May 2001

Dear Friends,

Spring greetings from hot northern California!

Many people are wondering what we are doing and where we are. We have been back in the United States for just over one year now and, according to our original plans, we should be returning to Africa any day. The last couple of letters we sent out last year shared about our change of plans—and this letter is no exception. Awaiting final approval from the Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we anticipate the extension of our study leave here in the U.S. through the end of 2001.

It seems many of you have lost track of us. We will be moving around between now and the end of the year, but e-mail will always be accessible to us. Otherwise, letters sent to Anne’s parents (see return address below) can be forwarded to us when we are not in Menlo Park.

May in Ethiopia

We have just returned from a two-and-one-half week trip to Ethiopia. We went with a small team of people from the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where we have been missionaries in residence since September 2000. The purpose of the trip was to meet with MPPC’s mission partners in Ethiopia, Hope Enterprises, and the Charles Haspels Bible School/Southwest Bethel Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. We were very
impressed to see the growing ministry among street people and disadvantaged youths that Hope Enterprises has been developing for almost 30 years.

The Charles Haspels Bible School is doing great under the leadership of the Rev. Yohannes Sherab and the support of the South West Bethel Synod. It was a special joy to be with the 27 students who will soon be completing the one-year certificate course. In August, a second group of students will come for the one year course. Then, in 2002, if there are enough qualified students from these two classes, Rev. Yohannes hopes to offer the second year of the certificate course. This will provide the academic qualification required by
EECMY for ordination.

Our whole team was impressed and challenged to see the commitment to outreach and evangelism of this Synod in rural Ethiopia. Once again we heard stories of volunteer evangelists who walk two to four days into the forest to take the gospel to a people who have not yet heard this good news.

Next steps

Our missionary-in-residence experience here in Menlo Park is drawing to a close. We will be in the area through June and then moving to Houston to spend time with John’s family. Sometime in August we will return to the West Coast and be based in Pasadena, near Fuller Seminary, where we are in the doctor of ministry program for September and October. Beyond that, we’ll let you know.

Our prayers continue to be much with and for our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. Our short visit this month has shown us that our heart is still there and we have a sense of unfinished business. Seeking God’s direction, we are in discussion with the PC(USA) about how we might continue in ministry in Ethiopia next year. We appreciate your prayers for this clarifying process for us. And we ask you to remember those in the South West Bethel Synod and the Charles Haspels Bible School who are seeking to be faithful leaders,
witnesses, teachers of God’s good news in Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Anne & John Wheeler-Waddell