Sr. Gebaynesh, cms, from Ethiopia
Aman called Mige Is one of the Christians who is active participant in Mandura chapel which belongs to Gilgel Beles parish (Ethiopia). Mige is in his late 50s. Every Sunday he comes to the church with his wife called Bune as well as his children.
One day after holly mass he called me and said “can I have the food which father and you give to the youth?
Indeed, every Sunday in the church there are 300-400 young people, few women and two or three men. Since I do not speak the language of that, I did not get what he meant.
After one month he come to me with some question and the catechist translated: “he is asking you if he can receive the holy communion”. It was a great Surprise for me! He is the first man (adult) who accepts Jesus and against his own customs of having many wives and many children.
In the day he received Baptism, he changed his name Mige to Abraham and the wife became Sara to say God has called them at their old age! He became example for many young people in that area who are still on the way of conversion to the Cristian Faith.
We really don’t know where and when God calls us. The call is an unexpected gift and surprise that God gives us in our life. In this environment to be baptised as an adult is a big challenge and goes against everyday beliefs and customs. That is why I was so surprised when Aman asked to be baptised. God is great!