I have a new friend – her name is Mami Beri. She is probably around 70 years old, though I am not sure she knows for sure. She is a cross between my Grandma Leinbach and Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. She stands under 5 feet tall, but packs a whole lot into that body. She has just a few teeth, but a LOT of gumption. The first time I met her was when we visited the village here. When we were walking around, they told her that my name was Gulun-nga, which means twin mom. She was thrilled and began to dance around and hug me. We have been fast friends ever since. When I was still in Niaya and Jim was working up here, every day she would ask "Where is your wife? Where is my friend?" One time Mami Beri walked by when Jim had called us on the radio (which she calls a telephone) and so she heard us talking from Niaya. She loves to retell that story:“I walked by and Gulunibaba (Jim) was calling you on the telephone and I stood there, right there, and heard you talking on the telephone.”
She was very pleased last year to be able to meet my parents and still talks about them. She loves the kids. In fact she loves the whole family and was very excited the other night when we went to her house for the first time to visit.
You do NOT, however, want to get on her bad side. Often, we can hear her yelling or grumbling or cursing at her cows or goats as she tries to move them from place to place. And recently she laid a plaint on a man (took him to court, basically) who would not tie his cows up like he was supposed to.
She says she is too old to work anymore – but she spends her days caring for her cows out in the field. Sunday, she was carrying a big bucket of water out to one of her cows with a hurt leg.
Last night, I went to visit her and she walked me home. We arrived home to find Brad and the boys kicking the soccer ball around. They kicked it in our direction and she took off running. She kicked the ball back to the boys. It was great. She dropped me off and got ready to walk home and went back after the soccer ball. I was able to catch it on video.
I am hoping and praying that, because we are here, Mami Beri will have the chance to know Jesus and then you will be able to meet her some day in heaven.
Just look for the little fireball ordering people around or kicking a soccer ball and you will have the right one.
She was very pleased last year to be able to meet my parents and still talks about them. She loves the kids. In fact she loves the whole family and was very excited the other night when we went to her house for the first time to visit.
You do NOT, however, want to get on her bad side. Often, we can hear her yelling or grumbling or cursing at her cows or goats as she tries to move them from place to place. And recently she laid a plaint on a man (took him to court, basically) who would not tie his cows up like he was supposed to.
She says she is too old to work anymore – but she spends her days caring for her cows out in the field. Sunday, she was carrying a big bucket of water out to one of her cows with a hurt leg.
Last night, I went to visit her and she walked me home. We arrived home to find Brad and the boys kicking the soccer ball around. They kicked it in our direction and she took off running. She kicked the ball back to the boys. It was great. She dropped me off and got ready to walk home and went back after the soccer ball. I was able to catch it on video.
I am hoping and praying that, because we are here, Mami Beri will have the chance to know Jesus and then you will be able to meet her some day in heaven.
Just look for the little fireball ordering people around or kicking a soccer ball and you will have the right one.
my sweet friend...that brings tears to my eyes! The ones you have touched will also be wearing the MOST beautiful fabrics. ;0) I love you and I love this story...great visuals. Praying with you for this new village.
ReplyDeleteI am going to put on my mind until she falls in love with Jesus
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