One of the best aspects of life here,” write mission co-workers Janelle and Mike McCarty, “is the chance to hear the stories of faith at the school where we live, Bethel Evangelical Secondary School [BESS]. One such story was shared by Gemechu Zacharias, formerly a BESS scholarship student, now a teacher here.” Gemechu told about his mother’s sudden death and his father’s disappearance, but the main point of his thanksgiving speech was that he was finally able to gather his family together. He had brought his siblings to Dembi Dollo, where he had found his father and brought him home.

Gemechu’s story continued, “I didn’t know where my father was living. I just tried to collect information. My friend and I got a ride, then walked for about four hours over a terrible road to find him working on a farm. He ran from the field and almost fainted with joy when he saw me. Because he hadn’t helped me when I was growing up, he didn’t expect me to forgive and try to find him. He said, ‘I can’t believe this. Are you my son?’ We almost cried, and I said, ‘Yes, my father, I’m your son. I’m so happy to see you; I thought you might have died.’ I told him to come live with me. Now my family is together. God has been present with me and has helped me take care of my family.”

PC(USA) People in Mission
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY): Dorothy Hanson, Ethiopia AIDS consultant, Gwenyth Haspels, nurse, Rev. John Haspels, evangelist, Marie Lusted, mission volunteer, Bible translation coordinator and adviser, Janelle McCarty, English teacher, Michael McCarty, development, Rev. Niles Reimer, mission volunteer, leadership training/Anuak Bible translation, Winifred Reimer, mission volunteer, leadership training/Anuak Bible translation, Rev. Michael Weller, regional liaison, Horn of Africa, World Mission/Africa Area Office, Rachel Weller, health coordinator for Eastern and Western Gambella Synods, Rev. Anne Wheeler-Waddell, professor, Ethiopia Graduate School of Theology (EGST), Rev. John Wheeler-Waddell, professor, EGST

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Andrew C. Bartlett, GAC
Elder Beth Basham, GAC
Art Baxter, PHS