A letter from Stephen and Brenda Stelle in Ethiopia
September 2014 - A Surprising September
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Steve loading the Isuzu with our belongings
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The front of our new home
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Our front door
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Clothes on a line
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Men working on our drainage system
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The broken pipe
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Steve digging our new garden
On Monday, September 1, we began the move to Dembi Dollo. We loaded up an Isuzu truck with all our things (much that was given to us) and by 9 am the Addis apartment was completely empty. We flew out of Addis early Tuesday morning, arrived in Gambella, and were on our way in a synod vehicle by 8:30 am. Very Nice! Very Simple! Just as Planned!
On the outskirts of Gambella we were surprised to see a man standing in the middle of the road, waving us down. It was obvious his arm was broken, hanging limply, and giving him great pain. To the right of the man we saw an Isuzu truck that had slid off the muddy road and crashed into a large tree.
Kana (as we learned later) had been a passenger in the Isuzu truck. He begged us for a ride to the hospital in Dembi Dollo. Our truck was full of people (the two of us, the driver, the driver’s mother, the driver’s brother and the driver’s friend), but we managed to get him into the vehicle. He was in a lot of pain, moaning and groaning, and we still had a three-hour drive up the mountain. Brenda found some Tylenol and gave it to him to ease his suffering and made him comfortable, using some of our clothes for a pillow. (Brenda’s dad wanted her to either become a teacher or a nurse; perhaps in Africa she will be both.)
When we had almost reached the mountain plateau, we came upon another Isuzu truck stuck in the middle of the road. We sat and waited a few minutes as 30 men pushed and pulled the truck. They managed to move it to one side of the road and Yonas, our driver, made his way through the mud and past the Isuzu. We were back on our way.
The rain started shortly after that, but after all it is the rainy season. So on we went. About 10 miles outside of Dembi Dollo we hear a pop and a hissing sound. Flat tire! But there’s a spare in the back. Steve and Yonas gently move Kana to get out the jack and tire. But—the spare tire has no air! What to do? Or as they say in Afaan Oromo: maal gocha wayyee?
About 15 minutes later another truck came along. They stopped and helped us by loaning us their spare tire. In return we gave them Kana to take on to the hospital. Soon, with their spare tire in place, we arrived in town—before the Isuzu truck carrying our things. We dropped off our extra passengers, and Yonas navigated the very wet, muddy hill up to the BESS compound, where lunch was waiting for us.
All this adventure—before lunch!
Fifteen minutes later we learned that our Isuzu truck was safely in town. However, the driver took one look at the hill to the BESS compound and said, “No Way!” He did not want to end up exactly like the Isuzu truck we had seen earlier crashed into a tree. So he parked the truck at the Bethel Synod compound for the night. We prayed for the roads to dry out.
Thankfully the next day the driver decided to risk the road (BESS had their big tractor ready if he needed to be pulled out) and our furnishings had arrived. Amen!
During this month the hard workers at BESS (Solomon, Gezahu and Jalata) have made some repairs to our home. The shower drain was plugged, so they dug out the pipe and laid in a new drainages system. They put a new lock on the back door and are now trying to fix our electricity so Brenda can use the oven. Steve then dug a fire pit for burning and a garden.
Soon after our arrival Brenda discovered the school’s starting date was delayed three weeks, so she will not begin teaching until Oct. 6. The government conducted teacher meetings for two weeks, followed by a week of meetings for the students. The delay was very frustrating for Brenda; she is ready to begin teaching English to the 11th and 12th grade students. She did help proctor and grade the English and Math Entrance Exams for the 9th and 10th grade students wishing to attend BESS this year. Over 230 students applied for the 120 slots at the school. After the list of students who were accepted into BESS was posted, Amanual (Brenda’s principal) was inundated by parents of students who were not accepted. They came begging him to find a spot for their child. BESS’s reputation for a quality education is very strong in the community.
Steve was surprised to learn that the Gidada Theological College has a new director. Kes Gizawu, who Steve met at Easter, is furthering his education. Kes Mesfin Yigezu is the new director. Steve began teaching on Sept. 24. He teaches three classes on Mondays and Wednesdays so he has to make the 3-kilometer (1.8 miles) trip to Gidada only twice a week. Because of the steep slope and muddy terrain between BESS and Gidada, the Bethel Synod has arranged a car to take Steve back and forth to school.
We live in Africa moment!
During our first week, as the men moved the stove into the kitchen, Steve severely cut two fingers, resulting in a trip to the local clinic. The clinic was a small, dark, dirty, cement room with extremely poor lighting. There was no brightly lit, sterile environment—no doctor with latex gloves—just a very skilled nurse who cut and made a butterfly bandage by hand to put on his wounds. Fortunately, stitches were not needed, but Steve realized we live in Africa. This is what is available to our village. He is healing well but has decided to be more careful. Oh, the cost for the clinic visit—30 birr ($1.50).
Prayer requests:
Please remember our students both at BESS and Gidada as the new school year begins. And please remember us as we adjust to life in Dembi Dollo.
Thank you for your financial support of our ministry in Ethiopia. If you would like to contribute, gifts can be sent to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Please include our account D507574 for congregations or E200507 for individuals (or use the link below). We are excited to finally begin our teaching responsibilities. And we praise God for your partnership with us.
In Christ’s service,
Rev. Steve & Brenda Stelle
Bethel Evangelical Secondary School
Box 25, Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia
brendastelle813@yahoo.comstevestelle826@gmail.com
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 133
Read more about Stephen and Brenda Stelle's ministry
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Write to Brenda Stelle
Individuals: Give online to E200507 forStephen and Brenda Stelle's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507574for Stephen and Brenda Stelle's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
