2013 TEAM VISITS TO ETHIOPIA
This brief report covers two recent visits to Ethiopia
– one in March 2013 and the other in May 2013 -
as we work alongside our partners
Justice for All and Prison Fellowship Ethiopia.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This brief report covers two recent visits to Ethiopia
– one in March 2013 and the other in May 2013 -
as we work alongside our partners
Justice for All and Prison Fellowship Ethiopia.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MARCH 2013
At the beginning of March, Rachel Ross Russel and Jean Davies had a very special time working alongside our partners Justice for All Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (JFA-PFE). They were only there for a week yet were able to visit 6 prisons over a wide area from Ataye in the north down to Arba Minch in the south - a lot of travelling! The focus of this visit was the care of children who have parents in prison - especially REFUGE which through sponsorship supports children in the community but also Twinkle of Hope which focuses on the needs of those little ones who are in prison with their mothers. The meetings were very happy ones and included exchanges of presents. Perhaps the most moving part of this was not the children’s joy in receiving a gift – you might expect that – but the overwhelming expressions of thanks from the parents who in one of the prisons presented Rachel and Jean with the gift of a scarf. Although the child care projects may have been the main intended focus and a lot of work was done in meeting these children and their prisoner parents, as so often seems to be the case in Ethiopian prisons, there were some amazing opportunities to experience and be involved in other aspects of the work. This included some of the practical and potentially income generating projects from garment making to vegetable growing as well as exploring ways to keep chickens! And that wasn't all. By invitation they were able to share the gospel message, engage in teaching and in prayer for healing. In support of the lively Christian fellowships of prisoners who have come to know the Lord they left Bibles and money to buy more. Also, following a request from the chaplain coordinator in one of the prisons, money was left so that the prisoner choir could have choir robes – something that helps identify them as part of the Christian team. Jean reports that there was a good response to the gospel message and that there was also evidence of healing. They saw one young boy who was prayed for last year when he was very weak and hardly able to walk. He is now running around and appeared very happy. Only a very small proportion of the children affected by the imprisonment of a parent are currently able to benefit. The Chaplain Coordinators help to focus on the most extreme need. As well as committed prayer, more sponsorship is needed for both. ______________________________________________________________________________________ MAY VISIT Just a few weeks before his 82nd birthday, our founder Rev Bob Spratt along with supporter Sean Onions flew into Addis Ababa. Unlike the March visit this one did not include lots of long journeys but was more of an opportunity to spend time prayerfully reviewing the past 15 years during which Bob has been involved and to focus on some of the latest exciting plans and opportunities along with their associated challenges including inflation with a mean increase of 25% over the past couple of years. Following this detailed review and funds permitting we aim to continue support as currently provided including – 1) REFUGE, and Twinkle of Hope Child Care Projects; 2) sponsoring 72 Chaplain Co-ordinators; 3) helping Mobile Clinics to visit prisons; 4) completing the dormitory at Jijiga and the chapel at Argo, plus the purchase of Bibles etc and the occasional motorbike. An additional priority would be to hold Regional Conferences providing opportunities for chaplains, often working in comparative isolation, to receive training and enjoy fellowship etc. These are ambitious plans with life changing potential but, as we sat there and considered all of this and added up the sums, including a couple of conferences, the total for the next 18 months to Dec 2014, came to around £130,000.00. Impossible??? Whilst the priority must be to maintain the current projects, it would be such a blessing if even more could be done! Highlights of this visit included an emotional meeting with two former prisoners whose picture along with Bob was shown on the back of our Spring Prayer & Newsletter. The latest picture of the three of them is on the back of this one and here as well. Planned visits to a number of prisons had to be cancelled due to Bob becoming unwell and the decision to cut short the visit and fly home a few days early. He’s already talking of going out again to make up for this! _______________________________________________________________________________________ BOB and SEAN VISIT THE NATIONAL PALACE IN ADDIS ABABA Although, as mentioned in the above report covering recent visits to Ethiopia, our founder Bob Spratt was not able to travel out of Addis Ababa and go into any prisons he did have a rather special visit of a different kind in Addis Ababa. On Wednesday morning 8th May, by invitation of the Ethiopian President, His Excellency Ato Girma Woldageorgis, Bob, accompanied by Sean, arrived at the National Palace in Addis Ababa Instead of being surrounded by lots of prisoners, hearing some of their stories and exploring needs – both practical and spiritual - he found himself in front of the President in the company of senior members of the Ethiopian justice system including the President of the Federal Supreme Court, the Minister of Justice, the Director General of the Federal Police Commission and the Director General of the Federal Prison Administration as well as Chris Allan, Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy. The purpose of the visit, which seems to have been arranged by JFA-PFE as a surprise, was to enable the President, to present Bob with an “Award of Honor” for what are described on the certificate he received as being “Distinguished Contributions towards Prison Focused Humanitarian Support in collaboration with Justice for All – Prison Fellowship Ethiopia“. It is good to know this prisons work is appreciated and we trust this award, acknowledgement and affirmation will help enable further pioneer developments in future. |
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Click here for details of a Chaplains' Conference visit to Ethiopia
Click here for details of 2014 visits to Ethiopia
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Read more about REFUGE and Twinkle of Hope child care projects
Read more about the role of Chaplain Coordinators
Click here for details of a Chaplains' Conference visit to Ethiopia
Click here for details of 2014 visits to Ethiopia
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Read more about REFUGE and Twinkle of Hope child care projects
Read more about the role of Chaplain Coordinators