Greetings ROTOM Ethiopia families,
We are delighted to share joyful news with you about our senior Jemanesh Tufa, a 68-year-old mother residing with two mentally-ill children 
who have faced numerous challenges in life. They have experienced the hardships of sleeping on bare ground and living in a very tiny, collapsed house. With the support of our generous donor, Chad Wehner and his family, ROTOM Ethiopia and many kind people we were able to rebuild a new house for her.
These are her blessings said with tears, “I have seen suffering. I lived and didn’t die to see this. I have become equal to humans. I won’t regret even if I die. My hut that no one can enter has received guests today. I am so happy that I am not dying. My children, may God give you glory, may your offspring flourish, may he give you long life and luck. Even if my flesh is dead, my bones will bless you.”
“So many blessings filled with tears. There have been countless emotional moments such as this, which have ignited the reason why ROTOM Ethiopia exists,” says Hawi ROTOM Ethiopia’s executive director.
We have seen and heard this type of impact usually comes from witnessing this poverty firsthand. “Over the years I have come to the realization that I am blessed, to be a blessing. It’s important that we do what we can, when we can. Sometimes waiting for the perfect opportunity may never come. Act when you see an opportunity and it will become the perfect time. I was compelled to help after visiting her home,” says Chad, U.S. senior friendship sponsor to Jemanesh who had the opportunity to visit Ethiopia several times, and also to visit many other seniors and help in different ways.
“I feel that ROTOM is very important to the elderly in some of the other countries as they do not have governmental assistance on a level that will actually support their housing, health, and most importantly spiritual needs,” he says. We are very grateful for your valuable contributions and the honor it brings. We thank the Bishoftu City Administration. And, we are so very thankful to our donors for supporting us.
