REPORT ON TEAM VISIT TO ETHIOPIA
February 2012
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Trustee  Rebecca Ducker along with Jean Davies from New Life Baptist Church, Northallerton and Eric Young  a former Manchester United footballer now with Sowing Seeds Ministries returned to the UK from Ethiopia on 24th February.  For part of the time they were also joined by Kingsley Armstrong from the Joshua Project and International Gospel Outreach, sharing in a 2 day Conference for Pastors.

Here  are a few highlights from what Rebecca described as “a really wonderful visit with our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia”.
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On their first day in Ethiopia, after spending some time with Pastor Daniel and his team in Addis Ababa including sharing in their morning devotions, they travelled south to Awassa the capital of Sidamo Province SNNPR.  
 
AWASSA PRISON
The team was made very welcome and as well as being able to meet with parents and children who are part of the REFUGE child care project they also had opportunity to share the gospel message with the women prisoners and to pray with them. 

Jean was able to spend time with some of the women suffering from a variety of health problems including stomach and bowel disorders, depression and mental illness, back pains and severe headaches.  Hands were laid on them with prayer for healing in Jesus’ name and Rebecca reports “many testified to relief of pain and those in deep sadness experiencing joy in the Lord” 

In addition to gifts of clothing, toys, and fresh fruit the Chaplain was given a supply of Bibles. It is reported that there is a need for mattresses and mosquito nets and help was requested in obtaining these.  

ARBA MINCH PRISON
From Awassa the team moved on to Arba Minch Prison where there are also a number of families benefiting from the REFUGE Project caring in the community for prisoners’children. The Prison Commander asked if more families could be helped in this way and Rebecca agreed that a further 10 children selected according to need - indicated by life sentences of mother or father – could be included in the project which is growing rapidly ensuring plenty of opportunities for potential sponsors! 

Although the accommodation for the women was poor and extension much needed, further developments were reported to be already in progress. 
 
Eric – a former Manchester United player - gave a well received message in the men’s prison relating the Christian life to a game of football!  Dedication, commitment and team playing! 

Thanks to donations by team members last year, the prisoners’ choir came out in their full choir robes and the
worship team have been so blessed by the musical organ. Rebecca says that in this prison there is truly a wonderful freedom in the Holy Spirit and worship and praise is always a special blessing. Before leaving, boxes of Bibles were given to the prison.
 
CHENCHA PRISON
At Chencha prison the team was well received by the Commander and again they met up with those sponsored by REFUGE.  Here the chaplain requested that 5 men serving life sentences and whose families were in much need may be able to come onto the programme. 

The Commander himself was pleased to show the team around and during the visit Eric gave out full football kits to their football team. They were keen Man U supporters and were very interested and excited to speak with Eric - he was quite the celebrity! 

ASSELLA PRISON
Coming back up North the team visited Assella prison specifically to call in on the Twinkle of Hope School there.
Rebecca reports - “it was wonderful to catch 15 children at their schooling, they sang for us and introduced themselves. The children were ranging from approx 4yrs to 11yrs, were in school uniform and appeared well. Two teachers were awaiting us and they had been joined by the 5 REFUGE children from Assella….” The children and teachers here were given pens, crayons writing books and toys.

 CONFERENCE IN NAZRET
On Monday 20 Feb Kingsley Armstrong began his Two Day Conference at Nazaret and the subject was "perfection & maturity". This year more delegates than ever arrived - approx 120 pastors, evangelists and some chaplains hosted by PFE staff.

Rebecca says many of the pastors shared with her their delight in listening to such anointed preaching and went away encouraged and pressing on for greater things in the Lord.

ATAYE PRISON
Early on the morning after the Conference the team set off to see the 10 children selected for REFUGE in a prison 250 miles north of Addis at Ataye Prison. This was a particularly encouraging visit as they met with the Governor who was delighted with the sponsorship from the UK to aid those in so much need. 

Rebecca reports “What was very pleasing was that a committee had been formed to select the most needy prisoners for REFUGE. This panel was made up of the Governor, the Chaplain, the social worker, the psychologist and a representative of both the men and women prisoners." 
 
She goes on to say "initially 30 prisoners were selected but after refining the number to 10, even the prisoners who had not been selected agreed wholeheartedly that the 10 chosen to receive help were indeed the right choice. The Governor was pleased at the transparency and professionalism of this procedure. We met the 10 selected families in the Chapel." 
 
One boy of 10yrs was so traumatised by the death of his mother and then the arrest of his father for a life sentence he had lost the ability to walk. He was diagnosed as suffering from post traumatic stress. Eric gave him the last football and we prayed with him and his dad that he would regain his strength to kick and play football his eyes lit up and he was truly blessed.
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BROWSE
We hope that you will want to take a look at the rest of this web site and discover more about Twinkle of Hope and REFUGE child care projects, construction projects etc. as well as our daily prayer pointers.  
                                                  
For report on last November's team visit to Ethiopia and the Chaplains' Conference click here.   
For practical projects including child care and construction projects start by clicking here.  
For Chaplaincy related work click here.
To contact us for more information click here

Twinkle of Hope children in their schoolroom - Awassa Prison

Children in the Assella Prison Twinkle of Hope and Refuge child support projects

Eric sharing a message in Arba Minch Prison. See prisoners in their choir robes

The Commander and prison football team in shirts donates by Eric

In Chencha Prison with evidence they support Manchester United.

Prison Commander accepts gift of a Bible from Jean

At the 2 day Pastors' Conference in Nazret

Eric with young boy whose father is in Ataye Prison

Prospective REFUGE families in Ataye Prison following the selection process