Ethiopia

Praying for rain at midnight mass

Monday 09 June 2008

At the Abraha Atsbeha church in northern Ethiopia, worshippers pray for rain. Watch the report from Franck Berruyer and Nesrine Trabelsi. (Report: F.Berruyer, N.Trabelsi)

Hunger in Ethiopia: send your questions to FRANCE 24's Nesrine Trabelsi and Franck Berruyer reporting from the area.

It’s a special prayer and a call of desperation for rain. By singing and dancing, these Christian women in the north of Ethiopia pray to God for mercy and relief. They chant to him, singing: “God, we have a big stomach. We need to eat. Please consider our needs.”

“The rain represents our food,” says one woman. “If we have no rainfall we cannot survive without begging for food. God must help us with our crops. They must grow. That is why we pray.”

These Ethiopians have been addressing their prayers to Jesus for the last 16 years. Today their faith is only getting stronger: it keeps them going; it’s the only thing they have left when they have no food.

Ethiopia has been in a cycle of drought for several years. In 2007, eight million Ethiopians needed food aid. The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned that a severe drought in the country currently threatens up to six million children under five years of age. Already more than 120,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition and could die within the month.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking 147 million dollars (94 million euros) to address a shortage of 183,000 metric tonnes of food to meet the country’s needs.

Meanwhile in this ancient rock-hewn church in north Ethiopia, the mass starts at midnight with a series of prayers. The faithful experience some joyful and spiritual moments to the rhythm of drums and chanting. Many of them had walked for long hours to take part in the mass. The church is their only refuge and praying lightens the heavy burden of life’s misfortunes.

Melake Genet Hadush, priest of the Abraha Atsbeha church, explains: “You have to pray. You have to believe in God. Having a good life here on earth is not enough. You also have to work and take care of everything for your own sake and the sake of your family. However the most important thing is to be a believer and become religious, that’s how God will listen to you and improve your daily life.”

As the sun rises, it’s time for communion, a moment everyone looks forward to. They share a big portion of Ethiopia’s local Injara bread. For many, this may be the only meal they have to begin their day. They savor what is given to them until the return of rain.