Out of Darkness, Into Light: Dramatic Saga in Orthodox Highlands of Ethiopia

“You’re forbidden to go any farther. Go back to the mission house and don’t leave it. We’ll be checking on you regularly.” Even though they had tried to mentally prepare themselves for this possibility, they still found that the official pronouncement came as a shock. Four of them had made the trip: Dr. Jerry Bedsole and Dr. Dale Beighle, veterinarians; Lynn Groce, an agriculturalist; and Muko Okare, an Ethiopian doctor who worked for the mission. They had planned to go on to their homes in Tsahai Sina, sixteen miles farther, but they only made it as far as Mehal Meda, the capital of Menz. They had all pinned such high hopes on this last visit to the area where they had lived and worked for so long. Several weeks earlier, when the local officials ordered them out of Menz so that they wouldn’t inadvertently be involved in the escalating war, they had left so hurriedly that they had forgotten some things. Also they hadn’t had a chance to say enough “goodbyes.” Now they had a car full of Bibles and some veterinary medicine that they wanted to get out to the people. Under house arrest, it seemed obvious that they had wasted their efforts. What was worse, they might not be quickly released. It had been only four days since their fellow missionary, Dr. Sam Cannata, had been freed after sixteen days in prison in the capitol, Addis Abeba. As they dejectedly headed for the house, they went over their plans for the trip once again. They had spent considerable time in prayer over the wisdom of this journey and all of the missionaries, including their wives, had agreed that it was the Lord’s will that they should go. This assurance gave them little comfort at the moment, however, as they watched an armed guard make a check around the house. Just the day before, the government had called a meeting in the town of all the leaders of surrounding areas. Priest Girma, as chairman of Kaya, was obliged to attend. His three close friends—Tatuk, Girma, and Aschallew—went along to provide him company. As the meeting drew to a close, a glance at the sky told them that they would have to hurry to make the long seven hour walk home before darkness descended. In a race against the sun, they set out at a brisk pace. As they reached the last rise on the outskirts of town before dropping into the valley below, they heard the faint noise of a car. They turned to watch for its approach. As they waited, they began to dare to hope that it might be the missionaries returning. The village hid the car from their sight, but the trail of dust rising led unmistakably to the mission house. No discussion was needed. Quickly retracing their steps, they ran to find their friends. Kissing each other on both cheeks in traditional greeting, they couldn’t help but conclude that God had arranged this meeting. Although the missionaries were forbidden to leave the house, their Ethiopian friends were allowed to spend the night with them. Even the knowledge of their confinement that night didn’t quench the joy they felt as they prayed and fellowshipped together. The young men from Menz were eager to tell of the Lord’s working in recent weeks and of the growing thirst for the Bible which they were attempting to meet. Seeing the missionaries’ present condition, it was obvious that their return to work in Menz was very unlikely. The young men saw that their turn had come. As they talked with the missionaries, the torch was passed. “Until now you’ve been teaching us the Bible and sharing Christ with us. We understand that you may have to leave, but God has shown us that we’re to share the Gospel just as you have. You can be sure that we’ll remain strong in Jesus because of your witness.” With these words the young men said goodbye. Before they left, arrangements were made for these four from Kaya to take with them all of the Bibles and medicine that they could carry. They would return later for the rest. The missionaries were allowed to leave on the following day on condition that they return immediately to Addis. Six weeks later, in June 1977, all Southern Baptist missionaries left Ethiopia. We had been there exactly ten years. In the beginning, when people found out that we intended to work in the back hill country of Menz, they simply clucked their tongues in disbelief and dismay. No foreigners had ever lived there and no person who left ever returned by choice. The most optimistic said that it would be at least ten years before anyone would trust us and become friends. But the chain of circumstances in our getting permission to work in Ethiopia, and in Menz in particular, dispelled any doubts we might have had. The Lord’s leading was plain and we never seriously considered turning back. The first few years flew by as we struggled to learn Amharic, build our homes, and get a feel of the culture and customs. The Ethiopian government gave permission for Southern Baptists to begin work on condition that we establish a community development program in Menz—an almost totally undeveloped area. Thus, as missionaries, we began some rather unusual programs: rug weaving classes, bridge building, high altitude crop experimentation, and mobile medical and veterinary clinics. At the same time, we began to get acquainted with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in “the oldest Christian empire.” Exotic sights, sounds and smells assailed our senses as we attended early morning mass each Sunday. Religious holidays were particularly interesting and colorful. With our increased understanding of the people came a growing love and concern for those so long isolated in a spot time had forgotten. Because the 10,000 foot high plateau of Menz is cut to ribbons by huge gorges every few miles, the world has passed it by. It remains virtually unchanged from centuries past. Its people live very simply—most just one crop failure away from starvation. A worse threat though, is the danger of being killed or injured in one of the frequent family feuds over land, or by a thieving neighbor. The more we learned, the more we came to appreciate people’s comments of skepticism and downright disbelief about the advisability of our mission work in Menz. Yet the Lord displayed his wisdom through our ignorance. In ten years he accomplished greater things than we dared dream of seeing in a lifetime. For six years we sowed the seed with no visible harvest. Yet we continued sharing God’s word in faith, claiming the promise of Isaiah 55:11 that God’s word would not return void but would bring forth fruit. Then came the first fruits and the battle began. As more of the harvest ripened, the battle raged more fiercely. Each time the enemy sent his fiery darts, the Lord miraculously cared for his own. And with each victory the harvest multiplied and the body grew a little stronger. Over and over we relived the days of Acts with Paul and the disciples as we were in the midst of spiritual warfare in Menz. The testimony of their having been through it before and of God’s faithfulness, provided us with strength to stand against the enemy and kept discouragement from overcoming us when things seemed darkest. God is alive! He has won the victory over Satan through Jesus Christ. He works today as he did two thousand years ago and this book is a testimony of his hand moving in one small part of the world to bring people out of darkness into light.Once again God fulfilled his promise of Matthew 4:16: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.” My hope is that this book will encourage believers who are facing persecution today. I trust it will reenergize those who have grown weary or cold in their Christian walk. Above all I pray that any who have not experienced God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ will discover it firsthand through this amazing story. Lauralee Lindholm