Nhoras legacy of love

If you lived in a dump site area would you;

- Have compassion for  your neighbours?

-Be willing to go hungry so someone else's child could eat?

-No matter what, always wear a smile?

-Even  bring a song and dance?

                                                       My friend Nhora Mariano did.



Nhoras last picture April 2010



Our friend and team mate Nhora died suddenly last week. She was 35 years old.

Truth be told I have sat down to write this blog at least 4 times now, but just sigh and close the laptop. It really doesn't feel like she's gone. Nhora was one of the first local mothers who offered to volunteer in the kids ministry.When we met her in 2008 we knew she had a huge heart and God given compassion for children in her own community. She would serve the children in whatever way was needed: helping at the feeding - washing their little plates- cleaning-  wiping their tears- walking them to kids club-  lavishing love on each one...

Loving on all her babies

 For 3 years she faithfully lead the 1-4 years old kids church class. Sometimes she cared for 70 toddlers at a time with help from only a few local teens. The mothers who come usually just want a break from their kids and understandably as they haven't had a moment to themselves all week, but not Nhora. She called them "my children" and showed patience and love for every single one of them. They miss her. She has left her legacy of love in every one of their little hearts.

In spite of her own life being far from easy she loved to sing and dance and as soon as any kind of beat could be heard her tiny hips started to wiggle! Along with the other mothers she took part in several concert nights. I noticed Nhoras creativity the first time I taught them a dance routine. She would contribute by adding her own steps and would remember the moves when I forgot! When it was time to perform she would fill the others with confidence and light up as she gracefully danced her way around the stage. She looked so beautiful because to her it wasn't just singing and dancing -it was worship. I can see this legacy of love in her daughters. Only hours after they found out their lovely mother had died Ron and I found them singing  - yes singing with tears..." here I am to worship". It was Nhoras favorite song.

 

church anniversary concert 2009

 More than anywhere else I see so obviously Nhoras legacy of love in her four beautiful girls Antointh, Grayvie, Angel and Nene. They beam who Nhora was. Same smile. Same giggle. Same desire to help.Same love for Jesus. Same love to sing and dance and never sit still for a moment. They never got a chance to say goodbye to their precious mama. She went to the hospital to get some tests as to why parts of he body had been swelling. She never came home. It was  discovered that she had developed a heart problem after her miscarriage a few months earlier. The doctors said she had water in her lungs and her heart couldn't cope anymore.  Nhora wasn't afraid of death. She told her husband that, but that she had to fight to stay alive for him and her girls. For reasons that our human minds cannot comprehend, she died before the doctors even done any kind of heart test. I know Nhoras is now dancing with Jesus.



her four Angels

The day Nhora was taken "home" we had the girls stay at our house for a couple of days to allow their father organise getting her body back from the hospital. I cannot describe how heartbreaking it was to hold them as they cried and cried. Nene (the youngest) just poured out tears sobbing "mama ko mama ko" - " my mama my mama. It was as though I could feel her young heart breaking in my hands.They loved their mum so much. If ever I've seen a woman with a mothers heart, it was Nhora. We found out that the girls had no pictures of their mum so we put some together and some in a frame. We all spent time talking about Nhora -the girls would stroke her face on the picture and say "maganda"-beautiful. In each picture they said "she is not sick there" and talked about how they loved their mamas smile, what her favorite songs were and how she was so kind. The next day they came to us and asked if they could get a picture together holding their mamas picture.

Antoineth wanting bubbles blown over her mamas picture

They asked if we could take another picture..this time while they blew bubbles around the frame. I smiled as I thought about how this was so Nhora - she was so bubbly and full of fun. I love that her girls know that. I feel blessed that we were able to have them stay with us. Though it was sore in the heart for all of us - it was healing to cry and pray together.

Those of you who pray- please pray for them and dad Tony. They are grieving so much right now. In the culture its expected that they just appear strong. I witnessed quite a few of the neighbours just telling them not to cry now. I pray they will be allowed to start the grieving process.

I feel like I haven't done nearly enough justice to the wonderful person Nhora was. But I just so wanted people to hear of her. I wanted you to know she existed - know she was loved and know how she loved. I wanted people to hear her name and read her legacy of love. I wonder how many others have lived their lives in a squatters area and died without anyone knowing their name. Its a comfort to know this;

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" Psalm 116:15

I'm sure of this... so sure.... that the angels were rejoicing when Nhora Mariano arrived at the pearly gates. We miss her so very much... but I see in the eyes of her children and the other children she cared for her great legacy of love - HIS love through her - now in them.It's a privilege to have known her.

"Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter now into thy rest"

baptism 2009

  Leonhora Mariano
Born:  October 17 1975

                                                             Called home: November 4 2010