NEW ARRIVALS
On the last day of our trip we drove into a very poor area to meet three new girls who had been invited to join our family. The girls recently lost their father and since no cause of death was given we assumed it was due to AIDS. The mother passed away in childbirth eight years ago when the youngest was born. Zara age 19 in an attempt to take care of her sisters age 12, 10 and 8 years had turned to prostitution. They were living in a ten-foot by ten-foot room with no running water or kitchen facilities and paying $10.00 US a month rent. The room was neat and tidy and the girls gathered their personal belongings into 2 small supermarket size bags. The elder child ran to a neighbor’s where she had been working as a maid and where she wanted to collect some of her personal possessions. The man of the house, on hearing or her departure, whacked her across the face. Everyone in our group was devastated by this action and we pleaded with the community members to tell the man that this type of behavior is inappropriate.
In what seemed like a lifetime we eventually loaded all four girls into our van and gave them See’s lollypops for the ride across town. From the back of the bus I waved goodbye to the “matriarch” of the community. She smiled from ear to ear and generously waved with two arms and hands outstretched knowing the girls would be well taken care of at Selamta. My heart was overfilled with joy. I was instantly reminded of one of the most heartbreaking farewells I have ever witnessed in Rabbit Proof Fence (Pilkington) where the girls are forcibly removed from their families. Molly and Gracie cry and sob as the police drive them away to an orphanage a thousand miles away and their mother and grandmother scream for help as their own flesh and blood are stolen. As I waved to the community matriarch I had the opportunity to redo this paradigm in a positive and happy way!
Upon our arrival we showered all four girls with clothing, towels and their favorite gift of all a hand-made doll. The smiles of happiness of the girls’ faces and the big hugs of gratitude I received were overwhelming. I asked the caretaker to check the chicken coop for eggs and he found four. One egg representing each of the lives that will have a new beginning at Selamta. The sisters then settled into their bedrooms and had lunch. Suddenly, Zara told me she had to leave which was really disappointing since we were all hoping we could entice her to stay and offer her a job as a cook or an aunty so that the family would not be broken up. Perhaps in time, as Zara sees her sisters flourishing at Selamta she will decide to join them. Since my return to California I have received several emails telling me the new arrivals have settled in well and are enjoying life at Selamta.
