Ethiopia – February 2024 Newsletter Article

Greetings dear family and friends U4A,

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the partnership and collaboration we shared in the ministry last year. Together, we were able to make a significant impact in our communities and beyond.

Throughout the past year, our joint efforts in our mission work have touched the lives of many individuals & communities, providing them with hope, support, and the love of Christ. Through various outreach programs, community-based projects, and initiatives, we have witnessed lives transformed and hearts touched by the power of God’s love.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each of you for your dedication, commitment, and passion in serving alongside us. Your unwavering support and willingness to go above and beyond have been instrumental in the success of our shared mission last year.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities that lie before us in this new year. I believe that together, we can continue to make a lasting impact in our communities & nations and fulfill the call to spread the Gospel message and help them so that they will be empowered to transform their own lives and communities in wholistic ways according to our mission & vision of Unite 4 Africa. Our partnership has proven to be a powerful force for good, and I am confident that as we join hands once again, we will see even greater things accomplished.

The followings are few selected stories from last year that I am sharing with you so that you will see the glimpse of what God is doing among us and you can join us to praise Him for His great work.

1. Empowering Teenage and Young School Girls

Empowering teenage and young school girls is one of our programs among many other. We empower them through education, train them with various life skills and provide them dignity pads.

 

Teaching & Training

My wife Addiskidan Derib visited our Wonjishowa school and she trained more than 50 school girls about the value of life, the true identity and the importance of having a purposeful life. She also has conducted a number of counseling and healing sessions with many of them and mentored and coached them in various life issues.

Providing Dignity Pads

She also has given out Dignity Pads for more than 50 school girls in Wonjishowa. According to her report; one school girl approached her with tears and said to her that last year when she was in the 6th grade, she decided to drop from the school due to the shame she experienced because of not having a chance to use Dignity Pads. She was even absent for 2 weeks from the school. But, as a result of this Empowerment project, she resumed her schooling and she is thankful to God. Currently, she is a student in grade 7 and she doing well in her schooling. We thank God!!!

 

Joyful School girls

2. Launching Christian Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs Meeting and Training in Adama/Nazareth/.

This is one of our programs to empower our Christian Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs. We selected 15 key business leaders in Adama and launched this 7-week training called ‘How to Start a Sustainable and Effective business.’

Training Session

We are receiving very encouraging testimonies about this training from the participants. Most of them are saying that this training helps our business people by giving them knowledge and skill of how to do business in God’s way. Currently, they are taking the 4th lessons according to the design of the training.

3. Praise and Prayer items

• Praise God for all our young generation in all our schools for their hunger for God.
• Pray for all our schools and young people that God would continue empowering them through various ways so that they will be equipped.
• Pray for our business people that God would use them for His glory and impact our communities.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Africa & Ethiopia director of U4A