By: Elias Omer
Act 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Before 2020, the compound would have been filled with the energy of thousands of high school students. They would have filled the expansive brown soccer field, their laughter echoing across the grounds, or sat diligently in classrooms, absorbing knowledge and experiences vital to their growth — they would have been busy learning, playing and just being normal. However, COVID-19 brought the closure of schools for these students, and the onset of civil war in the fall of that year meant that those schools never reopened. Classrooms that had once been filled with students became home to thousands of individuals and families displaced by war.
In 2023, I had the opportunity to visit this school compound in the northern town of Shire, in Tigray, Ethiopia with a small team of other missionaries on a “vision trip.” The purpose of this trip was to see what we could do to alleviate some of the suffering that had gone on in that region. When we first arrived at the school compound, it was filled with tens of thousands of residents who had come from the western regions of Tigray – just like 17 other elementary and high school facilities in the area. Children were running around, some unaccompanied by parents; mothers carried malnourished babies; all were waiting in desperation for food aid that would offer them sustenance. Teens who were supposed to be finishing high school stood leaning against the fences, looking lost – maybe in their memories of the sounds of gunshots and the smell of gunpowder in the hot desert.
Among these internally displaced persons, stories of trauma, horror and hurt are normalized, but the physical toll is unmistakable. Many people have not received any medical care for years. Some try to ease their pain with locally sourced herbs and traditional remedies. However, in many cases, illness grows worse, and some have passed away from illnesses that are easily treatable.
Last month, I returned to the Shire community, along with a team of 17 healthcare professionals, armed with 40 boxes of medication, all ready to provide much-needed healthcare to the community. When we arrived early Monday morning, the local health clinic compound was filled with patients who had heard about our arrival. It was overwhelming, but we knew that God had called us to extend his love and mercy. Doctors, nurses, dentists, counsellors and surgeons readied themselves to do what they could – to use the gifts, the training and the time that God had given them to serve the needs of those that God had placed before them.
Within a week, we treated about 2800 individuals with a wide range of physical and mental health concerns. Every evening when we heard the reports, we were beyond belief at what God had done in those few days. People who had had no health care for years received surgeries, counselling, dental work, and medication. In an area that has traditionally been very closed to the Gospel, 45 individuals decided to come to Christ just because of the love they had poured on them. On the fourth day, after receiving eye treatment, glasses and prescription medication, one older woman came to me and
said, “You (the team) are the sign of light and ብርሃን ሆነልኝ (light has come to me).” Another told me, “Your (the team’s) presence is a sign that we have peace. I believe there can be peace in this country.” Although we left knowing that the need was much greater than what we could address in one week, the experience gave our team members a bigger vision to continue working to meet the community’s needs.
Jesus spoke about providing for those who are in need of food, shelter, clothing, or medical care, and His life demonstrated the importance of showing love and compassion to others, especially in times of crisis or suffering. We humbly request your prayers and support as we plan future trips and support to this and other communities in need of God’s love.
Finally, I want to leave you with these reflection questions:
How does your faith manifest in your actions in responding to community needs, locally and globally?
In what ways has God called you to embody His words in Act 1:8, within your community or in the broader global context, as we are continually surrounded by those in need of his love and grace?
