EAVO Fundraiser Success!

EAVO raised over $5,000 for relief in East Africa and received many more monthly pledges. ənkwan däs aläsh (I hope that is right :)!

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?

Whether your read it or watched it on film, we all remember the vivid scene when Oliver Twist asks for more mush, don't we?

Well, I am asking for more. Not for me, but for the other teacher. I want to thank all of those who gave; I can't thank you enough. I am close to having all I need to go.

But, in order to tutor 50 Ethiopian students we need to send another teacher. The plan is to tutor 100 Ethiopian students so they can pass their English exam and continue their education. The children of Masha have come to look forward to this tutorial and it would be a shame if we could only educate 50 kids, or even worse, cancel the trip all together.

So I am asking for more. The most expedient method is to donate through www.servealongside.org and be sure to select English for Ethiopia. You can contact me by email after that stating that you gave to the other teacher, MaryJane. I will make sure to inform the accountant that it is for her trip.

Amesegenalihu

Fellowship, Food, and Family

What a wonderful time had by all at today's fundraiser for EAVO. My wife, children, and several friends and team members from Fremont attended an all-Amharic church service.

I could not understand the language but it was nearly unnecessary as one could feel the Spirit of God and the spirit of the people. As one of the guests said, "It feels like home." I agree!

Bumped into Khalid, a former student of mine. She will be in Addis same time as the team.

I'm so grateful to be a part of this project and to be so welcomed in the Ethiopian community.

Don't Forget!!

Message from Seifu Ibssa

"Hello friends,

Just a quick reminder that our planned lunch fund-raiser lunch that we talked about during our last meeting will be held this coming Sunday May 25th at Ethiopian Christian Fellowship in Sacramento. The Amharic service will begin at 11 AM, followed by East African Village Outreach (EAVO) reports, inception in 2005 through current. Valet parking will be provided at no cost to you. Lunch for a delicious Ethiopian dish is only $10. The church located at 7201 Florin Road, Sacramento CA 95828 (between Stockton Blvd and Power Inn Road). Any questions, please let me know."

Ethiopian Christian Fellowship

New Ethiopia Partners

I finally shared with my peers at work and gathered much interest and even a new donation. One of my student's parents gave a nice donation as well.

One of my fellow teachers wants to go next year and the other in a couple of years.

Pray for Rain

How sad to have to bring your attention to news like this. Sadly, Ethiopia is still one of the countries of the world that largely depends on the course of the seasons. Please pray for the people and for much rain this summer.

Hat tip: Douglas Kennedy

Shoe Shine Girl?

In a city loaded with dust or mud one would expect that people would not care about their shoes, after all they would just get dirty again. But Addis Abeba is pretty well know for it's shoe shine boys. I found a BBC story here about a shoe shine girl.

I think the choice quote from the essay is, "Meskerem uses some of the money she earns to pay her school fees - of 15 birr ($1.65) a month. 'I had to go to school because I want to get knowledge - knowledge is how you become somebody,' she says. She hopes to become a teacher one day."

I have been told that most of the students in Ethiopia possess the same kind of attitude as Meskerem.