In Memory of Eyob and Nebiat

The back wall of grandma's house with shrines to her four children who have died before her. She told us all four had died within a year of each other.

Eyob and Nebiat. Eyob means Job. Nebiat means prophet. This is the only picture we have of the kids parents together.

Eyob as a young man.

Filemon and his father.

Last night, Joshua was in a particularly talkative mood, so we took this opportunity to ask about his parents. Joshua and Jameson's father's name was Eyob, which means Job. He died 7 years ago. Joshua would have been around 3 and Jameson around 1.

When we were visiting with their paternal grandmother, the only thing we could find out was that he "just got sick and died." Joshua was telling us that after his father died, his mother remarried another man. It was then that she got so sick. She had two more babies; both boys, who would be about 4 and 5 now. She gave them both up before she died because she was too ill to take care of them. Joshua said that at that time, a family wanted to adopt Filemon and Merkeb, but their mother wouldn't allow it. He told us, "she said, no not while I'm alive. You stay with me while I'm alive." Joshua said he took care of her and watched her die.

Jameson was very quiet during this conversation. I'm not sure how much she remembers of it. I didn't understand the whole conversation, but evidently the grandmother's were fighting over the children after the death of Nebiat. Joshua said the police were called and eventually they went to live with their paternal grandmother. Nebiat has been dead for about 4 years now.

Joshua seemed so ready to talk about this. We hadn't really asked a lot of questions as we didn't feel like either one of us were ready. I am just in awe over what these kids have seen, particularly Joshua. Perhaps the reason he seems so mature beyond his years is because he's had to deal with so much in his few years.

Our first weeks home, we were struggling with illness and adjustment, and I think I forgot why I wanted to do this. When we went to the World Vision AIDS project: Step into Africa at our church about AIDS orphans, I was reminded ever so painfully why we felt we were led by God to bring these children home. While we are still adjusting and it hasn't been easy or difficult really, just different; I am reminded and am in awe of the responsbility to give these children a good life.