Retreat 2002: A Tribute to Mulu

This year’s dehai retreat was another memorable one. It was great seeing everyone for the 7th 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 Beloved Mulu:


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.


Mulu’s memorial in Ripley (Tree Planting in Dehai Retreat—June 14, 2002)

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.

Her memorial in NYC (May 4, 2002):

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.

Personal Reflections:

Ever since I have known mulu, I have found her to be an amazing human being. Mulu is filled with love, wisdom, dedication, wit, intelligence etc. She was gifted. She was just amazing. She loved to laugh. She loved spending time with her friends and family. For my sister and I, mulu was a best friend and an older sister. We had such a great time with her that it was too good to be true. She was everything . She was pleasant, interesting, dedicated, sweet, and intelligent. When it comes to self sacrifice, she was the ultimate. I never stopped to admire her level of dedication. My sister and I used to tell her that Eritrea needs to give her an award. She was constantly getting involved in projects that addressed eritrean causes. Mulu had big dreams and worked hard to follow them. Ever since she was a child, she wanted to speak seven languages and work for the UN. Although the road to her dreams was a challenging one, she did achieve her dreams. She was the first East African to graduate from her prestigious university. She spoke six languages and she was learning a seventh language (Arabic). She was planning to pursue her MBA and her eventual goal was to be a diplomat for the UN. Mulu was the type of a person who managed to live a full life and balance her personal and professional life. If only she had lived longer, even few years longer, she would have managed to do so much. She had so many plans. Unfortunately she was interrupted. It doesn’t make sense. The only thing that makes sense to me is that she was an angel sent from heaven to help people.

Rest in Peace, Mulu hafetaye. I love you! We love you! We miss you so much!

Your sister,

Veronica T. Kflu




 


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Last updated: July 28, 2002.