Ginoca did not have an easy start to life. Her mother abandoned her and her father when she was just a baby. There is no record of her birth, so we don’t know her birthday or her age. Social Action assigned her a birth date of January 1, 2013, making her now 8 years old. She has never attended school. Her father abused her and then intimidated her into keeping quiet by saying that he would kill her if she told anyone. But our Ginoca was brave, and she did speak up… she told the local chefe. The chefe contacted the police, and they moved right into action removing Ginoca from the home and putting the father in jail where he is awaiting a trial. Social Action felt she would do better in a family-care setting, so they contacted our Sunshine Approach Foundation to place her in one of our homes.
I was in the United States visiting family at the time, so my husband, Don, and our son, William, joined my colleague, Delcio, in going to the orphanage in Machava. When our crew arrived, they were invited to sit outside in the shade of a tree while they talked with the orphanage’s nurse. As they were talking, a little girl came up, looked them over, and exclaimed, “Eles sao bonitos!” (They are beautiful!)
My husband asked who this girl was, and the nurse informed him that this was the little girl they came to see. They thought they were just going to meet her… yet when she came out to meet them carrying her book bag packed up with all of her belongings and the nurse handed them a file with her documentation, they realized she was coming home with them…that very day! After the papers were signed, they climbed into the car and began the trip to Matola.
Throughout the whole experience, my husband was impressed by Ginoca. He expected to meet a shy, withdrawn, scared little girl. Ginoca instead was positive, outgoing, friendly and confident. On their way to Matola, they stopped at a local store and took Ginoca to the toy aisle. Don showed her all the rows and rows of dolls and told her she could pick any one she wanted… except for the one that was as tall as she was!!! Ginoca took about 10 minutes to carefully survey each doll in each row, and in the end chose the one to her liking. The doll was paid for and they continued on to her new home where she was welcomed into her new family.
That evening, Don and William called me to inform me that they had come to the decision that they were switching jobs with me. They would now run the foundation and I would run the factory. The day impacted them greatly, and they felt it was the most rewarding day of their life. My response, “No way!” But I did tell them they are welcome to join me in my work any day they would like.
Ginoca now lives with her new mother, Ilda, and her new 4 siblings, Virginia, Nina, Vicente and Helio. She became an immediate member of the family with the girls putting new braids in her hair, her brothers showing her how to get around the neighborhood, and Ilda teaching her the chores she would be expected to complete as a part of the family. She loves to play with dolls and can usually be found laughing and giggling with her sisters in their bedroom. She is inquisitive and curious. When we gather together every Sunday for our “Igrejinha”, our name for our children’s church attended by our Sunshine children, she sits in her chair with her face set like stone on whoever is sharing the message that day. She carries herself well and displays the best of manners. She is an all-around amazing young lady.
Today was the first day of school in Mozambique. Our schools have been closed since the start of the Covid restrictions in March 2020. For Ginoca, it was her first first-day of school ever! She never had the opportunity to attend school. So she will start at the beginning in grade 1. As we expected, she is not put off by this. She was ready to go and excited for what lies ahead of her. It was such a privilege and honor to take her to school today. I warned her ahead of time that Mama Terri would be taking many photos and there may even be some tears involved. She just smiled and gave me a warm hug.
As we drove to the school, I came to the realization of how popular she is in the community. Many other girls shouted out her name and called to her as we drove past. Ginoca responded to each girl with warm greetings and waves. I felt like I was chauffeuring a celebrity in my car!
At the school, I was more nervous than she was! She entered with confidence and security.
We found her classroom and introduced her to her new teacher. After yet another photo, this time with her teacher, Delcio told me that it was time to go.
We mothers know that feeling of leaving our children behind on their first day of school. We look back again and again as we exit the classroom making sure that our child is okay. Our hearts feel like they are being torn in two and our eyes are welled up with tears. We think of a million things we have forgotten to tell them and remind them of. I felt all of these things as I left her room. She, however, was just fine. She sat in her little desk with a look of complete calm on her face.
So now I sit at home, waiting for a call from her mother, Ilda, to let me know she is back home. I’m waiting to hear her tell me how her day was. I’m anxious to know every detail. But we mothers know what I will hear. I will ask her how her day was, and she will respond like every other child. She will simply answer, “Good.”
