Gene and Glenda Worley Missionaries to Ethiopia

Gems from Glenda
July 14, 2001

            “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  Psalm 37:4

            Four years ago when Gene told me that God had spoken to his heart about our returning to Ethiopia, I was shocked!  I remember saying to him, that “this has turned my world upside down.”  I was so involved in our church, Ladies’ Retreats, Ladies’ Meetings, Teacher Training Seminars, Mother-Daughter Teas (and the list goes on) that I could not imagine living and working any place but England.  My roots had been put down very deep in the 14 years that we lived and worked there.

            However, I knew in my heart that Gene had always followed the Lord and that he was doing so now.  I had to surrender my will to His Will and I did just that!  After sorting through all our belongings in England and saying good-bye (with much sadness), we went to the States for a few months furlough, before we went to Ethiopia!

            Our first year in Ethiopia was not easy for me since I knew my Dad did not have long to live.  When I left the States in September 1998, I thought it might be the last time I would see him.  However, the Lord was gracious in giving me one more opportunity to see him before his death in November 1999.  After that I was able to begin to adjust to life in Ethiopia.

              The Lord was so good in providing us with a comfortable home and many wonderful Ethiopian Pastors and friends.  Still, in the back of my mind, I kept wondering what the Lord wanted me to do.  I had not yet found my niche. However, I knew we were where God wanted us, and I was content to wait on His timing to give me a ministry.

            Soon the Lord began to open doors in areas I had not worked before, but I was happy to launch out into new waters!  I worked with the choir of one our churches for several months and it was a blessing to me.  Then I taught a short music course in the Bible College and even gave some piano lessons.  These were all different ministries, but I was so happy doing them.

            About 3 months ago, Pastor Berhanu Yoseph invited me to teach a 6-hour “Teacher Training Course” at his church.  This was so exciting and something I had always enjoyed doing.  He invited the Beza Baptist Church to join them, and there were about 50 people who attended for 4 hours on a Saturday and 2 hours on Sunday afternoon.  The response was overwhelming from these two churches.  A few weeks later, the Beza Baptist Church asked me to do more in-depth teaching for their teachers.  This church did not have a Sunday School, and they were excited about starting one.  I worked with their teachers for six weeks (2-3 hours every Saturday) before they started their Sunday School.  We covered every area of Sunday School work, from organization to teaching Bible Verses, studying and preparing the lesson, making visual aids as well as actually teaching the lesson.

            Sunday July 1st was the red-letter day when they had their very first Sunday School. There were 27 children and young people.  The second Sunday there were 31 children and 9 teachers and workers.  It was indeed “music to our ears” to hear the children in their classrooms, as the adults were having their lesson, as well.  One of the ladies came to me and said that this was something she had always wanted to do, and she was so thrilled to be able to teach her first Sunday School class!  It was a blessing to my heart when she told me that this was the fruit of my labor!

            It has been quite a challenge, helping to provide them with materials, especially since there is very little available here.  If any of you churches or ladies’ groups would like to take on a project in providing Sunday School material and supplies, please let me know and I can give you a list of needed items.

            I am scheduled to teach a six-week course in our college in October on Christian Education for Children.  I am looking forward to that.

            When I left England, I felt that I had left my heart in a teacup, but God has enlarged my heart and given me a genuine love for the Ethiopian people.  My desire is to serve the Lord, and He has certainly given me a ministry in this great country of Ethiopia.  He has indeed given me the “desires of my heart.”

            Thank you for allowing us to be co-laborers with you in Ethiopia.  This work would not be possible without your prayers and financial support!

                                                                In His Love,

                                                                Glenda
 

 Web Editor - Don Tarvin
Last Updated 15 Mar 2009