From: Rachel Weller <[email protected]> Subject: News from Rachel in Gambella Date: November 9, 2016 at 8:17:06 AMHi Friends – well, actually, I’m sending you this from Addis. I came in to meet Michael and to do some stuff including getting on the internet. We will be going back to Gambella on Sat, I think. When we get there, we’ll be searching out the best communication options. I’m hoping we’ll be able to use a connection at a hotel or business – but even then connection is irregular. Rachel
Attached document:“Hi Friends,
Its been a month and more since I’ve communicated with anyone except my kids back in the States. About a month ago I wrote a blog about trying to get our internet system set up – the system we had left in storage is now outdated and cannot be used in this country; we bought the new mobile wi-fi system, went to Gambella where it didn’t work, came back to Addis to switch it out to a version that is supposed to work in Gambella, found out that they only sell them in Gambella (and such places), returned to Gambella, bought it and used it for a few days, then the gov’t turned off the whole internet system for private use and completely blocked certain websites including facebook (I have found a way around that). That’s what I blogged about, but my blog site is one of those blocked, so that’s why you haven’t seen that blog and why I won’t be blogging again for a while. It’s the way my life goes: just when I finally figure out how to do what I’ve been trying to do for years, someone else blocks the system I’ve figured out.
Now I am in Addis for a few days where the internet works more predictably, even though it is only available as wifi from some business such as a hotel. I’m hoping to find a business in Gambella where I can check and send emails, but the connection there is very unreliable.
All that is an explanation of my silence –not my usual excuse of just not writing.
Michael and I arrived in Addis Ababa at the end of September and spent a week or so doing stuff that people do in Addis (like setting up internet systems…). I arranged to purchase a solar fridge that was eventually brought to Gambella and set up and for which I am extremely thankful to PCUSA World Mission to agreeing to purchase for me even though it is quite an expensive fridge. It is expenses such as this that World Mission covers that comes from your support of World Mission especially when you give above and beyond what is “expected”. So thank you Presbyterians for that support! Life at 98 degrees is a lot more bearable when a fridge-cold glass of water can be anticipated (no freezer – but I’m not complaining!). Following all that arrangement-making, Michael flew to South Sudan and I flew in the same direction, but not as far and have been in Gambella since early October. Michael then went to the States for some meetings and was there while I was in Gambella. We are sharing our house in Gambella with a woman, Rosemary, who is working with the Anglican Church in Gambella. She and I over-lapped there for about a week and then she went for her annual leave so I was there alone for all of October.
Thankfully, I wasn’t completely alone. Wassane, a young mother from Dembi Dollo I have been mentoring for many years, came regularly to my house with her 3-yr-old daughter, Meraaj. We cooked and ate meals together, she helped me dust off trunks and move them around so I could unpack stuff I haven’t seen for nearly a decade. She massaged my leg several days in a row after I fell and twisted my knee. And I taught Meraaj to sing “Hale, hale, hale” (you know that song?) I sing “Hale, hale, hale” and she sings out “lu-u-ia”! Meraaj speaks the Oromo language with her mom (and me), Amharic with her friends, and Nuer with her other friends, and a few words of English with me when I remember to speak to her in English. Pretty amazing what kids can do, isn’t it?!
Officially, I have been talking with synod leadership about how to move forward with the Community Health Evangelism program that we started (again) just before I went to the US a little over a year ago. One Sunday a small group – five people – gathered under the tamarisk tree by my house to let me know what they have been doing in CHE since they completed the two sessions teaching them to be trainers of trainers. These are the people who are looking for transformed communities. They took the ideas and gathered small groups in their communities and started teaching about using pit latrines, planting kitchen gardens, washing hands and equipment properly, and giving some lessons from the Bible. In Tirgol, the small town on the very edge of Ethiopia, across the river from Akobo, South Sudan, John Wiyual’s teaching resulted in the digging of five pit latrines (“Including at my own house”, he told me!) and many houses planting dry season gardens and irrigating from the river – as the government has been encouraging for many years. When the government heard about this teaching they jumped in and asked the church to distribute the seeds they had been trying to give away. One woman planted a garden big enough to use as an income source. She sold nearly 1000 Ethiopian Birr of vegetables and gave a portion of that to the church as a thank offering. I am very encouraged that the teaching has already seen good results! We still have a lot of work to do in order to set up a program of continual teaching in both the areas of human development and spiritual development.
I met with the women’s groups of the four churches in Gambella town to give them a sort of review of the expectations of the CHE program. Some of them knew those expectations already and some did not, but they were very glad to hear what CHE is all about. They were also glad to have a woman teaching them, since there are so few women in leadership in the church. And being a non-ordained, normal sort of church member, I could encourage them, the normal church members, to do the work that God has given each of us to do – telling the Good News whenever they have the chance and living the abundant life with his blessings.
At each of the gatherings I have been announcing that I have also been trained in Trauma Healing and would be glad to hold a session if they can organize a group of 6 to 30 people. Everywhere I make that announcement, someone says, “Yes, we need that!” very emphatically. So they did organize a gathering, inviting all the people from four congregations in Gambella town! I wasn’t sure if I would end up having a couple hundred people or more! Fortunately, there was some scheduling confusion and only about 40 people (mostly women) showed up on Sat and we ended up with only 6 people on Sun. They were very thankful for the lessons about talking about and listening to the wounds that individuals have. We had a long discussion about God as a father compared to our own fathers, some of whom are kind and loving and some of whom are absent or worse. They were also appreciative of that conversation.
What I learned from that experience is that the trauma in Gambella (and most certainly South Sudan) is so deep that it almost normal. Several of the women told about their most recent traumas: an arthritic knee, a bout with pneumonia, suffering from recurrent malaria. It was difficult to talk about any heart wound. As we were getting ready for the closing prayer, one woman asked for prayer for her son. He is in America – where people go to get a better life and send some dollars back to struggling families. He did something wrong and is now in prison there. Her prayer request was that his situation be resolved because they are struggling to live without his added donation. She didn’t mention it as a wound of her heart. I realized that these healing sessions are going to have to be repeated, repeated, repeated and taught slowly, slowly, slowly. On that very weekend there was an incident in a town not far from Gambella that resulted in the death of two Anywaa men (one of them one of our evangelists) by the guns of some Nuer youth. Violence is a way of life. The incident put the region on alert, but it was handled quickly by the federal police (who happened to be coming down the road just after it happened) and the perpetrators were arrested. It will only be by wide spread confession and forgiveness that the violence will stop and it will only be after understanding that their hearts have been wounded by so many decades of violence as well as by situations of life that they will be able to confront their wounds and begin the healing process, ending it by putting them all on the shoulders of Christ on the cross where he has already disposed of them forever.
I am very happy to be reunited with Michael. We don’t have plans to be separated again this year … Pray that he will be able to figure out a satisfactory way to communicate from Gambella at least till the end of the year. He also hopes to work more closely with the leaders of the two synods headquartered in Gambella – East Gambella Bethel Synod and West Gambella Bethel Synod. My work is cut out for me: figuring out how to move forward effectively and not too broadly or quickly. Pray for me.
Michael and I often marvel at how God cares for our kids. We left all four of them in good situations – decent jobs or education that is right for them – each of them committed to learning more about living the Abundant Life appropriately for them. My mom is well and in the good hands of my sister, Peggy. We are here doing what God has asked us to do free from the burden of family questions this time ‘round.Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
Rachel”
Date: November 15, 2016 at 8:50:22 AM ESTAnother attached document:
“Dear Friends,
At the end of my recent newsletter, I noted the peace that we have in returning to Ethiopia this time, in part because my mom was in the capable hands of my sister. Last Saturday Michael and I flew to Gambella together for the first time in 15 months. Still trying to get over jet-lag and the busy-ness of Addis, we went to bed in the early. At about 3 AM we were wakened by a phone call. Mom had collapsed on the floor as she and my sister, Peggy, and family were getting ready to have supper. Mom died there on the floor – “Sudden Death Syndrome” (as my friend calls it) – God graciously granted her wish.
So once again, Michael and I are flying back to the US for a short visit. Since the family was already planning to gather at Peggy’s house for Thanksgiving, the service will be held in at First Presbyterian Church, Franklin, PA on Nov 29 at 11AM.
Though Mom’s death was not unexpected – she celebrated her 91st birthday a month ago and has been dealing with some “small” cardiovascular problems for many years – no one told us it was going to happen on Sat, Nov 12, so the surprise has added to our sadness. Mom, however, is happy! I cannot imagine the awesome joy she is experiencing now.
Mom was a kind, considerate, gentle, faithful, patient, even long-suffering person. She raised five kids conveying her love by sewing clothes, making special cookies and sending them to our boarding school, writing a letter to each of us separately each week, and quietly welcoming us home each time we returned. Mom loved us. Mom loved people. Mom loved God. Mom was in constant pursuit of the Ways of God.
In our sadness, the Vandevort family rejoices in the completion of Mom’s happiness. We thank God for his pursuit of Mom and for welcoming her into his arms. We are confident that we will meet again at the Throne of Grace. We mourn our own loss in the understanding of its fleeting nature and with the anticipation of our own completed joy because of the enormous love of Mom’s creator and ours.
What a blessing to be in Gambella at the time of Mom’s death. On Sunday morning, Michael went to church and, as expected of anyone who has been away a long time, gave words of greetings and explained why I was not at church. Even before Michael got to the house, the deacons (women) of the church were at my house singing a song, offering a prayer, and giving me words of encouragement. Shortly after that the elders and pastors (including one woman) came to pray and encourage. Mom was born in the land of the Nuers; at the time of her death I live among Nuers and they were the first to offer condolences and encouragement. On Monday and Tues I have had visits from Anywaa and Oromo friends.
At about four o’clock in the morning Sunday morning I wrote the poemish thing the end of this letter. It will give you a sense of who my mom was.
Thanks for your support and love. Thanks for honoring my Mom.
Rachel
Things to do to Honor Mom
Sit quietly and talk to God.
Read to little ones – yours, anyone’s.
Drink Coffee.
Eat Pizza.
Sit quietly and pray.
Sing. In harmony. With descants.
Send cards to your friends.
Support sufferers for Christ.
Sit quietly and listen to God.
Learn an obscure language.
Imitate everything.
Tell silly jokes.
Laugh at yourself – silently, wiping tears if its hysterically funny.
Sit quietly and contemplate God.
Dance! Mom always wanted to dance, but it was taboo, forbidden; so Dance, dance, dance – for Mom.
Make bread.
Plant flowers.
Take a walk.
Teach silly poems to little ones.
Play games – cheat if you want.
Love the Lord.
Live abundantly.
Anticipate Eternity.”
Martha Vandevort
