March Newsletter
This could be you
Since our last time writing to you we’ve been occupied
with hosting two groups of volunteers who were here for four weeks
altogether. Therefore, we’ve been thinking a great deal
about how to help visitors and volunteers come and have a meaningful
time here in Dembi Dollo.
Have you considered traveling to Ethiopia? We would like to extend
our own open arms of welcome as well as the welcoming arms of
our Ethiopian friends, neighbors, and students here in Dembi Dollo.
Here are some reasons to come here and broaden your horizons,
serve others, deepen your faith in the Lord, and have a tremendous
experience at the same time.
You could come as a volunteer to teach English for a year, for
a month, for a week. Colleen Rogers, the only other American in
town, has been teaching English here at Bethel Evangelical Secondary
School (BESS) since September. Presently she is making a huge
impact on 248 students! She has been able to teach many grammatical
rules for the English language, how to be an honest student, and
how to understand the crazy “Minnesotan” accent.
If you came to teach for a year you would need a basic teaching
certificate and a willing spirit. It would be a great experience,
with new friendships, a furnished home with running water, electricity,
and a beautiful view. You would work with a good staff, share
your understanding of the English language with students who really
need you, listen to daily spiritual instruction (once you can
understand the language); you could even eat your meals at the
Eating Club, and enjoy pleasant warm weather year-round (but not
too hot either).
If a full year is not your cup of tea or coffee (did we mention
the excellent local coffee here?) then consider coming for a short
one-week language teaching opportunity. The income generated from
your teaching could be donated to the school as a way to help
with the ever-increasing expenses of this privately run school.
We have an idea floating through our minds of organizing a group
to come to teach both language skills and computer skills in a
one- or two-week course. This would give students the chance to
learn important computer skills while also practicing their English.
We’ll keep you posted on this idea. Just keep in mind that
this could be you!
The groups who were here recently worked with generous hearts
on the construction of the first-ever dorm for women at the Gidada
Bible School. They stayed in the comfortable guesthouses next
to our house here at BESS, and they received delicious cooking
from excellent Oromo cooks and sometimes from us. They also were
able to participate in a few local parties, such as Pastor Dheresa’s
wedding and an end-of-semester party here at BESS. We would like
to extend heartfelt thanks to all who worked on these teams and
who supported these teams. Your gifts and time to the school,
to the community, and to us were very generous and greatly appreciated.
The time and energy you gave spoke to our hearts as well as the
hearts of many, many others here. Also, thank you for bearing
with us as we learned a great deal about how to host groups.
This too could be you! In about two years the EEEF (Ethiopian
Education Endowment Fund) Development Committee hopes to plan
another project to work on in the schools of Dembi Dollo and you
could easily join this endeavor. Have a look at the EEEF's
Web site to get into contact with this active and generous
group and to get more details.
Another option always open to you is to visit us here at BESS
for the sake of just a visit. We’d love to see you and show
you around our area. We’d take you to the market to see
the colorful foods, to the nearby waterfall, to the lake and also
on a bird watching walk through the countryside. You would be
able to relax in a guesthouse near our home and warm yourself
in the sun daily. And hopefully, in the midst of those tourist
activities, you would get a chance to see all of the wonderful
things the Synod here is doing in evangelism as well as development
work with a Christ-centered focus. Carolee would also do her best
to entertain you every chance that she gets. All in all, you would
have a wonderful time and this, too, could be you!
Jokes from our family to yours
Carolee’s word for her favorite blanket has evolved throughout
our time here from “baby” to “monkey”
to “market,” and most lately to “maggot”!
We don’t think it resembles a maggot, but that is her way
to tackle the “bl” blend and the “nk”
blend in "blanket."
Here’s a quote from Mike, “It’s more fun to
go to the market than the grocery store because you never know
what you’re gonna find!”
In class the other day, I was working on teaching quantity words.
One sentence in our text was, “Did you see a lot of traffic
on your way here?” I asked the class this question. They
replied, “Yes.” “So, Amanuel, how many cars
did you see this morning?” (He walks for about 25 minutes
to get here.) “Two,” was his answer. This is the life
in Dembi Dollo!
Great news
We now have a phone and Internet access in our home! Our new
number is: 011 251 57 555 1611. Those are exactly the numbers
you dial from the United States or Canada, but be sure to check
with your long distance provider first, since it could be very
expensive. Also, there are good calling cards out there where
you can get phone time to Africa for much cheaper.
Prayer requests
- Peace and stability in Ethiopia.
- Good health for teachers, staff and students.
- Continued strength in the academic program at BESS.
- Continued spiritual growth among staff and students through
the chapel program.
- Financial needs of the school to be met.
- Staffing needs of the school to be met.
Thanksgiving for our health, our phone, peace at BESS, God’s
presence among the people here and with you.
Peace to you,
Janelle and Mike (and Carolee)
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 330
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