Dear Tirunesh and Family,
Thank you for welcoming me in with open arms. Thank you for all the fun times on your mat and feeling the freedom to come and sit in the silence with you. I love your smile. I know that I tried to tell you about my mom and how much you remind me of her. Seriously, you are both amazing women of God. You both hold such a gentle spirit about you and both have smiles that can welcome a room full of people and every one can feel chosen. You are both brave and firm in your faith. I know you both have gone through a lot. Tirunesh I don’t want you to ever doubt your worth or the love that the Father has for you. You are so important in the Kingdom of God because you love your kids so well. Remember when we sat and talked about how similar you and my mom were since you both have five kids. You repeated the names of my siblings, Cayla, Samuel, Victoria, David and Rebecca, while I listed your amazing children, Meskerem, Derege, Tashala, Sintu, and Melese. I remember celebrating Melese’s ‘happy birthday’ and the joy that we shared while eating barley bread, sipping barley tea, and munching barley nuts. Barley has become one of my new favorite grains by the way. Do you remember the one time that we sat on the mat while little Derege and Meleses jumped on me? Little Derege had just oofooed* and we thought it was so funny. I just wanted you to know how thankful I am to know you and your family. I love you a lot and I wanted to say thank you for welcoming me in like Jesus would. You are beautiful and carry the spirit of God inside of you. Keep pressing on to goal of Christ because he holds a great reward for you. I hope to see you again.
love ,
Victoria ‘Vickilious,’ Vicki,’ ‘Bistoria,’ Schafer
*oofoo is fart in Aromo
