This past saturday we were blessed to be able to travel up to Marromeu, and the Ruama Baby Home where Tendai spent several months of her life. We met Tendai's biological great granny for the very first time! We knew it would be a very emotional time for us, but we were completely unprepared for the reaction from Granny Zenia- she took one look at Tendai and began to wail, shake and sob, much like they do when someone dies, only her wails were wails of joy and gratitude! It was completely overwhelming to meet her, and to be able to thank the woman who chose to give Tendai a chance for a better life, and in the process became part of God's plan to bless us with a daughter!
We took this picture just after Granny had calmed down enough to take a picture- Tendai was sooo scared of her after all that wailing and shaking, but as long as I was holding her she was happy. Granny could not believe how much Tendai had grown and how healthy she was!
Later that evening when Granny Zenia was all smiles! She told us as much as she knew about Tendai's parents which wasnt terribly much as she didnt live in the same town as them. The first things she told us were... HE was a BIG man (waving arms out to the sides and on top of her head) :) and SHE was a GIRL (here that means she was probably very young.. most likely under 20, could be as young as 16 when it is legal for girls to be married in Mozambique). I Found it rather interesting that she chose those things to tell us, as opposed to describing their character or personalities- although its very Mozambiquan to do that, talking about the dead is very difficult for them, and in some ways "taboo".
The crib at Ruama where Tendai slept. The lady in the picture is the house mother that cared for her. She was so excited to see how Tendai had grown as well!
It was such a blessing to be able to visit there, and we hope to return each year. It will be so nice to have pictures to show Tendai as she grows up.
We are still waiting for Tendai's ID document to arrive, but as soon as it does we will be driving down south to apply for her passport, and then going to Pretoria to the Canadian High Commission to apply for a Visa. Please continue to pray with us that the process will continue and that we can get everything done in time to get home on furlough in August. God Bless- Rick, Heather & Tendai
1 comment:
That's so awesome! We got to meet Ben's first caretaker, who happens to be from South Africa, but we've never been able to have contact with any of his birth relatives. Still, to meet the woman who cared for him in Hong Kong that first year, here in South Africa... was amazing!
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