Taiwan Church News 3269 Edition October 20 - October 26, 2014 Church Ministry Rev. John And Gwenyth Haspels, PC(USA) Missionary Couple, Attacked By Armed Bandit In Ethiopian Mission Ministry Reported by Chang Hsun-Yi On October 1, Rev. John and Gwenyth Haspels, were attacked by armed bandit on their way to a new site in Moga, where they would build the house for the Baale people. Gwenyth got several shots in her jaw; John's left eye was seriously hit. After the shooting violence, John drove 4 hours in pain with badly wounded Gwenyth reaching the hospital in Aman. After a preliminary medical check , they were arranged to send to South Africa for further treatment and operation. Before their leaving Ethiopia, about 1,000 local people flooded into the capital airport with dancing and prayers to say goodbye and expressed thanksgiving for their wonderful service for decades. Now, John's left eye needs a further operation, it is hopeful to recover his sight. As to critically wounded Gwenyth, she needs more operations to recover. This is a brave missionary story that Rev. Hunter Farrell, Director of Presbyterian World Mission, shares with the congregation members of Tsu-kwan Presbyterian Church in Tayal Presbytery on October 14, when he pays a visit there together with Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, PCT General secretary. Reminding the biggest challenge to world mission is the shortage of ecumenical vision, Rev. Farrell asked PCT brothers and sisters to pray, donate and act for Rev. John and Gwenyth in their recovery. Translated by Peter Wolfe |