1. Spitting in the Ocean – by Jim Reese
“Africa - Hah! That’s like spitting in the ocean - it won’t make a difference what you do” replied a Brit to Lana after she explained what we were doing as we traveled to Addis Ababa (this was prior to meeting Seifu and the beginning of EAVO).
We then met Seifu and traveled with him and others in our group for a couple of weeks culminating in an overnight stay in his boyhood village in the Gurage Highlands. What we saw not only changed our lives, but Seifu’s as well. When we returned, Lana and I had two choices - turn our backs and do nothing or - do something.
A few weeks later Seifu had sold his second car and was having a car wash fundraiser at his Church to cap a small
spring. This was the same spring that Seifu fetched water decades before when he was an unschooled shepherd boy. It was still being used by his relatives as well as neighboring families living in huts and farming the land. Capping the spring
and building a holding tank would provide a steady supply of safe water for “the neighborhood”.
We assisted at the car wash for a while before Lana took Seifu inside the Church and asked a few questions before she said “Seifu, we decided that we are going to “spit in the ocean”. That little spring was the beginning of an amazing twenty years that we never could have imagined at the beginning. We had a couple of slogans we used in our early brochures: one of which was “Making A Difference”. Contrary to what our Brit friend said: We did make a difference - and by “WE” that means you and your trust, support, and encouragement over the last two decades.
A sign for local beer availability a side income for a family
For a little “mom and pop” organization, amazing things were accomplished in both Ethiopia and Kenya over these last twenty years and counting. Yeah - a mere drop in the bucket, but like the boy replied to the man as he was throwing another stranded starfish back into the sea, “ it made a difference to that one”. (The Starfish Story) It was a pleasure to work with a loyal, wise and committed Board over these many years. We navigated through ups and downs which were always challenging but always rewarding. Major and minor water projects, clinics, schools built, evangelists hired, latrines built,
Worknesh and a young high schooler with amputated arm
programs to keep girls in school, churches built, education beyond the 8th grade and through college made up most of our ministry programs. But my favorites were with individuals like the bent lady, the poor farmer, Tresi the girl crippled with rickets, the deaf boy, a tiny hut for the “homeless man”, the ragamuffin crosseyed boy, and Worknesh.
A local boy with cross eyes
She was one of the few girls in our first High School Program that begged us for a chance to get an education - homeless, an orphan, and unmarriageable because of a disability. She has been an exemplary head teacher since we opened the Lana Reese School in Adere village 12 years ago.
Jim Reese taking pictures at Endegagn Elementary where
EAVO built the school for the community
Jim and Lana with a young man whose hand was amputated
I observed Jim and Lana always showed so much care for the poor. (Seifu)
Gifts to our preschool, later named after Lana Reese School
dedicated preschool teacher with her beautiful smile
Jim and Lana checking on a student’s homework
2. Financial Statements (How We Spent Your Gifts): We are pleased to inform you that in the year 2024, EAVO received roughly $77,000 in donations. Less than 5% of that has been spent on Admin cost such as printing newsletters, postage and other miscellaneous items. No other overhead expenses, thus 95% of your gift goes to the beneficiaries.
3. A Bridge to Lana Reese School
The construction to build a bridge to Lana Reese school is making progress. The next phase is pouring cement over the rebar. We have wired funds to buy cement, sand and rocks. We will report back with its completion story. Thank you for
all your help on this project
Bridge to Lana Reese School under construction
4. Fundraising for Latrine at Edoy Elementary
Can you imagine sharing a Latrine with 4 or 5 others in the same room? That’s what Edoy school children are doing now. Edoy is a village in Ethiopia with an average annual income of $1,200 per year per household. They can’t afford to provide bathrooms for their children’s
A dangerous Latrine room used by 4-5 kids at a time.
school. We are raising funds to help alleviate this problem for the community’s children. Please send your gifts in the envelope provided. Mark your gift as “Latrine” on your check’s memo section. Thank you!
5. Mosquito Nets Distributed:
“We are pleased to inform you that we received the donation for purchasing and distributing treated mosquito bed nets to 69 new enrolled students” began
Samuel’s email, “we did the distribution today in the presence of parents, guardians ,and community village elders”. EAVO expresses its appreciation to all of our donors who made this life saving mosquito nets available to vulnerable children in Kisumu, Kenya.
6. Meet our new board members
Jim Reese, our cofounder and board member retired in September of last year, followed by Skip and Adele Ohs. All of them made significant contributions to the success of EAVO both in terms of their time and finances. We are grateful for their years of service and will miss them. Their leadership was second to none. Thank you, Jim, Skip and Adele! Replacing them are two wonderful friends of EAVO whose brief bio and pictures are shown below.
Rev. Jack McNary is an ordained Presbyterian minister who has served churches in Oregon and California. In 2000 he travelled to Ethiopia and preached at the dedication service of a new church in Masha, Ethiopia. He retired from Northminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento in January of 2023. Jack likes to spend time with friends and family; read, eat food (don’t we all! LOL) and travel. Rev. Jack was our first major donor even before EAVO was established. Rev. Jack will serve our board as Secretary. Please join me in welcoming Rev. Jack McNary.
Mr. Rob Colvin, CPA/MBA: Before his recent retirement, Rob was Director of Finance at the former NEC Electronics in Roseville, California. Rob and his wife Anne Colvin have two daughters and 3 grandchildren. Anne and Rob love traveling to Europe and to southern California whenever they have a chance. Rob gladly accepted our request to serve as a Treasurer of our small nonprofit organization, which he has been supporting from its inception. We are delighted to have
a knowledgeable finance guy in our Board. Please join me in welcoming Rob Colvin, my good friend and former boss at NEC Electronics.
Other Board Members:
1. Olana Aberra, MD., Chairman
2. Mrs. Mary Staples, Cofounder / board member
3. Aberra Damessa, Board Member
4. Seifu Ibssa, Cofounder / Exec. Director / Board Member
Mail your Tax-Deductible Gifts to: East African Village Outreach (EAVO)
9688 Ashstone Way Elk Grove, CA 95624
Or donate online at www.eavo.org
Thank you!