The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are working in Ethiopia in Gujji zone of Oromia Regional State, 410 kilometres to the south of Addis Ababa on the main road to the town of Negelle Borana in the south of Ethiopia. It has an altitude of 2,670 metres above sea level. It is quite cold but we enjoy heavy rainfall for seven months of the year.

The Gujji Oromos are mainly illiterate pastorals, living in scattered groups of huts in the dense forest. Recently, however, they have started to plant some corn, wheat and grain. At present we are six sisters Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Three of us are involved in the medical care of the people, two sisters are involved in education, in a primary school, kindergarten, public library and a typing class and another sister is involved in women’s promotion and rehabilitation polio girls.

I have been here nine years and when I arrived here the kindergarten was already existing as a nutrition nursery group. In the year 2000 we initiated a change in the orientation of this group from nutrition nursery into a kindergarten. We initially started formal sessions in a small hut. Now, with the help of our Catholic Church of Awassa Diocese we have moved into a cement block building with three classes, an office, a library with a reading class, a store and recently we built a primary school. Our school was surrounded by a bamboo fence already rotten but two months ago, we received a very nice donation from Mission Fund, Triq il-Farinal, Mosta and now we can change the bamboo fence to an iron fence around the school.

My dear Maltese brothers and sisters, we want to encourage you to continue to collect used stamps, used telecards and donations with which you could help us Maltese missionaries in the Third countries.

We thank you very much for your generous help while be sure that you are all remembered in our daily prayers.

Sr Victoria Vassall

Ethiopia