It has been two years since we journeyed to Ethiopia to "fetch" Yonatan and Fetlework, two deaf orphans who are deaf no more.
Yonatan was six and attended school infrequeontly. He displayed no indication that he had learned language. His demeanor was subdued, although there were times when he obiously had a sense of humor and enjoyed "kidding around".
Sunday on the return voyage from a soccer tournament in which Fetlework participated the two sat in the back seat and conversed in sign language.
Eight year old Yonatan discovered Fetlework has three brothers. Yonatan said he has a sister and two brothers. "SAME" he signed.
Recently he described that when he was five he was learning to dance, but the white people came and "bought" him. The inferrence being the dancing stopped.
In the car he decided "we" could divide the mony and buy his brothers and sister with half and Fetlework's brothers with the other half. They could come and live with us.
As I prepared for my most recent trip to Ethiopia he brought his wallet to the table, opened it, took out his "fortune", ( fourteen dollars.) He wanted me to take it to Ethiopia and buy a brown baby to bring home. (Actually, I was offered a baby while I was walking down the street.)
Of course his perception of just how he and Fetlework became a part of this family is a little off, but his heart is surely in the right place.
Labels: Out of the mouths of babes
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home