Hawa

Hawa:  The Gift of Relationship

I have talked before about Hawa, the woman who cooks and cleans and washes our clothes for us.  She is originally from Benin, but has lived a lot of her adult life in Niger.  She is widowed and the mother of 7 children.  After her husband died she returned with her children to Benin but was unable to find work.  So she left 5 of her children in Benin and returned to Niamey with her 2 year old twins and a young girl who lives with her and helps her with the twins.  Having worked here before, she had contacts and was able to find several part time jobs.

She moved back to her old “concession” (neighborhood) but to a much smaller living space.  She and the twins and young girl live in a small one-room mud home made with the red sand mixed with water.  This becomes a problem during the rainy season as the structure leaks and begins to disintegrate. 

She has a sandy area outside the one door into her enclosed living space.  The sand is not typical beach sand; it is a very fine dusty sand.  She cooks in the sandy area, bathes her children in the sandy area, washes her clothes and hangs them on straw walls to dry – in the sandy area.  Really her way of living is like primitive camping – all the time.  No indoor plumbing – actually no plumbing.  Any water she uses is brought to her in containers that she purchases from the water boy – a young boy pulling a cart with large plastic containers. 

I had the privilege of going to her home on Friday.  I wanted to give her something for Christmas so had asked what would be appropriate and was told to give 25 Kilos (55 lbs) of rice.  My friend Mary took me in her truck (the choice vehicle of every ONG here) to purchase the rice and then we delivered it and Hawa to her home.

The young girl was bathing the twins – one at a time in a plastic tub in the sandy area - as we arrived.  It was a perfect photo opportunity but I had forgotten to bring my camera.

I, of course, was given the only chair – some advantages to being old and then Hawa borrowed a chair from a neighbor for Mary.  Hawa sat on a woven mat on the ground.  It was such an honor to be there.  Being white, we were quite the interest of the area.

I think there would never be a quiet moment where she lives. She is literally right next to the next family and she is also on a main walking route.  There are more children than you can imagine, people constantly walking by, music playing, making it anything but quiet and peaceful – but there is a real feeling of community. 

For example there was a water hole across the path from Hawa’s.  Every now and then someone would empty her bath, dish, or laundry water into the hole.  The hole is man-made because the family across from Hawa is making bricks to do some building on their site and asked the community for water.  Hence all disposable water is being dumped in this water hole - the community is working together.

Mary said “everyone” saw the rice being carried to Hawa’s place and she will be expected to share what she has.  Makes me wonder how long it will last.

I think Hawa is very smart.  She speaks her native Benin tongue, Zarma, Hausa, and French and understands a little English.  Yet she can’t read in any language.  She does the baking and cooking all by heart – this includes banana bread, peanut butter cookies and pie crust.

I had this idea of trying to teach her to read in French.  Get it?  I am teaching her French.  She seems thrilled to be doing this so stay tuned.  Actually the idea is that I can come up with words for her to learn but she can help me with pronunciation.  So we are helping each other.  I think maybe this is the way relationships are supposed to be.  And maybe this is why I am here!! 

So my goal for the last two months we are here is to help her feel confident enough to continue and maybe find someone who would help her – after all this is a literacy center!!  I hope to take advantage of that as well as make sure she has some good employment when we leave.  She is a treasure and a gift to me.  

Thank you God for our angel Hawa and the gift of a relationship with her.