This letter comes From the desk of Mr. Trevor John Toews as a testimonial in regards to our experience with the MRC-ET Advanced Laboratory in Addis Ababa. I am currently living and working in Ethiopia as the Country Representative for the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The organization is involved in humanitarian projects, printing literature, evangelism, church
planting, etc. My wife and five children are also living here with me. Due to the demanding nature of the
assignment given to me, it is very costly and difficult for us to leave the country for any reason during our
committed term here. Recently, our fifth child was born in the Kadisco Hospital in Addis Ababa. In the months leading up to the birth of this child, we were highly concerned about several things. One of our other children was born with a rare metabolic genetically transmitted disease called MCADD (Medium-Chain Acyl-coa Dehydrogenase Disorder) Since my wife and I are carriers of this disease, our children all have a substantial risk
of contracting the disease. We were concerned that there was not sufficient technology in Addis Ababa to screen for this disease and other diseases. We wanted full DNA scanning of our new child and considered leaving the country to give birth to the child for this reason. However, leaving the country would have required many costly arrangements and would have been very inconvenient and disruptive to our family and our work. Our decision whether or not to remain in the country to give birth to the baby was largely based on this concern.
After brief research we learned about Dr. Zewdu Terefework and his highly sophisticated laboratory called
MRC-ET Advanced Laboratory. Going there, we were told that the screening and DNA testing needed in our
case was all very possible, and could be done in the country of Ethiopia. It was our understanding that the MRCET Advanced Laboratory was the
only establishment with the technology and ability to perform these tests. We immediately
made plans to use these services.
Dr. Zewdu very professionally did
some DNA testing on our other child who was affected by the disease, and prepared to test our new child as soon as he was born.

Our child was born on January 25th and we received excellent care by the health professionals at Kadisco
Hospital. Immediately, blood samples were given to the MRC-ET Laboratory. We received a full report of our
child’s DNA makeup and the results of all the screening that was done. We were very pleased with the
professional service and amazing capabilities of Dr. Zewdu Terefework and his laboratory.
Our testimony is that Ethiopia is a better country because of what Dr. Zewdu is doing. To have these capabilities
inside this country was a huge advantage for us and will continue to help many families with their most difficult
health challenges. We are forever thankful for the help we received from MRC-ET Advanced Laboratory.