The power of prayer

In my reports from Ethiopia I mentioned a woman called Desenia which means my sister. We met her in one of the prisons and she has a 22 year sentence for murdering her husband. We know nothing more of the case, other than women in Ethiopia are sometimes driven to desperate measures to escape abuse and the pressures of the hard life they lead.

When we met her, Desenia was very upset about her children. Through translators we understood that her eldest had a job as a domestic and her younger children had been trafficked. There was some misunderstanding because of dialects and we have since discovered that the younger children are with her dead husbands family and are OK. Having said this it is unlikely Desenia will ever see them again. However it was her 14 year old daughter that she was really worried about. Apparently she had run away when her mother was imprisoned because she was worried about reprisals for the murder of her father. She was the one who ended up in some kind of bonded labour and was extremely unhappy.

Desinia's story touched all of us and we have really prayed for her. There is fantastic news!
Last week another couple of friends from Northallerton were out in Ethiopia and visited Desenia again. Prison Fellowship in Ethiopia located the girl. She has been brought to the town where her mother is imprisoned and is being looked after by one of the prison officers. She is able to see Desenia on a regular basis. Prison Fellowship in Northallerton have offered to sponser some of her educational needs.

We don't know the faith background of those involved but it seems that the prison officer who is caring for Desenia's daughter is very wary about Christian influence. She was reassured that our support is unconditional, although we would of course dearly love them all to come to know Jesus. We would be grateful for your prayers.

God bless

Carol