An Austin woman is sending traditional Ethiopian artwork to President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to express her thanks for all the U.S. government has done for her and her people.

Ajulu Obang Okello came to the United States in 2013 after fleeing her small town of Gambella, Ethiopia, in 2003 due to massacres, especially of male youth because that would stop the family’s line, she said with her son, Oballa Oballa, translating for her. She and her three children, along with thousands of other members of the Anyuak tribe, fled to a Kenya refugee camp and then to the U.S.

“What happened to my people in December 2003 is what made us and thousands of other people to be here in the United States,” Okello said. “During that day, a lot of my people lost their life and I survived. Everything is in God’s hands. I’m so grateful to be here.”

She was separated from one of her daughters during while the family fled, but she later found her in Kenya. When they were finally able to come to the U.S., she said it was a miracle.

When they first arrived, they settled in Maryland, but one of Okello’s uncles asked her to move to Austin.

They had thought many people of their tribe died in the massacre, but they found them in the U.S.

“I was so impressed with American people with all the help they give to my people and I myself, it’s only God who can do all this,” Okello said.

A niece of hers has a picture of all 44 presidents and Okello said when she looked at the presidents and the years they served, she didn’t sleep that night. She wanted to thank the presidents who made it possible for her to come to the U.S.

“That is the reason I make those things,” she said. “I started by the first president and all those who served after him. They did a wonderful job.”

Okello was able to follow the patterns of letters that someone else had traced for her. She also made a beaded American flag, neckties and belts for the president and vice president, a bracelet for the first lady, a bowl for their table and a vase.

She also gave a vase to Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm.

“I have nothing else to give. This is the only way, this is my tradition,” Okello said.

Okello did not attend school in Ethiopia and injured her knee when they fled to Kenya. She wasn’t able to get medical assistance in Kenya, but since coming to the U.S., she has had three surgeries on her knee and has one more to go.

“The government now, they are the one who’s helping me. That way I make all those things to give [my] appreciation to the government of the United States,” Okello said. The government of the United States has been so wonderful to every country, all who are suffering, all who are in war-torn, they go and help and I’m so glad for that.”

She added she didn’t think any other government would do that for people.

“I will not forget the help that the government did for my people,” Okello said. “Barack Obama … I just want you to know that the only thing my people can say is thank you and with all the people in the United States, thank you.”

Okello also attributed her happiness in the U.S. to her son.

“He’s the one who’s shown me everything,” she said. “He helps whenever I go to the hospital. He helps me when I go to appointments, he’s the one who’s helping me.”

Oballa attended a boarding school in Rapid City, South Dakota, after they arrived and is currently en route to becoming a registered nurse. Eventually, he would like to be a doctor and also go back to Ethiopia and other countries to set up a primary through second-grade school and health clinics.

He said if he was ill in Ethiopia, his mom would gather herbs and make it into a tea to drink.

“During my childhood I usually would dream one day to become a doctor or something, but when I was back home, I didn’t get any opportunity,” Oballa said. “So when I reached the United States here, I was like ‘Well this is the land of opportunity.’”

He currently works at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin as a Nursing Assistant. His next goal is to become a nurse practitioner.

Oballa said he still keeps in touch with family in Ethiopia and they say “everything’s still going bad.” He added they didn’t have a lot of opportunity there because of the government.

Okello’s artwork is waiting to be sent from Austin City Hall to the White House. She and her family also performed traditional dances for Stiehm and other city staff. Their dances are usually performed at weddings and community events.

“I feel like whenever I show my traditional dance I feel like I’m on the top of the world, because in every culture, in every human being, you have your culture that you will never forget,” Oballa said. “Me being an African, if you’re an African and you don’t know anything about your culture, like we say back home, you’re lost.”

He added they have to keep their traditions through generations because it’s “the only thing that will keep us to know where we are and where we’ve been to.”