November 2007

Note from Dee: “I wrote this letter on Nov. 7th before returning to Ethiopia. I am still awaiting word on my Affiliate Application with CBF, a global mission organization that could serve as my “umbrella agency”. I will keep you posted on that development.”)

Please allow me this November 2007 to share with you what I have been thanking God for during this past year. Though I am back in Ethiopia and not celebrating the traditional Thanksgiving, I thank God for His second greatest gift: my friends and family.

Some of the special blessings I have experienced this past year include:

The opportunity to develop a relationship with an elder of my church in Yetebon, Ethiopia, as she taught me Amharic while teaching me how to weave a grass rug. But, even better, she taught me humility during the time we shared our faith as we met daily in her deteriorating grass hut with its dirt floor, a fire-ring for a stove, no electricity, and no running water.

The three boys in the village of Butajira with whom I developed a motherly relationship. Every time I would go to the village they would rush to my car to beg for coins and tell me how hungry they were. Eventually, they were coming to help me carry my computer bag or to take shoes to shine and held their hand out, not for money, but rather to hold one of my hands. Today, they are enrolled in school, have new uniforms, school supplies and two snacks each day.

The privilege of working with Project Mercy. For three years I had been working with the same eight teachers who are now sustaining the kindergarten we set up. God led us and blessed us with all the materials, methods, and strategies for making the curriculum not only developmentally appropriate but culturally appropriate, as well. He “shoed” the flies away and brought a healthy alertness and the energy needed for learning into the lives of 600+ children Many of these lambs came into His Kingdom through their Vacation Bible School experience.


The privilege of traveling back to Ethiopia to enter into the lives of students at a Bible College in Ethiopia. They will soon be joining the Lord’s army to take His light to other mission fields (the U.S., included); to the far corners of the world and to countries where American missionaries are not welcomed. God will equip them in many ways, including the universal language of English He will enable me to teach to them.

A better understanding of “Missions:” It is a Global Mission; God’s church as “the missionary to the World.” Walls have come down between denominations of Christ. As a result of all the searches of mission agencies I have done this year, I return to the field better equipped to work cooperatively and collectively with everyone who is helping make a change in the lives of those who are hungry, in poor health, naked, and homeless.

I am most grateful for those who pray for me, support my ministry, encourage me, challenge me, mentor me, and nurture me, as well as family who pay for transportation for me to visit my children and grandbaby, and insists on providing a time and place of rest The summer I spent in the US this year was longer than usual, while I waited for the guest house to be built at the Hosanna Kale Heywet Bible College. But, it was for a good reason to prepare my heart!

In His Service,

Dee Donalson

Hosanna

I am still in Addis Ababa waiting but using my time well to study, collect items needed for housekeeping, etc. Should be moving to Hosanna, Ethiopia the end of this week.


The house to the left is the guest house I will be living in when completed.
The buildings to the right are the new new residences for the married students.
All of the green is wheat and it will have turned golden when I arrive--hopefully at the end of this week and will be harvested soon afterwards.

Ethiopia Arrival Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am still holding out at the SIM (Sudan Inland Missions) guest house. It is a good to be in a place where I can have dialogue with other missionaries from not only Ethiopia but Kenya and Djibouti, as well. There is a UN worker from a Sudan refugee camp, two Bible translators, a retired missionary doctor and his wife who are now involved with several different programs (school for the blind, Bible colleges, etc.), a school director from Djibouti, and several families with children. I have always loved diversity and here it is in reality.

I had thought I'd hear something from CBF on Tuesday. Everyday I would eagerly check my email. Today is Friday and, to be honest, I am hesitant to check. I would be so happy to be affiliated with CBF but if it is God's will that it is not possible I will be thankful for what the application process taught me. I have a much broader view of what missions is in the 21st century is from being acquainted with their values and perspective. However, if I am not accepted I will pick up where I left off on applying with another missionary support organization.

Last night I went to the airport to meet friends flying in with a large group they were bringing from Denver, CO. Their flight was 4 hours late, which is not unusual. A more modern grocery store is not far from the airport so I spent the time, until they closed, combing the isles for supplies that would be helpful to have in Hosanna. It was difficult to find any packaged product with protein in it so I am thankful to Nancy Sampson for all the Green Protein powder she has given me. It will be well used, whether or not I like it.

As people arrived from their flights I observed the most beautifully embroidered black chiffon ankle length dresses with crepe fabric underneath. The chiffon floated as steps were taken by these tall, very straight Moslem women. It seemed to be in such contrast to the tight Capri cut jeans, low cut tight tops, and spike high heel shoes worn by the more westernized women waiting in the internationally mixed crowd.

I turned to find an available chair and who should I see sitting in the Sheraton Hotel waiting area but Deme taking a much needed snooze, I'm sure. I quietly sat down beside him and waited until he awakened. The greetings were as dear as usual and we had good conversation. We were the only two there to greet the team so he watched at one end of the two exits and I looked for them at the other exit. It was great to see Tammy and Noel
Cunningham, who had called me before leaving the US and told me the time of their arrival and invited me to have dinner with them at a famous Italian restaurant , Costelli's, tonight. Knowing how exhausted the team must have been after traveling for almost 24 hours, I made the greetings short but look forward to catching up with them tonight.
I had an e-mail from them a few days ago telling about their $25000.00 fund-raiser for
Project Mercy. It is the "Hope Bracelet Project" and the artist who travel here with the team teach the young people at P.M. how to make the glass beads and string them with sterling silver beads with one silver bead imprinted with "HOPE 07" and sold for $100 each.
While traveling home I was amused that shepherds in the city had their flocks out in the median of a major street to graze on the grass. Not much of that in this big city.

I got a great price on a stove for 253.50 USD and the next day I was in the same shop to
Purchase mini DV cassettes for the video camera while a customer was purchasing the same stove for 540.00 USD. We had been told when we purchased that the one we bought was the last available at that price. Once the price is set and duty is paid the merchants are not allowed to change the price; is what my supervisor explained. The price of the small refrigerator was 343.50 USD and when I went shopping at the grocery store last night I saw the same model for over 500.00 USD. It had obviously been shipped into the country much later. I am learning a totally new way of purchasing.

I will let you know as soon as I hear from CBF and will let you know when I have moved to Hosanna (when my resident's visa is renewed and when the house I am to live in is finished). Meanwhile, I am communicating with a language teacher who lives here and has published several teachers' manuals for teaching English specifically to Ethiopians.
These are good study and guidance materials which I will be using at the Bible College in Hosanna.

God has been good to provide: a smooth journey from Atlanta to Ethiopia, the protection I needed, the healing of sore throat within 24 hours, the nutrition needed, and a comfortable place to stay. I have only had problems sleeping; first, because of the loud music that goes on not far from my window until midnight. I thought was from a night club but Wed. night I recognized praise music we had sung over and over at Pastor
Kindeya's church when Pastor Barb was here.

Leaning on Him,
Dee Donalson