January 25thA Response of Love
Relationship Forever Established Through Covid-19
“It was hard!” says Pastor Ashenafi from Freedom Gospel Ethiopian Church, an MCEC congregation in Toronto. “Hiwot, my wife, self-isolated in one bedroom for two weeks and the family stayed in the rest of the apartment. The younger children couldn’t understand why they weren’t able to be with their Mommy.”
During the early months of the pandemic, Hiwot Tesfaye’s fears were realized. As a front-line personal support worker at St. Clair O’Conner Community Inc. in Toronto, she contracted Covid-19 and became ill. Ashenafi, Hiwot and their four children live in a two-bedroom apartment in Toronto. The family felt cut off – cut off in their isolation from their friends, cut off in their isolation from the outside world and cut off in their isolation even from each other. Ashenafi fell ill two weeks later. To heighten the stress, loud construction noises filled the apartment complex all day, every day! For a total of six weeks, the family was isolated.
"I saw Jesus and how Jesus would love us." Hiwot Tesfaye
Tim Reimer, pastor at Danforth Mennonite Church, Brian Quan, pastor at Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, and other Toronto MCEC pastors soon began to hear of Ashenafi and Hiwot’s needs. Sandy Yuen, member at Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, quickly stepped in to organize a response. “I think it is amazing that front line workers are risking their lives,” says Sandy. “I really am grateful for people like Hiwot for caring for the elders and the people who are sick in our community during this time.” Sandy developed a spreadsheet and the Toronto area MCEC congregations began to respond. “We just tried to juggle people’s availability with the needs of Pastor Ashenafi’s family,” she said. “We knew that we had to help in some way. Everyone chipped in.”
The community of care surrounding Ashenafi and Hiwot began to grow. The GTA congregations gathered food, games, books and money for Ashenafi and Hiwot’s family as they remained in isolation. Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church was also able to use funds from the Spirit of Mennonite Disaster Service Fund.
"I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was in prison and you came to me and visited me." Matthew 25:35-36
“Through this I’ve learned real love. I saw Jesus and how Jesus would love us,” says Hiwot. “They stood with us in this difficult time. Each morning Pastor Tim texted me a verse to encourage me. Pastor Brian and Sandy brought us food.”
Hiwot continues, “A day I will never forget is when Sandy phoned and asked what kind of food she could bring as opposed to bringing only Canadian food from the grocery store. I told her that we love injera (an Ethiopian bread). She went to an Ethiopian restaurant and bought injera! We had enough for a week! It was wonderful.”
Pastor Ashenafi reflects, “Jesus said ‘I was hungry and you gave my something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was in prison and you came to me and visited me.’ I learned what this truly meant from the people who cared for us.”
“They showed us real love.” says Hiwot. “It’s not about skin colour or race - whether we are Ethiopian, Chinese, Spanish, English or Tamil. We are one in Christ. I can’t find the words in English to express how I feel! God bless all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you so much for your care and prayers. We really appreciate you all.”