A letter from Stephen and Brenda Stelle serving in Ethiopia
June 2015
Write to Stephen Stelle
Write to Brenda Stelle
Individuals: Give online to E200507 for Stephen 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).
BESS “Nagaan Taaii”
Our month of celebrations began on Friday, May 7, with the “Stay in Peace” program to honor the 12th graders at BESS (Bethel Evangelical Secondary School). Since the high schools here do not give out diplomas like U.S. schools do, Brenda’s students hold their own program to recognize the completion of their high school education. Their event (completely in English) is a combination of both our American Baccalaureate and Commencement services rolled into one program. The four-hour program began with prayers, scripture readings and an excellent sermon given by Gadisa Gemechu, one of the 12th graders.
The Stay in Peace planning committee kept a youthful element in the event by doing a humorous “roasting” of each of their teachers; even Teacher Brenda made the skit. A video presentation of students participating in various activities from the past year (which included many photos taken by Brenda) was also made and shown. Then the 12th graders gave gifts to their teachers and presented the school with a new pulpit for the chapel.
BESS students saying goodbye
The committee asked Teacher Brenda to give the charge to both graduating 12th graders as well as a charge to her 11th graders, who would soon become seniors. She urged them to not only work hard at their studies, but to remember how much God loved them and had a plan for each of them. She concluded, telling them they were like the cord in Ecclesiastes 4:12 (“A cord of three strands is not easily broken”)—a cord made up of themselves, BESS’s teachings, and God—and they would not easily break. Many of her students cried when she told them how proud she was of them. Principal Amanuel called each student forward to receive their certificate from the school. Finally the program concluded with the new graduates pledging their future loyalty to BESS and singing some hymns of thanksgiving. After the program we joined the students for a special luncheon in the dining hall, where we met many of their family members.
Gidada Road Trip
Early the next morning we shifted gears, joining the graduating students of Gidada Theological College for the first ever two-day senior class trip. Leaving Dembi Dollo at 5:00 am, we arrived in Gambella just in time to join Michael and Rachel Weller, fellow PC(USA) co-workers, for breakfast. They then gave Steve’s students a tour of the Western Gambella Synod compound and their theological Bible school.
From there the road trip continued. On our way to Metu, we made a stop at the Gorrii Church (a significant congregation in the early missionary work). In Metu we visited the Iluababor Bethel Synod and their theological college; touring the compound included seeing the beautiful newly constructed library (accomplished in partnership with the Shenandoah Presbytery in Virginia). On Sunday morning Qes Tariku Tolessa, President of the Iluababor Synod, spoke to our students at breakfast, and we attended morning worship at his church on the synod compound. From there we were to return to Dembi, but a missed turn added 150 miles to our trip—which meant we did not reach Dembi Dollo until 11:00 pm that night.
Dean Yedesa leading the graduates in
Gidada Graduation
Finally we celebrated with Steve’s students at their graduation at Gidada on Saturday, June 6. Forty-one students graduated from the two-year Advanced Certificate program (taught only in Afaan Oromo). These men and women will now begin working in churches throughout the Synod. After they get married (a requirement here for ordination) and receive a call from a congregation, they will then be ordained by the Synod. Ten of Steve’s students graduated from the Diploma Program. These are ministers and evangelists who have come to Gidada to upgrade their education to better serve their congregations. The students were awarded their degrees by officials from both the Gidada Theological College and Western Wolega Bethel Synod. Steve was accorded the honor of preaching the graduation message. Steve challenged his students to be like the prophetess Deborah, who answered God’s call with complete commitment and served as an example to God’s people. After the ceremony many pictures were taken and a lunch of ukaamsa was served to all the students and their family members who came for this important occasion in their lives.
National Exams
Amid all these celebrations, Brenda’s 12th graders at BESS took not only their Model Exams in May (a pre-test given to prepare students for the National Exams), but they then also sat for the National Exams the first week of June. All these new graduates will receive their scores in about a month and learn of their college placement in late August.
IA VISITATION—VERY SOON
Just a reminder: during July and August we will be in the Eastern part of the States (Va., S.C., Ga., Pa., Ohio and N.Y.) visiting congregations and talking about our ministry in Dembi Dollo. Thank you for the overwhelming invitations—we have a very full schedule of potlucks, worship services and bonfires, plus two conferences to attend. During this time when some fellow mission co-workers are being sent home due to lack of funds, we appreciate so much all the financial support you give from yourselves and from your congregation. We are excited to meet many of you to thank you personally and share stories about our ministry in Ethiopia.
WE LIVE IN AFRICA MOMENT!
One morning a fellow Gidada instructor invited me (Steve) for tea. When we sat, the table, covered with spilled tea and sugar, was covered with honeybees; some occasionally lit upon my cup. After drinking half my tea, one bee fell into my cup. My friend, appalled, called over the woman who was pouring tea and showed her the little bee drowned in the tea in my cup. She looked in the cup, picked it up, and then simply dumped my tea at my feet on the dirt floor and refilled my cup. As she was dumping my tea, I once again noticed the chicken that had been scratching the dirt by my feet earlier. Only then did my mind connect all the dots—dirt floor—chicken at my feet—bees in my tea—given the same cup—oh, yes, “We live in Africa.”
PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for our safety as we fly from Ethiopia to the U.S. and for our travel around the East Coast visiting with churches.
We can never begin to thank you enough for your prayers and financial support of our teaching ministry at BESS and Gidada. We are able to serve the Lord here in Ethiopia only because of your generosity. If you would like to contribute to our support, gifts can be sent to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Be sure to include our account # D507574 for congregations or account # E200507 for individuals. We praise God for your partnership with us in serving God in Dembi Dollo and hope to see many of you this summer.
In Christ’s service,
Rev. Steve & Brenda Stelle
Bethel Evangelical Secondary School
Box 186, Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia
brendastelle813@yahoo.com
stevestelle826@gmail.com
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 142
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