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Shiloh: a Jewish village in Ethiopia Surrounded by mountains is the beautiful city of Gondar with its castles and churches. Through the pleasant countryside we drove for nearly two hours in the direction of Lake Tana. Eventually we reached are destination--the Village of Shiloh--where there lived community of Jewish believers. During the middle of the 19th century there ancestors had accepted the Messiah, but because of the orders from the Emperor Theodore they were forced to become adherents of the Orthodox Church. Henry Aaron Stern from Germany and Martin Flad from Switzerland were engaged in preaching the Gospel working for the Church Mission to the Jews. These people whom we had come to visit in this remote place were descendants continuing their way of life within the Orthodox but retaining their Jewish identity. Approaching the village we observed a scene from the times of the Bible. It was harvest with the cattle treading the grain which was then thrown into the air and the wind blew away the chaff. We walked past some donkeys towards the huts which looked dilapidated. Gradually some children appeared and then some adults. Obviously they were thinking - "Who are these strangers, Why have they come here, What do they want?" Our friend Gideon who had previously made contact with them gave assurances concerning our visit. They gazed upon us in amazement and with a smile and a gracious bow invited us into their homes. Such poverty I cannot describe and you cannot imagine. How could they survive in this situation. Their manner was so gentle and dignified. The elders through translation told us their story. Oppression in the past from Moslems and even from the Orthodox who would say: "You are Christians on the outside, but you remain Jewish in your hearts." They experienced persecution from their neighbors, suspicion and on occasion hostility throwing stones, and stealing their farming equipment and animals. Continually the accusation of being possessed with the "Budda" that is "the evil eye". Furthermore they shared with us with anguish in their voices and tears in their eyes "We are separated from our families who have gone to Israel. And now Israel has rejected us. We are forgotten and forsaken!!! Afterwards we were accompanied around the village. They showed us some of their pottery which they try to sell in the market. The children wanted to hold our hands. The women desired very much to talk....with my wife. Communication was difficult. They invited her to sit with them. One of them gave her a little girl to hold in her arms. They were so glad that we had come from far away and take such a real interest in them. In fact we were the first "ferengi" (foreigners) to have visited this place. One child indicated the way to where she lived. Inside the mother was sitting holding what appeared to be a bundle of rags. We discovered that in the middle of the night she had given birth to a baby boy. The mother's name was Miriam. Truly this was new life and a sign of hope for the future. One of the elders Tesfaye which means hope gathered the leaders of the families into a larger hut. Here was the opportunity to bring them greetings and proclaim the Word of God. They listened so attentively. "The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9. We told them of God's love and the way of salvation. And that Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Then we prayed that they would understand the message and respond. Carefully arrangements were made for the distribution of the gifts. Such expression of appreciation - "Misgana" - 'Thanks be to God' - Their eyes filled with tears, attempts were made to kiss our feet, they pleaded with us to stay. They looked at us with a mixture of sadness and gladness with a sort of expectation that we would take them to Israel. Obviously they did not want us to leave and neither did we want to go. As we walked away reluctantly they cried out "Do not forget us. Come back soon!" Some of them lifted up their faces and prayed "Ye Israel Amlak" - The God of Israel! What an encounter by Divine appointment. My prayer was now: "Oh Lord what can we do to help these people." Providing practical and spiritual assistance must be done very discreetly. If the neighbors realize what is happening there could be dangerous consequences. Through waiting upon the Lord for direction ways and means will be found to bring these people hope and help for the future. Psalm 102: 16-21 is appropriate for their
situation especially: "He will regard the prayer of the
destitute, and not despise their prayer."
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