November 29, 2005

Advent 2005

Dear Friends,

Yesterday we celebrated American Thanksgiving here in Addis Ababa. We were three American families together with two Ethiopian families who have spent some time in the United States. Our hosts were Patty and Peter Ford who have held such gatherings since their years in Khartoum.

The evening conversation ranged from classes we all are teaching to an enlightening discussion on spirituality. One of the Ethiopian pastors shared how little awareness he found in the United States about spirit realities. As we prepare to teach a new course at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology next semester on “Spirit and Mission,” we were listening carefully to dimensions of ministry here with which we personally may have limited experience. It confirms our commitment to include Ethiopian colleagues in teaching in our mission courses.

EGST grows

We are in the last few weeks of the first semester. This year EGST accepted 14 new students, bringing our total to about 80 students in four different programs. We are in a transition year, bringing in new programs to align more clearly with our accrediting body’s expectations. EGST continues in this rigorous process toward accreditation through the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA).

A second rainy season in Ethiopia

During the long rainy season, when many chose to leave, we took to the road and God graciously made a way. The last two weeks of July we bundled into a Toyota Land Cruiser with the Weller family to make a tour of the five Bethel Synods of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). We put 2500 kilometers on the car, stayed in Jimma, Gatcheb/Mizan Teferi, Mettu, Gambela, and Dembi Dollo and visited with the Synod leaders in these five historic partners in mission with PC(USA). Our purpose was to hear firsthand what God is doing in this part of the EECMY. It was joy to hear from these church leaders how they became Christians and why they have chosen to remain and serve in and through the church when other people with education and experience are being pulled away into government jobs or NGOs.

In one Synod a pastor said, “Partnership is not giving and receiving but sharing.” We realized how important our visits had been because sharing involves presence, spending time, building relationships. These Synods are in parts of Ethiopia that are not easy to get to and yet our brothers and sisters want us to come and be with them, to see and share in what God is doing among them.

Ordinary life

Ethiopia has been in the news recently with the transition to a more democratic government. In the midst of great difficulties life goes on. Prayers for peace in the midst of working for these desired changes are needed. We see friends struggling with the task of daily life. When taxis go on strike, people have to walk. When shops are closed, people run out of food. When there is unrest, even innocent young men have to hide themselves from the police coming door to door looking for those said to be causing trouble. Please keep praying.

One of the Bethel Synods we visited is struggling to keep their medical clinics open with limited resources. We posed the question they have been asked before, “Why not just turn them over to the government?” The response was, “The people feel that the government workers don’t care. Government clinics often don’t have medicines. People want the church clinics because of their reputation, they know they will be well treated.” We asked, “Then if there is no budget, why not close them?” The response, “People will die.”

In another Synod the president closed our discussion saying, “In this community, the church is everything.” This is so different from our American experience where the church is increasingly sidelined. Here, the church makes a difference in people’s everyday, ordinary lives, even helping them live.

We are approaching the first Sunday in Advent and will build our expectation and hope over these next weeks towards the joyous celebration of Christmas captured in the angel’s song,

I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

May this truly be good news for you and your loved ones even as it may be for people in the Horn of Africa.

Anne & John Wheeler-Waddell
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 330