Mariam Tutoring Center

We had another successful semester at Mariam Church Tutoring Center in DC. We have committed to volunteer as tutors at their Saturday Program. All the tutors have a higher education degree, tutoring in Science, Mathematics, English, and Reading Comprehension. Most of the learning is during homework help time, then they have a 45 minute break and snack time, which the parents organize.

We have a few outings in the summer and there is a spelling bee program that will continue for those who want to participate.They had such a good time on the last day. I made sure to take a few pictures of the activities and conversations.

 

 

 

 

There Can Only Be One

The team for The Ethiopian Foundation will be choosing the new scholarship recipient on Saturday, June 23, 2012. This will be our second year of candidates who wrote beautiful and inspiring personal letters with high level GPA's. This will be no easy task, but there can only be one.

I have written a letter to inform all candidates who will not be approved. It will have to be delicate but encouraging to other great available opportunities. I have been rejected a few times from academic programs and scholarships. So I think I know what would be the "needed" thing to say. If they are as ambitious as I was, they will not give up that easily.

For the recipient who is chosen, we will set up a meeting to meet them and their family. I don't think this is done with most foundations. It will be another exciting time. We are also working on more funding. If you want to give, you may send a check or money order to The Ethiopian Foundation P.O. Box 2331, Fairfax, VA 22031. 

Thanks for your continued support. We will include you on our Wall of Contributors to the Right of this page, unless otherwise requested.

Buy Rocks for the African Children

Dear, people

Please buy these rocks becuse i will give the african people to get money they do not have jobs, clean water, and food please help them they need sweets and vegetables. 

Two weeks ago, my 1st grader, Iyasu, was outside with a friend gathering rocks. He came inside looking to make a sign so that he could sell rocks to the neighbors for the children of Ethiopia. (He still remembers the trip from two years ago). Who was I to stop him.

Last night he said, "Mama, we need toner for the printer". I told him I'd buy some this weekend. I was distracted and forgot to ask him why. This morning I went to check on the printer, opening the top of the printer, a sheet of paper falls to the ground, with this letter, written in pencil.

I froze and laughed and became serious and introspective and awed by my son's heart for those less fortunate than himself. I can't wait to show his father. Now my son has me thinking, what levels will I go to meet the needs of people here and abroad?

Protest

This is a tough subject. To protest or not to protest. We as a nation feel pretty strongly about our rights being observed and recognized.

 Some would look at these pictures and say how noble and timely, to fight for Ethiopia from a prominent country.

  Others who know the reason for the protest may be against it as tension exists from the past.

 This was the scene as Ethiopians trickled from a trip to The Capital, energized from protesting with other Ethiopians, statewide.

 As they dispersed, these are the photos left of hopeful expectations of a shadow demonstration.

Petrina

A Dying Man's Last Words

How important is a man's last words? What if they are your last words? How important would they be and how would you want them valued? What is heaviest on our hearts is what will be spoken on our lips.

Many celebrated this past Sunday as Easter, the day Jesus died. One of his last words to Peter in John 21 was to take care of his sheep. In another gospel he asked for his mother to be taken care of and for her to take care of John. The night he was to die, he washed the disciples feet before the last dinner, to teach them that this is what we should do for each other.

Once he is gone, he commissioned them in Matthew 28 to continue his teaching with those who do not know. It was important for Jesus to get the message across even in the mist of death, for us to care for one another. For those we know and those we do not know. This is what made his teachings radical. It causes us to go outside of ourselves or inside of ourselves, to a deep place where we do not always go.

Let's continue to honor him and his teachings.

Give Me Your Eyes-Brandon Heath

I have been looking for this video for 2 years. I could not remember the name of the song until it played on family radio in the car today. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers.

Loving Cookies & Loving Life

This should be in a fortune cookie as it struck a cord in me when my 9 year old son made the statement before going to bed:

"Those Who Love Cookies, Loves Life."

It took some time before I understood the depth of this simple childlike saying. Cookies for him meant the advantages or enjoyments or elements or things life has to offer. Things that are for our enrichment or meant for us to enjoy. Cookies is the ideal in his world at this time. What is your current "Cookie"? Is it your job? Is it your children? Is it your parents? Is it someone who has supported you? Is it a good meal? Is it paid overtime? A new house? An "A" in a course you were taking?

We can go so much deeper with this but I think you get the idea. Life is about enjoying the things around you and being grateful for them. Don't take them for granted. All the good in our life is sweet and again, enjoyable. Loving your life is about loving everything in it, including yourself. Appreciate everything you have. Savor it. In so doing, you'll find, you love life.

*Inspired by my 9 year old MMY