Ethiopia: Experiences and Challenges

By Johannes Isdahl Austgulen

This book tells briefly about the pioneer missionaries effort in the previous Welega province in Western-Ethiopia, and then about the untiring Ethiopian pastor and bible translator, Onesimus Nezib (1856- 1931). However the author’s main intention with the writing is to recall from personal experiences during serving terms in the same province in close co-operation with national colleagues, and with a special focus on health care. In particular he writes about the work among the Gumuz people who are living along the Blue Nile River – also he records from his experiences among the Berta people, another lowland group. The health service was for a period carried on as an ambulatory work, but after some time permanent clinics were established. The book has a lot of photos which will introduce these lowland people and show the health care activities and other branches of the work of the church. One of the author’s working-terms was at a major clinic on the highland where the Oromo people are living, and the book refers to quite many experiences from there.
It is also recalled from the overthrown of Emperor Haile Selassie in September 1974, and about the difficult time which followed during the reign of the communist regime until it was defeated at spring 1991. After a shorter time with some tumults between two liberation organizations the situation became normalized and with good living and working conditions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: May 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9789175695686

Book preview

Table of Contents

Preface to the revised version

A brief presentation of Ethiopia

Mission effort in bringing the gospel to the past Welega province in western Ethiopia

Swedish pioneer mission among the Oromo people in Welega

Focus on mission work in Sirba village by the Blue Nile

Visiting our former working places along the Blue Nile in 2012

Postscript

Preface to the revised version

In this book I describe the various working periods of missionary service as a deacon and nurse in Ethiopia, starting in 1972, and ending in 1997. My wife Gudrun, also a nurse, and I were connected to the Norwegian Missionary Society (NMS), with the Western Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) as our employer. In three of the periods we were working in Welega province in Western Ethiopia, but in 1995 there were formed nine ethnically based regions which replaced the thirteen provinces within the country. Because of that change we were working in the Gumuz Beneshangul Region at our last period, 1995 – 97.

After a short presentation of Ethiopia, and before writing about the personal experiences and challenges, I find it naturally to give a very brief review of the Swedish pioneer missionarie’s effort to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Oromo people in Welega. I have also very roughly written about the German pioneer mission in the same province. The Oromo peoples own tireless pastor and bible translator, Onesimus Nezib, has got his deserving notice in my book.

Most of our time in Ethiopia we were working in the Blue Nile Valley where the population is the Nilotic people called Gumuz. It has been important for me to record from the very start with ambulatory work by walking from village to village – to a more stationary existence due to constructions of permanent residences and clinics. There were also working terms among two other ethnic groups, Berta and Oromo, described in this book. However it has to be pointed that the book is mainly concentrated on the Gumuz tribe we were working among in the Western part of the Valley, quite near the Blue Nile, (in Eth. called Abbay). Most of the following photos are from that area. At the end of the book it is recorded from recent visits to our previous working places near the Nile. Today no people are living there as the population had to move away about two years ago, and establish new settlements, because of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which will overflow the lower landscape within a couple of years. Economical compensation for the concerned people has been given by the government.

I am also writing some about the difficult time during the communist regime, 1974 – 91, and the turbulent time in 1991 – 92 due to disagreement between the government and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

We, like the other missionaries at that time, carried out our service by living among the people at different sites. Today there is a great change as national personnel have got the full responsibility over the various branches within the work of the Church. There are still some missionaries, and these have important tasks as counsellors concerning different projects which are run by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church. However today’s missionaries are living at central places and this makes it of course impossible to keep close contacts with the local communities. The change of the task regarding missionaries and national church workers has gone tremendous fast. My book shows an era which is over, but the change is in line with the policy of the apostle Paul. The work of the church is today expanding nicely, but it is wise to look back to the pioneer work performed by the Swedish and German missionaries, by Onesimus Nezib and others, who laid the foundation of today’s rapid church growth.

I thank my wife for her many diary entries. Likewise I thank our son, John Helge, who has done the preparation of the pictures which are with one exception picked from our private photo collection. Lastly I would like to thank the former Swedish missionary, Mr. Karl-Erik Lundgren, who encouraged me to make this English version.

18th January 2018 Øvrebø, Norway

Johannes Isdahl Austgulen

A brief presentation of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is located in East-Africa. The size is 1,100,000 square km, and it is ranking as number 10 of 54 African countries. The population has increased rapidly through the recent years and counts now approximately 100 million. Regarding population Ethiopia comes as number two after Nigeria, and then followed by Egypt. There are around 90 ethnic groups in the country and 83 different languages, but the main languages Amharic, Oromo and Tigray are most widely spoken. It is not uncommon that many people are accustomed to one or two of these languages besides their own ethnically based language. The main group of the Ethiopian people is the Oromo with approximately 35% of the population, and then comes the Amhara with about 27%, and the Tigray with 6 – 7% (Wikipedia).

Addis Ababa is the capital city and has more than 5 million inhabitants. The altitude of the city is 2300 – 2500 meters, and it is located in the middle of the country without any port to the sea. It is quite surrounded by eucalyptus trees, and from the Entotto Mountain there is a very nice view over the city.

Geographically the Ethiopian landscape has significant differences. The Danakil desert in the northern Afar region (in the Great Rift Valley) is one of the hottest environments in the world. Opposite to this there are a lot of high mountains where the Simien Mountains in the north of Ethiopia are especially well known. The highest of them is Ras Dashen with 4543 meters. In these mountains there are a lot of gelada baboons which are found only in Ethiopia. However between these extremes there are beautiful landscapes both on the highland and in the lowland, including rivers and lakes. Well known is Lake Tana in the north, the source of the famous Blue Nile River, or Abbay as it is called in Ethiopia.

The Great Rift Valley goes through Ethiopia, and it has a significant influence on the geographical differences within the country. In this Valley there are several lakes where Lake Langano, 200 km south of Addis Ababa, is worthy to mention as it is a favorite place for tourists because of the nice sand banks and the good opportunity for swimming in addition to excellent hotel and bungalow accommodations. Lake Awasa is also well known, partly because there are a lot of hippos. Several other lakes can also be found.

Ethiopia has a very old history, and there are a lot of remainders from the ancient time, even well preserved buildings can still be seen in the north; in Axum, Gondar, and in Lalibela. These historical places, also Bahar Dar by Lake Tana, are yearly visited by several groups of tourists from different countries. The famous obelisks (monolithic pillars) in Axum – the castles and palaces in Gondar – the rock churches in Lalibela, have impressed everybody who has been there.

The Orthodox church of Ethiopia can be dated back to around year 350 when king Ezana made Christianity as a religion of the state. This Church has through difficult times in the past kept the Ethiopian people together as a unity. Especially in the north of Ethiopia we will find a lot of Orthodox churches, but also elsewhere in the country. This Church denomination has totally around 40 million members, not all of them residing in Ethiopia, but also in other countries inside and outside Africa.

Ethiopia is the origin land of coffee plants, and the Ethiopian coffee is in large amounts exported to other countries. Sugar production should also be mentioned, and in the recent years there has been an increasing export of flowers, mainly roses. At present time Ethiopia is constructing Africa’s largest dam, the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by the Blue Nile, 20 km from the border with Sudan. The aim is to produce up to 6000 MW electric power for intern use, and also for export to nighbouring countries.

Ethiopia was ruled by kings and emperors for numerous of centuries until the last emperor, Haile Selassie, was deposed on September 12th 1974 by a group of military officers with colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam as a leading person. He was in favor of the communist ideology. (The emperor died on August 27th 1975, and there is a strong assumption that he was assassinated). A Coordinating Committee took over the leadership, and general Aman Andom became the Head of State. Already on November 17th 1974 he was killed under an attack arranged by colonel Mengistu while the general was in his residence in Addis Ababa. General Teferi Benti was shortly after the death of Aman Andom assigned as the Head of State, but on February 3rd 1977 he was executed together with some other persons. After that colonel Mengistu became the real and strong leader of the country. The communist regime was on power until Mengistu Haile Mariam was defeated at spring 1991, and then he fled to Zimbabwe. Ethiopia was now released from a regime which all the time kept on fighting with the Eritreans, and after some time also with resistance organizations in Ethiopia. During the communist time the country had to suffer in many ways, also the Churches got their burdens.

After the victory over Mengistu and his regime Meles Zenawi became the new leader of Ethiopia. He was the president of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia from 1991. In 1995 there were formed nine ethnically based regions which replaced the thirteen previous provinces within the country. By this the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was instituted with Meles Zenawi as the Prime Minister. After his death in August 2012 he was succeeded by Hailemariam Desalegn who had served as a Deputy Prime Minister. Ethiopia has gone into a new era after the fall of the Mengistu regime, however the Democratic Republic is not in favor of press freedom, and the opposition groups don’t have the best conditions.

On the other side there has been a remarkable development in Ethiopia through the last years. New and good asphalt roads are going to different directions. Large hotels are erected mostly all over the country, and also the numbers of factories have increased, likewise other buildings. Hospitals have been constructed almost everywhere, and in general the health service has greatly improved. Electric power is provided to more and more people. The mobile telephone system is operating even in a lot of rural areas, likewise internet connections. In 2015 a City Train started to operate in Addis Ababa. Nevertheless there are still a lot of challenges to face. One of them is to improve the living standard of the poorest. This is not easy since the prices of food and different other important articles are increasing from time to time.

Lastly I will point that the Ethiopians are social, helpful and hospitable. In that way we Europeans have a lot to learn from our fellow-beings in that smiling country with the smiling people. Travelers who are coming either as tourists or for other purposes will for sure return home with rich and unforgettable impressions in their minds from this fascinating country. On this point I refer to my own experiences.

MISSION EFFORT IN BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE PAST WELEGA PROVINCE IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Map outline of Welega in western Ethiopia from about 1970. There is plotted several small airstrips which are only memories of an earlier era. Even in the three bigger towns Nakamte, Nedjo and Mendi there are no opportunities for air travel any more, but a new asphalt road goes from Addis Ababa through all these towns. However, in Asosa there is a modern paved airport where Ethiopian Airlines has its regular scheduled flight.

SWEDISH PIONEER MISSION AMONG THE OROMO PEOPLE IN WELEGA

The Swedish Evangelical Mission has performed an admirable effort in Ethiopia. The main work of the mission was among the numerous Oromo population, and this is particularly true in the previous Welega province in western Ethiopia. It is therefore appropriate to summarize some of the Swedish missionarie’s activities. In my writing the names of quite a few of the pioneer missionaries will be mentioned, several more names could have been added, but this is just a brief recall of the establishment of the Swedish Evangelical Mission in Welega.

The Swedish Evangelical Mission (Evangeliska Fosterlandsstiftelsen) was founded in 1856. From the very beginning there was a desire to evangelize among the Galla people in Ethiopia. Now only the term Oromo is used on this etnic group which counts approxemately 35% of Ethiopia’s population (Wikepedia). The Swedish missionaries had a tough start-up time before they got a foothold among the people they felt called to go forth with the gospel. In spring 1866, the first missionaries came to the port city of Massawa (in Eritrea). From there they would travel to the Oromo areas far inland. They had the following motto: To Galla or die. They experienced a long and arduous travel on foot, facing both adversity and opposition, but they would never give up. Two of the missionaries died of disease. In January 1869 there came nine new missionaries from Sweden, who together with the survivors of the first group intended to enter the Oromo area. Illness and death occurred again, and moreover, two missionaries and their Ethiopian companions were murdered while they should get into Ethiopia from Sudan. Further expeditions took place every few years. Despite both resistance and betrayal, strenuous and long marches, illness and other difficulties, – the Swedish missionaries and their companions continoued in their tireless efforts to reach into the Oromo people with the gospel of Christ. Their faith is admirable, and they succeeded eventually to realize their call and their visions.

The Swedish missionaries starting out missionary activity in Welega’s provincial capital Nakamte and proceed west to Nedjo and Mendi. (After the new constitution in 1995 all these places belong to the Oromia regional state, also called region 4)

Dr Erik Søderstrøm played a key role at the start of the mission work in Nakamte, but he was not alone in this. His wife, Gusti, and his sister, Karin Søderstrøm, also made considerable efforts there. Both of them were experienced nurses. This small missionary group came to the provincial capital 22nd March 1923, and immediately they established a mission station there. They were the first Swedish missionaries who came to Welega province. In October, the same year, they established a small primitive hospital. The building was inadequate in relation to the massive demand there was for various health services, including surgery. It was therefore worked hard to establish a larger hospital. This desire became more or less in a fact of July 1931. Although there was continuing construction work, they chose to start with hospital management there as quickly as possible. First on February 16th 1932 was the construction of the new hospital compleated. Dr. Søderstrøm was a versatile doctor who worked hard without thinking much of his own comfort. Eventually he came to a point where he had to take a rest break and traveled to Alexandria in Egypt where he spent four months. His health condition improved during his stay in Egypt, and again he proceeded with his significant and diverse health care in Nakamte. Beside the medical work proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ was also an important task for the Swedish mission, and the missionaries showed eagerness in their work for Christ. Moreover, as the time went on, national pastors and evangelists were trained and engaged in preaching the word of God.

Start of missionary activity in Nedjo year 1927

On October 5th 1927 a large caravan left from Nakamte to Nedjo to start the mission operations at the latter place. The caravan consisted of Rev. Martin Nordfeldt with his wife, Ingeborg, and their little daughter Gunvor. Together with them was also a skilled nurse named Hilma Olsson. Moreover, they had 65 mules which were loaded with the equipments which were needed for the establishment of a mission station in Nedjo. Among other things, they brought with them a considerable amount of gears and tools. In addition to the loads on the mules there were 30 people who were carrying luggage. On the way they had to pass through the hot and remote Didessa Valley. At the lowest point of this valley flows the large Didessa River. At the time of the Swedish caravan there was no brigde, and it was a venture to make their way through the strong water stream. It must be pointed that not only the river was a challenge, but the whole stretch of the caravan road through the valley was tough, and there were also a lot of wild animals like lions, leopards and wild pigs. Without any major problems the caravan reached the highland-town Ghimbi. From there they proceeded to Nedjo. Althogether the caravan used ten days on the entire route.

Martin Nordfeldt performed a substantial and varied work in Nedjo. This included both the ministry, construction work and more. Some of his buildings are still in use at the station. A special attention may be put on the church which in recent years has been expanded a few times. Nurse Hilma Olsson started with clinic work, and she got quite rapidly a number of patients for treatment. Still there is a clinic at the same compound, but the present clinic buildings are not the same as on her time. About Hilma Olsson the adventurer and gold-digger, Willian Avenstrup from Norway, wrote the following report in a book which he published in 1935 with the title Gjennom Etiopias jungle (Through Ethiopia’s jungle): "A small, handsome and fair-haired lady in a riding suit came towards me, smiling all over her face. She was a young Swedish woman, going the same way as we, though only to Nedjo in the province of Welega. The woman told that she was going to work at the Swedish missionary service as a nurse for the people in the area. She was accompanied by a young Danish woman who was just going to Nakamte in the same province to serve as a teacher for the little children at the station. With great pleasure we could then offer to be the ladies companions and guards during the journey through the jungle further forward. The nurse had 20 mules packed with drugs and windows to their new Swedish chapel there. She was a stately person and managed the drivers and mules as a man. The teacher, however, was unfamiliar with the hardships of this nature and crying sometimes over them. She took the world and the life too heavy and suffered even because of that."

William Avenstrup travelled in 1930 together with his European colleague from Addis Ababa to Beneshangul (Asosa area) relatively close to the border of Sudan, a walking distance of about 700 km. Their caravan consisted of 47 well loaded mules plus a large number of porters and helpers. They were about 60 km west of Addis Abeba, close to the famous town Addis Salem, when they met these two women by the end of April 1930: Hilma Olsson who was just going to Nedjo had then still at least 440 km left on her stretch of road, including the difficult route through the Didessa Valley.

Back to Mr. Avenstrup 20 days later: "We could now see Nedjo at a distance, and I partly saw a crowd of people gathered at the city’s entrance. They were so beautiful dressed in pure white robes, and each one had a little book in the hand. Dom er mina Gossar (they are my friends) said the nurse, they are here to receive me. As we were two days late, her Gossar (friends) probably both slept there and walked around the brink of the final date of her, being allowed to show her their love and joy of having her back again. I rode beside her towards the group of about 30 people who reverently stood and sang by their hymnbooks. I took off my pith-helmet and was deeply moved during the hymn singing. I saw from that day that she was more than only a human nurse. I thought essentially just that she lacked wings to fly right into the heaven. When she had pressed everybody in her hand, they all went in procession in front of us through the town and over to the Swedish church where we were received by Rev. Nordfeldt and his wife. Getting to them was for us to come home. Their eyes were shining of goodness, and they did not know all the good they would do for us. We were there for two days and arranged our camp next to the residence of the Nordfeldts. During these days I learned the pastor to know as a person whom the fine Swedish nation can be proud of. He is the station manager, and he is both counsellor, physician, builder and everything else – all to perfection. His wife helps him to teach the little children and has daily 50 of them to teach in their own language. Pastor Nordfeldt has personally built both the church and its rectory, and prettier constructions can no trained professional person do at home."

So far Mr. William Avenstrup: His vivid account of the missionary work in Nedjo at that time is of historical value. The church he refers to was inaugurated 6th sept. 1930, and I may add that Nedjo church has a special place in the hearts of my wife and me. Our son, John Helge, was baptised here 23rd June 1974 by the Norwegian missionary, Rev. Øyvind Eide. Still pastor Nordfeld’s church is used every Sunday, but during the newer time there have been undertaken necessary extensions because of a growing congregation.

Nedjo mission station became staffed with several Swedish missionaries. When we stayed there in the period May 1973 – January 1975 there was still a Swedish management at Nedjo clinic. Other Swedish missionaries who were living at the station (compound) had their work within different fields. This continued for some years, but now it is many years since there were Swedes in Nedjo. Two German missionary couple were working in turn here in recent time, but both the evangelical work as well as clinical work are now run entirely by national staff associated the Mekane Yesus Church.

Nedjo main church – originally built by the Reverend Nordfeldt and dedicated Sept. 6.th 1930. It has been upgraded several times during the years because of an increasing need for seating

The Swedish missionaries are proceeding to Mendi town in the year 1947

Mendi is located 75 km west of Nedjo, but the distance was about 5 km longer when the Swedish missionary couple, Rev. Arne Hansson and his wife Elsa, started their missionary work in this town in summer 1947. It might be that the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, (1936-1941), was contributing to that the establishment of missionaries in Mendi did not follow their start