Archdeacon Christopher and Rev Anne Futcher made their second visit to Aden, an important outpost of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, in February.
For Christopher, this had been part of a joint research project with a Mission to Seafarers representative, Raeid, from Aqaba to explore the possibility of establishing a new joint post that would see an Anglican Chaplain in Aden for the first time in several years. However, post-Synod covid meant that their visits no longer coincided, though it is hoped to make progress with the appointment.
Throughout the time of war, the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic in Aden has continued to function. It is run for Yemeni local people by Yemeni people, happy and proud to serve under a Christian auspice, and all overseen by the indomitable Mansour. Now there are hopeful signs that peace might return and some new strategic planning is afoot.
At present there are more eye clinics in Aden than before, though the church clinic does have a loyal following, but there is capacity for expansion and diversifying. The Ministry of Health is using part of the premises for a children’s vaccination project but much more is possible. Following a meeting with all the staff, a number of possibilities were identified.
- The clinic does have a piece of equipment that none of the current staff is qualified to use. So an early priority is to arrange training in India for one of the doctors, to increase the efficiency of on-site treatment.
- A doctor and technician team could do school visits for eye examinations, and teaching opportunities about eye care.
- The clinic does have an ultrasound machine from an earlier time, and pre-natal visits could be resumed.
- There is a perceived need for teaching about nutrition for children, and lots of unused space that could be used for that and other teaching purposes.
- A programme for literacy is a real and useful possibility
- An outreach programme for refugees could be reactivated.
- Funding has been achieved from TEC (The Episcopal Church of America) for a three-year Medical Director post, and there is discussion about whether it would be more useful to have an ophthalmologist or a paediatrician.
Christ Church is the oldest Anglican church in the Diocese (it celebrated a centenary in 1963) and that is where all current activity is based.
Meanwhile Anne had her eye on a new project at a disused church (generally agreed to belong to the Anglican Church) at the fishing community of Salah-Al-Din. All Saints was built near the British military base of Falaise and was known as All Saints Little Aden when it was dedicated in 1965. Following the abandonment of Aden by the British in 1967, it became squat accommodation, and is currently in a sad state of disrepair. An estimated $20,000 is needed to restore it to a useful purpose. There is potential donor interest, and it is hoped that JEMT might want to be involved. Anne’s vision, which is shared by a local NGO (who would staff the project) is for a centre for women that could both enhance their economic and social prospects through literacy teaching and that could also be a place to establish a sewing industry that would lift them out of survival mode to a fuller life.
Christopher and Anne speak passionately about the future. They are nonplussed that this is not a project to benefit Christians.
We are at our worst as a Church when we police our boundaries, in the Old Testament even, there was special attention drawn to the needs of widows orphans and foreigners.
Archdeacon Christopher
Anne believes it to be self-evident that Christians are called to offer loving service in response to human need, wherever it is found. Aden is, for both of them, a good example of how a ministry of mercy and compassion can operate in a diverse world.