I received this first photo of Pelagie and Japheth's new baby the other day. His name is Gitangaza Cherubin...little miracle angel is what it means.
When in Rwanda this summer, I learned that the Rwandese do not have "family" names as we do, but each child is given the name the parents choose for him or her, chosen for its meaning and significance. It's a bit disconcerting for us Americans to realize that the members of the same family do not share the same last name...do not in fact have "last names", as we know them. Rather harkens back to Biblical times, when "family names" did not exist...those came along much, much later in the course of human history. Anyway, meet the littlest angel...the newest member of my "family" in Rwanda.
It has taken a while, but I think I have acclimated to being back at home, after a month. Some things still feel a bit strange...and I have still not processed all that I saw, heard, and experienced. I have committed myself to making one day each week a "One Meal Day", both in solidarity with my many African friends who are living on one meal every day, and as a way of deliberately setting aside some money each week for be used for the Nyanya Project and/or to assist my Rwandan family. I have resumed writing my other blog and I hope you will consider following it, as I am using this post to sign off on this one. The blog address is revlindaslines.blogspot.com
Why not consider "following" or becoming part of those notified of posts via email? and thank you for being part of the community which followed my second African journey. Asante sana! Kwa herini!
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| Pelagie |
The ringing phone woke me very early in the morning...or so I thought as I struggled to climb from sleep's comfortable bed into a state of wakefulness.
"Hello," the accented voice came, "This is Emmanuel's brother-in-law calling." What time could it be, I wondered, since it was still clearly very dark...not a sliver of light coming through the slits in the bedroom shutters. "I am calling to tell you proudly that Emmanuel's sister has given birth to a son." And then came Japheth's hearty laugh.
Now fully awake, I laughed with him. "And Pelagie- she is fine?" I asked. "And the baby? He is healthy?"
"Yes, yes," he assured me. "Everyone is fine and my wife sends her regards and much love."
"Please give her mine and my congratulations to your entire family. I am so happy that all has gone well."
"Good. Good," said a still-rejoicing Japheth. "We wanted you to know, since you are part of our family. Good-by for now."
"Good-by. Good-by. I am so very happy for you."
As the line went dead, I realized I had not asked the new baby's name...and I knew nothing about his birth: hospital or midwife at home. But I returned to bed, cradled in the joy of a new life begun, a family enlarged and enriched. Even the awareness of the additional burden this child would place on this dear group of people could not dampen the incredible pride and joy which reached across the world from Rwanda to North Carolina in the voice of a new father.
Yawning widely, I noticed that the clock read 1:30a.m...7:30a.m. in Rwanda. The baby's birthday is August 24th, 2011. Happy birthday, little one. Welcome to the World.
