This year’s dehai retreat was another memorable one. It was great seeing everyone for the 7^th year. The usual loving and caring environment that had lingered amongst retreaters was once again evident at this retreat. I really enjoyed all the activities especially the early morning hike. It was a very calm and relaxing environment with all the greenery and the beauty the camp had to offer. All the activities ranging from sports, gwayla, seminar, flag raising ceremony etc were a great combination of fun and at the same time informative/educational. As usual it was a well balanced event. Since everyone will be commenting on the details of the retreat, allow me to dedicate my piece to the most touching aspect of this year’s retreat, which was the memorial service held for our beloved sister and my best friend Mulu Weldekiros.

Our own mulu who was a loyal retreater passed away on April 27th in Asmara due to a sudden and unexpected illness. For those of you who didn’t know mulu, she was a beloved and a very valuable sister. She worked as a financial officer at the Eritrean Mission to the UN. She was extremely dedicated and worked long hours at her job. Mulu was multi-talented and spoke many languages (French, Italian, Spanish).

Outside her job, mulu conducted various successful projects (Clothing drive, book drive, local EDF chapter, Eri-Tree raffle, fund raising activities for the displaced and countless other projects). She was an instructor/director of the computer room at the Community center. Her most recent project, the book drive, which she co-directed was completed last march (hundreds of boxes of books were shipped to Eritrea). The project took a year to complete. She literally dedicated every weekend, every free time to the various aspects of the book drive. She gave up more than 100% of herself to her projects. I really don’t know how she did it. But then again Mulu never slept. Whenever my sister and I spent time at her house or took the train with her, she would fall asleep in the middle of the day. We would then ask her why she is so sleepy during the day, she would modestly reply ‘I haven’t been sleeping much lately’. Mulu managed to do everything and still make time for family/friends/traveling etc. I have never seen anyone more dedicated than mulu in my entire life. Mulu found a way to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. She touched everyone’s life in different ways. She lived a full life and gave her last drop to Eritrea and eritrean causes.

In her memory, Dehai Retreat planted a tree and conducted a very touching memorial service. To symbolize mulu’s presence, some of mulu’s small possessions that signified every aspect of her life were buried under the tree. The tree planting was a very emotional and difficult experience for me. Burying her small possessions and watching the tree been planted took me to the day I heard about her death. Thank you everyone for been comforting and supportive. During the tree planting, all the retreaters delivered a touching tribute and sang the national anthem. Once again, the idea of dehai retreat been a loving and caring family gave me a deeper meaning during her memorial. Mulu was our national hero and I want to thank our retreaters for honoring her. She wouldn’t have expected anything less from us. In the coming years, mulu’s tree planted by the cafeteria will grow big and blossom. We will hopefully conduct the coffee ceremonies under her shade, mulu will then continue to serve as our shade, something she has been doing all her life.

During her memorial service in NYC. Mulu’s testimonies came from many people whose lives she touched. Everyone who spoke about her consistently said that she was extremely dedicated and was there to lend a helping hand. Her friends and family said that mulu was a like a tegadalit who dedicated her life. If I remember correctly, during her memorial, Dr. Bemnet , who co-directed the book drive with her stated, "I have never seen anyone more dedicated than mulu in my entire life." He re-iterated, "if anyone was to tell me there is someone more dedicated than mulu, I would tell them they are lying." Dr. Bemnet went on into details about her work ethic and that her dedication was beyond limits. Her brother Asghedom talked about her dedication, thirst for education, courage, and desire to help people. Everyone who talked about mulu emphasized how kind, dedicated and helpful mulu was.

Your sister,

Veronica T. Kflu