Ethiopia #6: Traveling from Ethiopia to Kenya
by Frank Dimmock
Today I say good bye to Ethiopia and hello to Kenya. Yesterday was a wonderful day visiting the Outreach work with South Sudanese Presbyterians in 3 refugee camps. We traveled in convoy to the camps due to security concerns, but then were free to see the pre-schools and meet with many of the trauma healing trainees in their settings. It was good to hear the reports and concerns of those who are conducting regular healing groups in the camps. There are 14 in Kule camp and 12 in Nguenyiel camp. They also shared their priorities for making their work more effective. We were able to demonstrate the audio device that will be used in each camp for listening groups. They were very excited to hear the voices and dialogue in Nuer.
I was pleased to meet some of the 36 students in the Sobat Bible School diploma training in one of the camps. This school has students from each of the camps. They are being taught by a trained South Sudanese pastor and several evangelists. It was a long day as we were delayed awaiting the return convoy to Gambella.
Tonight, I arrive in Nairobi and leave early tomorrow for the flight to Lodwar and bus ride to the Kakuma refugee camp in western Kenya. There are many Nuer Presbyterian refugees there. It is my first visit and I will conduct a visioning session on trauma healing with church leaders and visit the Giffen Institute of Theology in the camp.
More to come,
Blessings and Thanks, Ci̱ lɔcdä tɛɛth, Asante sana,
Frank Dimmock
Africa Mission Specialist