Source: International Mission Board, January 4, 2023
The watchman. He was the grandfather who loved spy novels, Manchester United, and coffee.
Dawit was Matt and Gretchen Clay’s door to communities with no gospel presence. He made introductions for the International Mission Board missionaries and translated from the trade language to the regional language. Dawit helped the Clays begin their ministry in the area by translating for their community development projects.
“He ushered us in,” Gretchen said.
With his high level of English, he was overqualified for the security job, but he saw serving as a watchman as a way to serve and give back to his community.
When the Clays felt the Lord calling them to move deeper into the region where their people group lived, they told Dawit he was welcome to move with them, but they weren’t requiring it, and they blessed him to retire whenever he saw fit.
“If you’re going, I’m coming,” he told Matt and Gretchen. He lived with the Clays for the past few years in a standalone room next to their house and was a daily part of their lives.
This summer while the Clays were in the U.S., Dawit unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack. His death was devastating. All the missionaries he helped, whether still in the country or back in the U.S., were grieved.
For two months, Gretchen didn’t go into his room. The grief was still too raw. When she did go in, she picked up a piece of paper with random numbers jotted down. She flipped it over and found a note.
“I’ve been working with a family for many years, this American family, I’ve really loved my work with them. They are good people. I like them and their children. They are very good for me. They believe in the one, true God, in Jesus Christ, me too,” the note read.
Gretchen said it confirmed that he had indeed committed his life to Christ.