Love truly knows no boundaries, as evidenced by a Relief Society in Riverton, Utah, that rallied to help send a young woman in Ethiopia on a mission.It all started when Susie Augenstein of Riverton adopted two children from Ethiopia in June 2005. While in the central African country, Susie attended church. The woman who taught Relief Society that day was Berihane; Susie was captivated.
Berihane is the only member of her family who is a member of the Church; in fact, the only other surviving member of her family is her mother, who is extremely poor. Berihane herself has very little in the way of material blessings and has lived on her own since the age of seventeen. She is blessed to have a job, even though it doesn't pay much: millions are currently looking for work, and it's extremely difficult to get a job in Ethiopia.
Now twenty-one, Berihane has decided to serve a mission for the Lord—even though it means she will lose her job (her only source of support) and will not be able to return to that job after her mission. "Her faith is so great," explains Susie. "Her job situation has not deterred her from going on a mission. She knows the Lord will take care of her as long as she does her part."
That's where Susie—and the love that knows no boundaries—comes in.
Knowing of Berihane's poverty, Susie mentioned the situation to the Parkway Ward Relief Society. Without skipping a beat, the sisters there offered to help Berihane get ready for her mission. Susie dashed off an email to Berihane, explaining what the sisters in Utah wanted to do for her, and then got to work.
Some sisters made financial donations. Susie took the money and hit the Dillard's 75 percent off sale, where she bought skirts and blouses. Next she went to Payless ShoeSource and bought four pairs of size 10 shoes—nearly impossible to find in Ethiopia—at the clearance sale there. Sisters in the ward have donated additional money and clothing, toiletries, a backpack, missionary supplies, an English dictionary, and other items Berihane needs. Susie is also making a run to the Distribution Center for materials that may help or inspire Berihane while she is on her mission. "I know that they have The Proclamation on the Family and a few other items in Amharic, her native language," Susie says.
Susie plans to ship the packages to Berihane at the end of January, along with extra money so she can purchase a suitcase. Oh, and there's also a card wishing Berihane well, signed by the members of the Parkway Ward Relief Society.
"I was amazed at the love and support people gave to a girl they had never even met," Susie says. "It is a true testimony of how our sisterhood can stretch all the way across the world."
And what about Berihane? “I was awake all night after reading your email," she wrote. "I could not sleep because of my feelings of love and gratitude for the sisters of the Church who are helping me. May God bless you.”
If you'd like to help Berihane, contact Susie Augenstein at saugenstein_4@msn.com. And if you'd like to send love and good wishes to Berihane, you can reach her at lightmtsh@yahoo.com.