Page 214 - Then Came the Glory

When her death brought Tekle home from America in '94, feeling his whole world had collapsed, he fell across his wife's body and prayed, "Lord, I cannot make it without her." But before he could continue, Jesus answered. Do not
ask me to send her back I wanted to take her two years ago. but you are holding her back It is time for her to rest; let her go. Only heaven knows the anguish this revelation brought, but God's son bowed again to the will of God.
Later the Lord brought vivid scenes to his mind
showing her powerful testimonies and how thoroughly Erkenesh had prepared for her going. She handed her
leadership over to hand picked, capable ladies in every area of the land. She organized chains of fasting and prayer, once
a week all-night prayer meetings, arranged financial support for home missionaries, and a method of raising money to
support missionaries in foreign lands.
God often used Erkenesh in diversities of spiritual
gifts. She had the word of knowledge and wisdom, excellent discernment, and blessed the church with her gift of prophecy. She had amazing linguistic talent, able to read and write and speak in nine different languages which enabled her to minister to people of many races. She immersed herself in each new language she encountered with a fierce determination to conquer it. Her value in establishing the church in Ethiopia cannot be measured in words. Never have I seen a more gracious and thoughtfiil hostess. She entertained every visitor with acute awareness, "This guest could be an angel in disguise."
But, above all these things, Erkenesh excelled in
prayer. She majored in prayer. With small children and a continuous stream of guests, she never failed to spend at
least three hours a day seeking the Lord. Though she loved her children devotedly, I remember her joy when her
youngest child started to school, "Oh, now I can pray longer 200