SHE HELD TIGHT TO HER ELDEST DAUGHTER
Rose Mapendo was imprisoned with her husband and 7 children in a Congolese Prison for 16 months because of her ethnicity. There her husband, along with many other innocent men, was executed. One night soldiers burst into her courters and attempted to take away her oldest daughter. Ruby and her other children held onto her and refused to let her go even when a gun was put to her head. Not long after her husband’s death she discovered she was pregnant and in the eighth month gave birth to twin boys. Both premature babies had to suck tea from a cloth because Rose’s milk was not enough. They were sickly and on the verge of dying.
How’s your day going?
An aid worker saw this mother of 9, including two babies near death, and arrange to have her moved to a refugee camp. Then, by a virtual miracle, she was chosen to be airlifted to Phoenix, AZ. Now she is a spokesperson for refugees world wide. Her courage and passion to save her family has inspired millions.
Isn’t it ironic that she was taken from the death camps of the Congo to Phoenix? For out of the ashes this brave one rises. More than that, her name, Mapendo, in Swahili, means Great Love.
I wanted to tell you her story today because you probably will need to share it with a friend who is going through a difficult time. “Difficult” is a relative term and everyone’s suffering is not the same… but few have suffered like she.
May I suggest that you count your blessings today? She how good it is. And then, give someone a hand… pull them out of the ashes with your great love.
Hear more about Rose Mapendo at http://www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tells_tales_of_passion.html
I love you- Bryan
