I recently realized I never wrote the story of Fernando and his little brother Antoninho, whom we affectionally refer to as our “bichinho” (little bug). These two precious brothers joined our family in June 2021. Fernando was then 10 years old and Antonio was only 6 years old. They were placed with us by the Social Services for Women and Children in Manhica, about a two hour drive from us in Matola.
The mother of the boys had died shortly after Antonio’s birth. Their father was not suited to care for the boys and lived a lifestyle that endangered them physically and emotionally. It was so difficult that the boys chose at such a young age to leave their home and live on the street. This is how Social Action discovered them. The only location they had to place them in was an all-girls’ orphanage in Manhica. They were placed there temporarily until a more permanent placement was found.
Before we went to bring the boys home, we were sent this photo of them. Are they cute or what? Once placed in girls’ center, they were given the opportunity to go to school so this photo shows them proudly modeling their new school uniforms.
This is the photo they sent to us of the house they came from.
Needless to say, my heart was captured by them and their situation just from these photos.
When we arrived in Manhica, after collecting the local caseworker from Social Action, we went to the father’s house to get information and complete documents. The living conditions were among the poorest I have witnessed. Their father was a fisherman, and not a very successful one from the appearance of their surroundings. He was also clearly not a very good father for reasons I cannot share. It was obvious the boys could not be raised in his care. He gave us their history and birth certificates, signed a document relinquishing his parental rights, and we were done. As we got into our car to leave, I realized with great sadness that at no point did he even ask who we were or where we would be taking the boys to live.
Our next stop was to collect the boys from the girls’ center where they had been living. It was a lovely and tidy place, very well maintained. We met the boys and watched as the girls surrounded them and prepared them to go with us. It was adorable to see them doting over Fernando and Antonio. It was apparent that the boys had been pampered during their short time there.
We said our goodbyes to the girls and walked to the van. As we were walking, I asked the boys if they would like to go and say goodbye to their father before leaving. Without hesitation or even looking up at me, they simply replied, “No”. With that, we loaded them in the van and took what has become our traditional photo with them in the back.
It was quite late until we arrived at Sunshine House 5. It was dark outside and we were all tired from a long day. The boys were welcomed by their new mother, Catarina, and their new siblings, Faustino, Beatriz, and France. We left them to sleep and get to know each other. Over the next few months, they learned a lot about being in a family and having older brothers who do not appreciate being provoked and whose possessions they were not to take and break. Oh my!
The boys have now been with us for about a year and a half. They have done a lot of growing!
Fernando enjoys school and has recently begun reading. It has come with a lot of work. I often arrive at the home and catch him off by himself reading a book, laboriously mouthing out each word. He is determined to master reading!
Fernando has struggled greatly with self-esteem. I could see in him that he felt a bit lost. One day, I asked him if he knew how very special he was. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “No”. Thus began my quest to reassure him and teach him how special he is! I am so happy to see all of the love and messages I have poured into him influencing him. He now greets me with a warm hug each time I come. Fernando has learned his place in the family and interacts positively with his brothers. Once a loner and outsider, he is now out and about with his brothers playing.
Antonio is growing up too fast for us, as little boys do! He has lost his two front teeth and grown new ones back in again.
He is gaining height by the inches every day. He loves, loves, loves to play…sometimes a little too much, according to his teachers at school. He is the first one to enter our learning center after school each day. His go-to-games are the puzzles. He has put together every puzzle on our shelves at least 10 times each!
I sit here at my computer smiling with the greatest of humble satisfaction as I write their story to share with you. As I said in the beginning, I usually write these stories on the day we bring them home. Therefore, I only know their past and nothing of their future. But for Fernando and Antonio, I now know a bit of what was to be their future experiences and transformation after leaving their past behind them. It feels good to write their story having seen them grow and change. Their story is just beginning. They are only 11 and 7 now. They have a lot of life ahead of them. I am so thankful to be able to experience it with them!
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