Presbyterian Missionaries from Abingdon Presbytery
In Introduction
  
Rachel and Michael Weller, along with their four children, have served in Ethiopia since September 1994. Michael responded to a call to serve in the area of evangelism and leadership training with the Western Wollega Bethel Synod (WWBS) of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.
He works at the Gidada Bible School, which trains adults for various positions of leadership within the church. Over the past several years Michael has helped put together a curriculum to enable students to receive a diploma at the end of three years of study and pursue ordination as pastors. He has also taught Bible school courses as well as TEE courses. (TEE is Theological Education by Extension and in this case is a degree-level course requiring a higher level of education for acceptance into the program.) Michael calls it a "wonderful experience," in which he has enjoyed many discussions about how to help the church grow in depth as it has been effortlessly growing in width.
 
Rachel works with women from WWBS teaching about healthy practices in raising children. As a result of this program some churches have begun community vegetable gardens, more people maintain clean water receptacles for drinking, and there is a higher level awareness of how HIV spreads and the consequences of it.
Dembi Dollo is located in western Ethiopia, a 12-hour car ride from the capital on very bad road. Although this area is considered the "bread basket" of Ethiopia, with fertile soil and consistent rains, the local infrastructure is not good; roads are often impassable during the rainy season, and potable water, phone, and electric systems are unreliable.
 
Born in Durham, North Carolina, Michael graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, with a bachelor’s degree in business and economics. After college he was a PC(USA) volunteer in mission and was sent to teach in Egypt. He then worked for the Landscape Company in Norfolk, Virginia. Michael spent one summer working as an intern at the Red Spring Presbyterian Church in North Carolina and another receiving CPE training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Before serving as pastor of Stone Memorial Presbyterian Church in Marion, Virginia, he earned his MDiv degree from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. Michael is a minister member of Abingdon Presbytery.
Rachel was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She briefly attended Sterling College in Kansas before earning her RN diploma from the West Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was a nurse at West Pennsylvania Hospital for almost two years. After spending another two years as a nurse at Tanta American Hospital in Tanta, Egypt, she returned to the United States to work as a nurse at the Richmond Memorial Hospital in Virginia.
 
 
The Wellers have four children: Brian, Amira, Thomas, and Lydia Rachel.
Birthdays:
Michael - October 27
Rachel - July 21
Brian - September 14, 1985
Amira - January 25, 1988
Thomas - June 2, 1990
 

       NEWS FROM THE MISSION FIELD

         PRESBYTERIANS AT WORK IN ETHIOPIA

Rachel and Michael Weller, along with their four children, have served in Ethiopia since September 1994.

 
The following is a letter from Rachel.

3 November 2007

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 

Dear Friends,

 

I’ve just returned from another one week visit to Gambella. I have never been to Gambella that I didn’t return home tired, glad to see my family (what’s left of them here), looking forward to a cool night’s sleep, and basking in the satisfying joy of doing what is Right.

 

The intention of my visit this time was threefold. To have conversations with the leadership there about the progress of the clinic work. To see some of the CHE projects. To continue to build relationships, trust, and understanding.

 

The first “fold” partially happened. I was able to meet with the West Gambella (Nuer) Bethel Synod leadership who reported two pieces of good news. Pel Peter has just finished his diploma nursing studies and is returning to Gambella to begin work. (Simon, who is studying lab technology, will finish next year.)  And the government has told the synod officials that they will facilitate the process to get the long-lost clinic license renewed. This is especially good news, since, in order to re-new a license the clinic must be inspected  and in order to be inspected, there has to be more than walls and a roof – which is all we have right now. (One of those vicious bureaucratic circles so common in governments.)  It will take a bit of time, because we do have to go through a police & court process to document where the original license is. It burned in the office it had been kept in many, many years ago.

As soon as all that is organized we will set to work purchasing equipment in Addis Ababa . I wonder if we can be running properly by February. It would be nice. Other things have to be done, too. We need a clean water supply and an energy source, perhaps solar, and we need a fence around the compound.

 

I wasn’t able to meet with the East Gambella (Anuaa) Bethel Synod leadership because of several meetings that took precedence. The Anuaa students have one more year before they finish. The end is in sight and we have a lot of work to do. I hope to spend time in the coming year sprucing up the Pokwo and Gilo clinics. The Pokwo clinic is now in need of some repairs after the severe weather in the mountains this rainy season. The floods were much higher than most people had ever seen before. It could be the highest water level in 50 years or more. We are thankful, though that there was no major damage to the building even though the water came just over the porch. Ahema, our faithful clinic manager at Pokwo, was in Gambella while I was there. He told me that many people were displaced and that the floods have destroyed the corn crop that was just about ready to harvest. He was thankful that none of the expected water-borne diseases has shown up.

 

We are also in serious need of a vehicle. I have hesitated to put that in this message, because I really don’t like to do fund-raising, but this is becoming an urgent need. We have talked and talked about the cheapest way to get one, but, unfortunately, the one we need is probably the most expensive. A Toyota Land Cruiser Hardtop costs around $75,000 US – yes, three zeros. Toyota is the most reliable vehicle available, and the hard top is all enclosed making it good for carrying passengers and lots of stuff. I wonder if I could put you all up to a car fund drive. I’m supposed to be encouraging our supporters to increase their support for us and other PCUSA missionaries, but frankly, right now, I need a car. I’ve attached a picture of what we are hoping to buy.

The clinic project is one that will involve a lot of money. My mind has discussed with me, over and over again, about the value and reality of a “poor” church engaging in such a financially ambitious project. There are those who believe the church should be getting out of all such institutional projects. And there are compelling arguments on that side. But what I know to be true is that the people in the places where these three clinics are have very poor access to any other health care – they are hours or days away from the nearest clinic, which may or may not have staff or medicine. I know that God has been guiding and encouraging me to pursue this project. And I know that He has resources for it. So I am counting on you all to be praying about your own responsibility to Him in this, and I am confident it will be done and God will be glorified.

 

The second “fold” was very encouraging to see. I went by bus with Ariet, who works with the EGBS women, to see the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) project in Abobo, run by Akwata. I could write a novel about that trip, but instead I will direct you to my web photo album. Click on this link to see the photos I’ve posted there. http://picasaweb.google.com/wellerachel/AboboCHEVisit. The CHE program is exactly how I’ve always thought “evangelism” ought to work in situations such as the one we’re in. (I suspect it could even work in some of your communities, with a little variation!) In less than six months there are already tangible life-changing results. It is impressive what God does with lives that are open and ready to receive what He has to offer.

 

The third “fold” is, in my opinion, what our main objective in mission ought to be. It is also the part I enjoy the most. Spending the day with Ariet and Akwata in Abobo was part of the relationship building. Eating baked fish that Akwata had prepared for our lunch, we talked about marriage and children, and home-making. You know, we have more similarities than differences. I don’t have to deal with my husbands other wife, but Akwata worries just as much as I do about how to balance the children’s educational needs with their emotional needs. She worries that she’s away from them too much as spends time in the community. Her son wouldn’t eat the fish. He rather have meat. Sometimes, she said, he goes to bed hungry rather than eat something he doesn’t want. Sometimes my kids go to bed hungry, too.

 

Casual conversations with the church leaders during work breaks brought new insights.  I spent an hour or so visiting with Pastor Okwai, the first ordained Anuaa pastor. One day I’ll write out his story of faithfulness and commitment. Interestingly, both he and Akwata told me that their introduction to Jesus Christ came about because someone needed health care and went to Pokwo Clinic where they heard the Good News for the first time. We discussed some of the problems marriage in the church. In Gambella the biggest issue is polygamy, while in the States unfaithfulness & divorce are big issues.

 

I often wonder if any of you have a job as enjoyable as mine. Sitting around talking and calling it work! OK, it’s not always like that, but I do enjoy the times when it is. I also enjoy this time of reflecting and appreciate you’re willingness to be involved in both the work and the reflections.

 

Good to talk with you all.

 

Rachel

 

 

 

 

 

                     The Gambella Health Work Dream Machine      

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                       hardtop_large(1).jpg

 

 

$75,000 will get us this vehicle in Ethiopia.

 

It will need a rack, a bull guard, and will need to have air conditioning.

 

Pick a part, decide what you think that part is worth – based on the above price – and let’s see if we can purchase this vehicle for the clinics. Currently we have $2000. $73,000 to go!

 

 

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