tolerating the tedium of getting his
work done. Though he’d rather practice his thumb exercises
(Mom’s term for playing video games), he’s being challenged
to read some good books. We were fortunate to find a good piano
teacher for him, and he is progressing fantastically.
Lydia, in grade six, after some diligent work in math this term,
she was rewarded by finally making the honor roll, a great accomplishment
for her, especially in regards to math. She plays the clarinet
in the band, is learning horseback riding, and keeps Shell in
business as her parents drive her all over town to various social
gatherings. The publicly confirmed her faith in Jesus Christ in
front of the congregation at the International Lutheran Church
where we worship.
A year ago, the process of emptying the nest began as we sent
Brian off to Geneva College in Pennsylvania. Though he had been
in boarding school, he had been always come home for holidays.
This time, he was too far away and the holidays were too short.
At Christmas he had a reunion with highschool friends—something
important for missionary kids to do. This summer he begins in
the Air Force reserves. (Our prayers for peace in the world have
just become more personal.)
Keeping up with the kids is only part of what Michael and I do.
Michael has enjoyed teaching at the seminary again this semester.
He has also been keeping tabs on the Gidada Bible School and the
Majangir community work that he had been doing in Dembi Dollo.
Both ministries are in the hands of capable people, Gizaw and
Mitiku. He has continued as an advisor to both men.
If you have access to the 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer
& Study, you might have seen the section on Ethiopia,
which includes an account of the massacre that took place in Gambela.
I have been there twice since I became health coordinator for
East Gambela Bethel Synod. Each time peace has been a little more
evident. Two months ago I saw few soldiers with AK47’s.
(They had been moved, not because all is well in Gambela, but
because trouble is brewing on the northern border, again.) I was
encouraged by the positive attitude of the Synod leadership who
are eager to serve their people by serving God. Meetings of reconciliation
have been held with the Nuer living in the area to try to establish
God’s peace—the only kind that lasts. Many NGOs and
UN agencies are moving into the area, which indicates that there
are many needs and that the threat to foreigners is minimal. Our
two clinics struggle to meet the needs of their communities because
the Anuak people still do not fully trust the government, which
is the only other source of medical help in many communities.
In July I will hold a seminar for the nurses who run the clinics
of the Bethel Synods. There will be around eight participants.
I hope both to encourage them and to teach them. This is to be
the first of many. I hope that this will be an opportunity for
the people in the churches in the United States to connect with
our brothers and sisters here. I pray that God will use these
seminars for his glory.
After the seminar we will join Anne and John Wheeler-Waddell
to visit all the Bethel Synods. We hope to meet with officials
at each of them to get specific ideas of how you can connect with
them better. Please pray for safety on that trip, as it will be
during the heart of rainy season, and that it will strengthen
both our churches.
Rachel and Michael Weller
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
330 |
