Barbara Bush

Barbara Bush, our President's daughter, spent Mother's Day in Yetebon. She toured the hospital; the kindergarten and child care center, where I am the Director; met with grades 1-10 students; had lunch with her 20+ escorts and our Project Mercy staff in our dining room; toured the children's dorm, the gardens, the skill building programs (handcrafts, welding, carpentry, concrete block manufacturing), dairy, and new dorm which is under construction (she was so at ease walking up the scaffolding made of thin eucalyptus tree trunks to the second floor; which I have on video tape).

David took time to play a game of basketball with the children and it was the first time I had seen Marta and Deme relaxed in chairs outdoors.

It was a beautiful day and Barbara was so calm and friendly as she was hurried from one area to another. We had one incident where she and I got splashed with mud when we tried to leap over a wet ditch at the edge of the basketball court--those pictures will come later from Scott, who, as a journalist, is always ready with a camera.

Barbara is very compassionate about the basic needs of others and I think we will be hearing more about what she is doing to help wipe out hunger. Marta shared many Ethiopian success stories with her and Barbara never failed to tear up from hearing about the good that is changing the quality of life for the people in Yetebon.

I also video taped while Marta had her arm around a tall healthy student who started school here ten years ago when he had to be brought to school on his sister's back because he couldn't walk. Marta gave this child the first cow's milk he had ever had and though he didn't like it she taught him the importance of drinking it to make him strong. Today, because of his sister's kindness, their whole family lives and works on the P.M. compound and all three siblings are great students.

I am very fortunate to have met this young woman, Barbara Bush, who is reaching out to affect change. Pray for Barbara as she continues to become more aware of her potential as a child of God as she moves among the hungry populations of the world.