March 30, 2007

Dear Friends,

We’d like to introduce you to the Western Wollega Bethel Synod’s other educational institution in Dembi Dollo—Berhane Yesus Elementary School (BYES). Berhane Yesus translates as “Light of Jesus,” and you can see His light at the school in the hope and dedication of the students and the commitment of the staff to education within a Christian context.

In a way, BYES is a part of Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS), since students who graduate from BYES gain admission into BESS. In fact, BESS actually began as “Berhane Yesus School” in 1921 through the work of Presbyterian mission before it became a separate enterprise in 1962 for grades 7-12. In 2003, an organization called "A Glimmer of Hope" built a new campus for BYES—a number of beautiful new buildings on a hillside across from the Synod compound.

BYES has approximately 620 students in grades 1 through 8 and a dedicated staff of 13 teachers and 6 support staff. For the last two years, the director of BYES has been Amanuel Tesfaye, himself a graduate of Berhane Yesus and BESS. He writes,

I am proud of working at my former school, which God has placed in the corner of Western Ethiopia for poor people living here. The community around Dembi Dollo has received much benefit from the school. Berhane Yesus is the leading school in the area in its academic performance with a well equipped laboratory and library. I feel great joy working at my former school and for my society. Due to deeply committed, qualified teachers, especially from grades 5-8, the demand for the school is more than the capacity of the school. All the activities of the school are operated with God’s guidance and care, as we have devotions every morning. Berhane Yesus is a place where we shape kids in the right track. Since all of the staff members are working for the benefit of our community, we feel great joy and comfort. We gladly welcome anyone who wants to know more about Berhane Yesus.

Amanuel’s email address is amane1ta@yahoo.com. He would love to hear from any of you.

Because of high demand, class size has been high, limiting opportunities for individual teacher-student interaction. To ensure quality education, beginning in the 2005-06 school year, first-grade enrollment was limited to 60 students per class. This is one of the ways that the director is trying to improve the quality of education at BYES.

One of the greatest needs is to get a native-English speaking English teacher at BYES. If you know anyone that may be interested to volunteer a year to teach English here, please email both Amanuel Tesfaye and David Reed (clerk of the Ethiopia Education Endowment Fund) at dreed@ethioeddow.org. They can tell you about the position, the living arrangements, and the community.

A much simpler thing the school is organizing now is a nursing station to aid with the many cuts and bruises the students manage to get each week. The physical education teacher, Mekonnen Tefera, has designated a small office to be used as a nursing station. It has a sink, a few chairs, and a cabinet with some basic first aid supplies. If you are interested in making a donation to this effort, Mr. Mekonnen has put together a list of materials necessary to finish this first aid station and to provide a one-year supply of materials. These include a mattress, a large bottle of iodine, rolls of gauze bandage, sterilized cotton, plaster for cuts and splints, a large bottle of antacid for gastritis, tetracycline ointment for eyes, acetaminophen syrup for children’s headaches, and a bottle of antibiotic ointment.

This totals $83.69, and all of these materials can be purchased locally. I included this because I thought it could be an easy way for a youth group or mission committee to raise a small amount of funds to help out a good effort, and a good way to begin a relationship with this great school. Contributions from individuals may be sent to

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
PO Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Contributions from churches should be sent to the normal receiving site or:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Church Remittance Processing
PO Box 643678
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3678

Write the title (BYES) and the ECO number on the subject line (E051836) of the check. To give online, use the button below:

BYES is also currently preparing its first ever newsletter, which will contain articles from the director, teachers and students. If you are interested to receive a copy of this newsletter once it is finished, please email Amanuel or myself.

Family news

We just said goodbye to Janelle’s parents, who left Addis Ababa last Wednesday after spending three weeks with us. Sharing prayer times, meal times, busy times, and relaxed times with our loved ones is such a blessing! We had a great time involving them in our busy lives in Dembi Dollo, and we made a wonderful trip to Nechisar National Park to see zebra, gazelle, dik-dik, baboons, hippos, and enormous crocodiles. I couldn’t believe the size of one crocodile, about 20 feet from nose to tail! Now, we are glad to be back to our normal schedules in Dembi Dollo and as a family.

Janelle and Mike McCarty

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 329