Dimma, Ethiopia
The joyous welcome our missionary team (Gene Worley, Frank Auterson, Tura and myself) received was in sharp contrast to the great poverty and suffering in the Dimma Sudanese Refugee Camp. Eager children clothed in rags or less, crowded around us, and although they understood little or no English, they soon learned songs like “Hallelu, Hallelu,” “Deep and Wide,” “Rolled Away,” and “Jesus Loves Me.” During forty hours of Bible classes the adults listened with rapped attention. The Sunday service was attended by 340 adults, teens and children.

This camp which is a rugged two and a half day trip from Addis Ababa is home to about 5,000 Sudanese who were forced from their country by the violence from the Islamic militants. For more than fifteen years these people have lived away from their homeland.

In 2004 Gene Worley met three men from this camp. He was able to witness to them and disciple them for a short time. Subsequently, they invited him and other Baptist Bible Fellowship missionaries to come to the camp and teach them the Word of God. Because of the rough conditions and hazardous traveling, it is very difficult trip. However, this is a great open door that we pray God will allow us to pursue.

As we met with the men for our last session, we expressed our regret for our inability to do more to help relieve their physical suffering.

Their response humbled and encouraged us when they said, “You could not have done more because you have taught us the Word of God.”

Pray for these young believers as they seek to learn God’s Word and establish Bible Baptist churches. Pray for us that we will be able to do more to teach them and minister to the men, women and children in this extremely needy community

Serving Christ together,