MY MONINGA VALENTEEN
Na lingi yo
LUBUDI COMMUNE,
KINSHASA,
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
CONGO
2014-2015
I have made such wonderful, memorable and precious
friendships in D R Congo. I am
especially fond of the children and mature women. The life expectancy in DRC is 55 years, so
there aren’t a lot of what we westerners would consider elderly. One little girl in particular has stolen my
heart. In April 2014 we visited the
commune of Lubudi where Valenteen lives with her mother and grandmother. The residents of Lubudi had never had clean
water. Valenteen’s mother like all of
the women of the commune would leave her home (cement block cubicle) at three
each morning, trek through the jungle to a watering hole all the while off animals
and rapists. Filling her bidon to its
sixty pound limit then loading it onto her head, mother would trek back to feed
her family their quite possibly only meal of the day, fufu. On the day of our first visit to Lubudi
Valenteen’s mother was eager to show us where she went each day to get water
and how desperately they were in need of a well and clean water. Valenteen, age 2 was fascinated by this tall
“mundele” visitor (Lingala for white face).
While my husband was discussing construction options and well
possibilities I was playing peek-a-boo with Valenteen as she hovered behind her
mother’s pagne (the wrap around skirts we Congolese women wear). Valenteen was
quite afraid of this strange looking woman.
Her grandmother kept encouraging her to come closer but she was very reluctant
even to the point of tears. I told her
grandmother that I really didn’t want Valenteen to be forced to get closer to
me because she was obviously frightened.
Grandmother insisted and ultimately Valenteen inched a little
closer. In the photo below you can see
the tears on her cheeks. I was saying,
“na lingi yo” (I love you) and she consented to my being allowed to give her a
kiss on the cheek.
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| April 2014- Lubudi
Commune. Valenteen age 2. |
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| May 2015- Lubudi
Commune. Valenteen age 3. |
Over the next year as
Humanitarian Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
we were able to work with contractors and members of the community. Ultimately 6 wells were constructed in the
Lubudi Commune. While observing
construction I occasionally was able to see Valenteen. She was still quite cautious. Occasionally willing to get close to me, but
not long enough for a photo op.
Our time here in DR
Congo is growing short. I very much
wanted to see Valenteen for a last time and to give her a little gift. Just this week we trekked through the jungle
into Lubudi one last time. I sent our
Lingala translator Felix ahead to her home to let her mother know that I really
hoped to see Valenteen. When we arrived
Valenteen was standing outside waiting for us.
Congolese children in the communes have no commercial toys, so I didn’t
want to give her something that was purchased out of a store. I had previously asked a man who does some
sewing for me to make a simple doll for Valenteen. A joyful reunion and a fond farewell with my
dear little Valenteen. I hope she will
remember her mundele moninga (white face friend) and forever have clean
water. What a precious little soul there
will always be a place in my heart for Valenteen.
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| Valenteen,
grandmother and mother. |
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|
Two
grandmothers- I love these beautiful mature Congolese women.
|
