As of this week, all statements, résumés, and applications are complete (unless you know of an early intervention and/or autism spectrum services provider--in which case, hook a sister up!), and I'm finally sitting down to write a bit of an update.
Except there are approximately 18 topics I should go into detail on so instead I think I'm going to focus on one a day for the next few days,until I leave and spill emotions everywhere. I need to tell you about Thomas. And Agnes. And my precious, feisty little friend Jumanne. About Tuesday nights. And about some agriculture development and the resulting tears. And from there we'd go to the theology of development work.
But tonight? Tonight we'll start with...We'll start with something I wrote almost three months ago. I'm still not satisfied with the words I've used, but I need to introduce you to a lady named Mama Yunia.
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“Karibu! Karibu!” is the anthem of Tanzania. Wherever you go, you’ll hear it. Sometimes the welcome will be just that—a simple greeting of karibu, or welcome—but more often than not it’s an appeal to take whatever load you may be traveling with of your hands, offer you a seat, and prepare a meal for you.
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I knew we were going back to the
town Elia was found as a newborn but had understood it to be to talk to the
town council, not a married couple. It turns out that Mama Yunia, the lady who
greeted us enthusiastically as we arrived, was the nurse who had gone and cared
for Elia and his mother, a woman with mental illness, as they were found hours
after birth on the side of a dusty road. The mother was weak and aloof, her
baby still attached via umbilical cord. Lots of people passed by, but Mama Yunia
was willing and able to help mother and baby. The mother was sent for treatment
in Geita town, and Mama Yunia herself cared for baby Elia for his first weeks
of life. Having a family of her own, balancing a full-time job and nursing a
vulnerable little one was ultimately too much so Mama Yunia and her family made
the painful decision to contact Neema House for help.
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Eighteen months later, it was
obvious she never forgot about that little boy. In a place where it is a rare
occasion when people know correct ages or definitive birthdays, Mama Yunia unconsciously
shared the exact date of Elia’s birth while just giving us a quick run-down of
the story. She also talked about a time or two when she and her husband have
used their days off to pay for transport to Geita town to try to visit little
Elia at Neema House. I wish I could explain how impressive it is that these
people are so dedicated to that little boy that they sacrificed time and money
for even just the chance to see his face.
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Eighteen months after they
originally met, Mama Yunia finally got to hold Elia again. He was scared to be
away from Neema House, but throughout the visit he slowly relaxed. He was
treated to candy and a delicious lunch as well as showered with prayer from the
mama and baba. It was during this time of meeting, greeting, and eating with
one another that Mama Yunia asked about the possibility of Elia coming to be a
part of her family. Everyone was thrilled, but cautious about proceeding
because of the trickiness of adoption in Tanzania. We talked about a few small
things that could be worked on in the near future by both parties in order to see
if it would even be a possibility.
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Ultimately, this exploration began
the very same day as we ended up visiting the town council we thought we were
meeting with earlier. We introduced ourselves to the community decision makers
and reminded them of little Elia’s background. We inquired about known family
members, then told them about the proposal to bring Elia into Mama Yunia’s
family, highlighting the benefits of him growing up in a healthy family and
community rather than a ward of the state. The men agreed emphatically, but also
conceded that all avenues of contacting Elia’s birth family had to be exhausted
before proceeding with any adoption-esque plans.
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Nearly
three months after I wrote the rest of this post, (save for the intro), I’m
pleased to report that Mama Yunia and her husband have both been to Neema House
multiple times since March to visit Elia even as the green light for fostering
and adoption has yet to be given.
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Mama Yunia and her husband are also looking into adopting Miriam, a little troublemaker about the same age as Elia. Miriam’s mama has never been identified because Miriam was found abandoned in a hotel room booked under the name Shida (Problem) with fake contact information. Because Miriam has no known family, she is able to be adopted, making the process a little easier on her side of things. She too has been fearful of Mama Yunia’s family thus far, but because she has encountered so few visitors, the fear is fairly healthy.
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We are praying that things begin
moving right along, with investigations in far-off villages being completed and
receiving word whether or not anyone knows of Elia’s mother and extended family
soon. Whether Neema House continues to work with Mama Yunia’s family when it comes
to Elia or tracks down family for him elsewhere, time is of the essence as he
is nearly two and way more aware of what it going on around him than before.
The younger we can get children reintegrated with families, the better.
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