Ethiopia - Giving drink to the thirsty: an interview with Fr Filippo Perin

(ANS - Gambella)- Here is an interview by Chiara Succol for the website of the Salesian Youth Movement of Triveneto, with Fr Filippo Perin who left for the mission of Gambella in Ethiopia in 2008. He works in the village of Pinyudo.

You were a Salesian in Italy for many years. What prompted you then to leave to become a missionary?

I spent about 14 years as a Salesian in Italy, but then one day I heard a missionary talking about his life, and I wondered if that could also be my life.. Then I had different experiences during the summer, (...) and so one day they sent me to Ethiopia.

What are the best things about Ethiopia?

It is very difficult to describe a whole country with its people in a few lines. Certainly there are lots of good things: the welcome of the people and especially that of the missionaries is fabulous. The desire to know, meet, become friends, respect and dignity that is in every person, and then that humanity especially of the poor that enters your heart whenever you're with them.

And the most difficult?

The situation of poverty that is here in the village and especially the refugee camp where I go every Sunday to say Mass in different little chapels that we have, it always requires attention, readiness to give or  to resolve situations, and to listen to the people.

In Ethiopia the problem of drinking water is very serious. What are you doing to help people to have access to this precious commodity?

Along with many friends from Italy who help us and our Bishop Abba Angelo, we try to make 4 or 5 new wells every year. (...). We always try to combine the construction of a chapel with the construction of a well for drinking water. We link prayer with helping people in their daily lives. In August we inaugurated a new well in Pinyudo and we have chosen Olaw as the village where we will make the next one.​

Giving drink to the thirsty. What does this work of mercy mean for you in your life?

It means living on the edge of the world, where the road ends and with it all the amenities we are used to. Pinyudo does not exist on any map. It means living with the people of the village who are very poor and living alongside two great refugee camps.  Every day, every moment is spent giving drink to the thirsty. Every day many people ask for water, food, clothing, medicine, a lift in the car, materials to build a home, shoes, money, friendship and trust. At every moment there is someone reaching out to you, and at every moment you encounter Jesus in the midst of these people. We do not do miracles or great things, but every day we go out to every person, trying to give water in all directions to the very poor, those that nobody talks about, people who mysteriously have nothing attractive in any way to anybody’s eyes.

Pope Francis has announced the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. What does Mercy mean for you?

On Sunday 29 November, the Pope opened the door of the Great Jubilee of Mercy in Bangui. He started from Africa, because I think we really need to show more mercy. We have already translated many documents of the Pope into everyday language. Mercy is translated as: good-hearted, compassionate, warm, deep. This is the Jubilee of Mercy. It is above all a matter of the heart, of a good heart (...).

Tell us some episode in Ethiopia where you have seen in practice the Merciful Face of the Father.

I don’t think there are any glaring examples here. The life of the poor people is always the same and never makes the news, but the presence of God is visible especially in women, who work tirelessly for the children, caring for the house, carrying water, preparing food and many other occupations. It is present also in the joy of the children. Even if they have nothing, really nothing, they are always happy. You see the face of God also in the fidelity of so many men, who instead of giving up because there is no work, no future, or because of the heat, remain faithful to the family and the children. You see God present in this life on the edge of poverty, in the peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups, and between different religions. Here is the face of God. All of life is an opportunity to show God’s Face to the world.

Published 22/12/2015