This is an ear

January 16, 2008

I am truly enjoying my work here in Hosanna, Ethiopia and took a short mission trip to the SW region of Ethiopia
to work with the Mursi Tribe in Makki which are people who look like they may have stepped out of the pages
of a 1955 National Georgraphic. It was a privilege to help tutor the students in English (their very first school of
only 4 years) and to help the missionary families

The next term begins on Monday and I look forward to seeing my students who will be returning.
Presently, I am working on the unfinished new guest house which is my home for now here at the Kale Heywet (Word of Life)
Bible college.

Report from Hosanna, Ethiopia

This is my first month on the faculty at the Kale Heywet (Word of Life) Bible College where I am teach 58 pastors and
evangelists English. It is an humbling experience. When we were having a discussion about the difference in the
English words: "want" and "need" I asked each student to tell
one thing he needed. The responses were, "I need to spread the gospel," "I need to study my Bible more," and " I
need to pray more." (some spend 3 - 4 hours a day in prayer).
When I asked the students what they "wanted" I got the same responses with exception of "I want to go to America."

One of the students was given the opportunity to be given a visa to the U.S., recently, and was then denied because
he had made a simple mistake on the application. He is, of course, extremely disappointed----It seems to be the
most important possibility in the lives of many Ethiopians.

It is extremely dry and water is scarce. I can see the children and women from my kitchen window as they fill their
their containers at the well pump. Many have a long distance to walk to their homes. I keep my bath water in the
tub to use for mopping floors and rinseing the dust off the car. I am trying to set up a water filter that had to be
assembled by hand and can't seem to keep it from leaking---even while using plumbers tape.

Challenges are difficult but all is relative and compared with the local people I live in a palace. I feel, at times, that
it is a glass palace. I am the only white person I have seen in Hosanna since I arrived. Children are extremely
curious about me and young people seeking opportunities to improve their English often approach me and ask
many questions. I am just as eager to help them learn. Just now there is a 7th grader sitting next to me in this
internet cafe who is working on the computer and practicing his English with me. He is quite smart and tells me
he is the first in his family to attend school. This is the youngest person I have observed using a computer here.

I have two chairs in my house; so, have used my footlockers for guests who have come from Yetebon to visit.
I would love to find a spatula and will continue looking (all of my utensils, etc. are still on the shipping schedule
at Project Mercy; and even getting those is uncertain).

I heard something in the trash the other night and peered out my bedroom window and there stood a big hyena
just 10 feet from the window. I am not at all afraid, though at this time I am the only one living in the guest house.
All of the windows have bars so close together I can't bet my fist through them. If someone locked me in there
would be no way to excape, so I am very careful with keys.

I am so blessed with good health and manage to do my own cooking. I used my only box of Jiffy Cornbread
mix last night and it was sooooo good. Never mind, I do know how to make it from scratch. The guests did
not like the Jello they tried for the first time.

I will start on the KG program in a few weeks.

May God bless you all in this New Year!,
Dee Donalson