Fantaye Zerihun

CFNA Ministry Facilitator

Hi, My name is Fantaye Zerihun. I came to St. Louis, MO with my two daughters Kedamawit and Simret from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on August 29, 2007. My husband Eddie was already in the USA. He had been here for five years before us. He was a pastor at a local Lutheran church. A year after we got here he got a job at CFNA as a chaplain.

In 2009 I started college for the second time to get a degree in medical technology. I have been in school since 2009. From 2007 Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) has given my two daughters the opportunity to go to a Lutheran school with a scholarship. We are very glad for the fact they have the chance to be surrounded by wonderful people in a Christian environment.

Earlier this year my husband got another job in Council Bluffs, Iowa, so in September he moved there. My two daughters and I decided to stay in St. Louis for the remainder of the school year seeing as all three of us were students and we were in the middle of a school year.

When Eddie left, I got a job at CFNA as a facilitator to help other East African immigrant families. CFNA has helped us in many ways since we got here. I cannot express how thankful I am for their help and support.

By Fantaye Zerihun