eldanschools.com - Sympathy Messages

I was so sorry to hear about Elias. I was a volunteer at Jimma University Business Faculty from January 2001 until July 2003 and Elias was a dear friend of mine. We shared many happy times together and I was around during the first year of ELDAN becoming established. Please pass on my heartfelt sympathy to Kidist and Elias's family and please let us celebrate the life of this wonderful man; a pioneer, an entrepreneur, a fabulous husband and father and a great friend.

Hello Dan,

My shock is immense and still in disbelief to accept the sad news that our dear friend Elias has passed away. The last time I was in Ethiopia, I left behind a healthy energetic person, doing a nice job, looking to the future, identifying business opportunities and encouraging friends to work and grow together. He was also looking forward to get together for the Ethiopian millennium and inviting friends to showcase his activities. It is tough to swallow the heartbreaking news that Elias won’t be there to continue his exemplary work and realize all his dreams. I think I became like one of the disciples of Jesus, Thomas, who refused to believe that the Lord has risen. But, how can I refute when the news sources are his beloved wife, Kidist, and yourself, his best friend.

I remember a verse from the Bible which closely reads as “Praise God in all that happened". Let us comfort ourselves believing that nothing has happened or will happen without God's will. If we believe so, then who are we to challenge Him? He only knows why He let things go this way. …. this should be the time for all of us close to Him to continue trusting, believing in and loving God, despite what has happened. Let God rest Eli’s soul in a complete peace and give strength to his family, friends and all those who are deeply touched by his loss.

Solomon Mamo, Ph.D.

Hungary

Please let me introduce myself – my name is Heather and I was a VSO volunteer at Jimma TTC in 2002 & 2003. During that time I became friends with Elias (Shirley Lewis introduced us) and visited ELDAN several times. I was truly impressed with the innovative and student centered approach Elias implemented in the school. It was clear the children (and the new teachers) flourished under his care.

Elias quickly made me feel welcome in my new community and invited me to ELDAN events and ceremonies. I also had the chance to meet his wife and a few brothers on several occasions sharing his warm hospitality around “zil zil tibs”.

I send you my condolences and would like you to pass them onto Kidist and the rest of Elias’s family and friends. My thoughts are with you all at this sad time … and my memories of Elias will always be heartfelt.

Canada

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Dear Daniel,

We are deeply sorry with the sudden death of Elias Beyene. Although, I personally do not closely know Elias, my feeling is that I missed a very close relative of mine. Again, it is sad to lose such a young dedicated person.

Take care and may God bless you.

Teffera and Tenagne

Colorado, USA

This is really sad news. I was shocked when I got the terrible news. Elias was a friend and brother to all of us and his loss is heart breaking to each one of us. This is unexpected and untimely death. May God rest his soul in heaven along side the Angels. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and all those who are close to him.

I was so sorry to hear of the sudden death of Elias which, as far as I was concerned, was completely unexpected. I never met him in person but we have corresponded for some time as he was very interested in forming a Rotary Club in Jimma.

All the members of South Cave Rotary Club were following the formation of the club with interest and will be very shocked to hear of Elias' death. Please pass on the sincere condolences of us all to his wife and relatives; we will miss him very much.

I hope that the formation of a Rotary Club in Jimma succeeds despite this sad loss as it would be a fitting tribute to Elias.

I really don’t know what to say, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I got the shocking news when calling our common friend Abe. However, Dan we never know what God’s plan is in every action and we can’t reverse His will. May you find comfort in knowing that caring thoughts and deepest sympathy are with you and his family? In days like this it is natural to feel discouraged and down but remember that you can do anything you want. All you have to do is believe and focus on your dreams.

Sorry for answering so late on this terrible news about your and our good friend Elias.

We … heard the bad news only yesterday. Elias was for us a man with his heart at the right place, a good educator, an excellent manager, always keen to try out new ideas, interested in a lot of things and a real good communicator. We were always very much impressed by the way he managed his school and his enthusiasm to make it a really good school. He gave an example how you can establish a school with a high standard of education. It was a pleasure to conduct every now and then a workshop in ELDAN school. He was here last year in July with us for 2 weeks as you know, and he was very keen to find out how he could introduce new forms of teaching in Ethiopia that he had seen in the different schools in Holland he visited.

We appreciate it very much that you informed us about Elias death and his funeral. In this way we feel still part of the Jimma community. We sincerely hope that your schools will continue to be a good example for education in

Ethiopia

. We hope that Kiddist, Henok and Nahom will be able to take up life again, and wish them and you all the strength needed to live further without Elias. Let Kidist know that we will pray for her and her family. We have still a special place in our hearts for Elias, Kiddist and their kids, and are very grateful that we have met them and seen them again last year in Holland.

The members of both the global Jimma Alumni (steered from the

) and the Miazia Alumni Associations (moderated fom Sweden/Ethiopia) were shocked to hear the untimely passing away of our alumnus Elias Beyene. Elias has been the motive force to some of our initiatives. As we briefly talked about, we will consult with Elias’s family and yourself on how to commemorate Elias's day in future. Together, we can organize a good commemoration day so that children from ELDAN and other schools and the community know more about the visions Elias had and the contributions he made. This is important so that ELIAS, through his dreams and visions, remains alive.

It is still hard to accept that Elias has gone. His family lost a wonderful husband, father, son and brother. We all lost a brother, a genuine friend and an example of dedication and hard work to community causes. I appreciate the relentless efforts you are making to enhance what was dreamed and planned by you and the late friend of ours, Elias. His death is one lesson; your courage is another important lesson for many of us on how to foster things even after deep grief. … I am ready and willing, more than ever, to work with ELDAN and make sure that Elias’s legacy live on. I believe this is the way to continue honoring Elias.

I am late to hear the sad news. I couldn’t understand what you have written, I couldn't believe it. You can not imagine what has happened next. I was traumatized as if I was struck by a heavy thunder. Danny, Elias was everything to us. He had the power of doing anything he dreamed of or any other person wanted. You can put your confidence in Elias for whatever you might need. He was full of life and an angel of God. I don't have enough words to describe Eli. It is not only us who miss Eli dearly, but the world too. My family couldn’t believe this terrible news and they are still in grief. I am sending my condolences to kidist, Agoye and Hirut and his brothers. Let God rest his soul in peace.