Under Their Very Eyes by Deborah Meroff

Author:Deborah Meroff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Published: 2016-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

8

YEMEN: STARTING OVER

I returned to Aden in September, two months after the end of the civil war. Because the country was still regarded as unsafe, Edna stayed behind until the end of the month, when I found a villa we could live in.

We both wept at the devastation. Our contractors had left security men to watch over the property but once again, Christ Church was in ruins. Rebel mobs had even taken doors and beams, stripped the wiring from the walls, stolen the wash basins, and cleaned out a container holding all the large, new tiles just delivered to cover the church’s floor. Our own personal items had been removed to the British consulate for protection, but all foreign embassies and consulates were attacked and looted. The one positive piece of news was that many Arabic Bibles and Christian videos were also taken. We could only hope that God would use them to change lives.

It was a great relief to find that the Ethiopian believers we had left behind were all safe, although some had been through harrowing experiences. Our two villa security guards, Danny and Lagessa, were in particular need. They had tried to protect the house until driven off by armed men. With nowhere to go and very little money they were arrested and accused of being “spies”, then thrown into jail and their remaining money stolen. When water supplies were cut off, they survived by catching water dripping from air conditioners. When power was cut off they had nothing to drink for days, in temperatures of 46ºC.

I called Bishop John Brown and told him that everything was gone, and there was no money in the bank to start again.

“My dear Tom,” he responded gently, “Have you lost your vision?”

“No, I haven’t. But this is the reality we face.”

“If you can find a place to stay…” John began, and I knew then that we were going to rebuild. Edna and I found another villa without many furnishings and used one large room as a chapel. Danny and Lagessa lived on the premises once more as guards, gardeners, and leaders of the Ethiopian church group.

The majority of foreign businesses and oil companies had pulled out of the country. Relief agencies were returning, however, and the new governor and religious court gave permission for our church project to proceed. Since we had accommodation and a place for services, we decided that finishing the clinic would have to be the next priority in spite of the fact that building material costs had increased 20 to 30 per cent. The foundations were already in place, as were 2-foot-high brick walls.

After some months Bishop John sent Revd Jim and Carol Wakerley to relieve us and take over the challenge, giving us a much needed rest back in Cyprus. Being energetic Australians they immediately got stuck in and appointed a local man as administrator to deal with all the many questions of government ministry departments, and medical supplies coming in for the clinics.

They were soon going full steam ahead, seeing miracle after miracle of God’s provision.

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