I accidently came to know Jana by when she emailed me after ordering the ebook Going Natural how to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair. For some technical reason, she couldn’t open the book. When I found out that she wanted the book to learn to care for the hair of her adopted Zimbabwean daughter, I immediately offered to send her a free copy and some of my homemade products. Little did I know that I’d be forever humbled by the compelling story behind her daughter’s kinky coils. I will always be grateful Jana found this site. Here is their story.
I accidently came to know Jana by when she emailed me after ordering the ebook Going Natural how to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair. For some technical reason, she couldn’t open the book. When I found out that she wanted the book to learn to care for the hair of her adopted Zimbabwean daughter, I immediately offered to send her a free copy and some of my homemade products. Little did I know that I’d be forever humbled by the compelling story behind her daughter’s kinky coils. I will always be grateful Jana found this site. Here is their story.
A natural survivor
On December 16, 2003 it was a cool Summer morning next to the Thalamakane River in Maun, Botswana where the Hippos and Crocodiles call home. An undercover officer was investigating a house nearby when he heard the distinct cry of a dog, then the barking and again crying. He went outside to see what the fuss was about and followed the sound until he saw suspicious signs on the ground. When he found the barking dog, he seemed to be guarding something. The dog allowed him to pass. When he did he saw a cloth strewn over something under a bush. It seemed to be moving and when he picked it up, to his astonishment, there was a baby girl unveiled, and she looked to be freshly born, just a few hours old! The dog was watching out for her, crying for help and standing guard over this amazing fresh, new treasure.
He scooped her up and took her to the local hospital where the nurses took her and cleaned her up and fed her. From the looks of things, she was probably laying there for around 4 hours before she was found. The policeman’s name was Rra Pula so the nurses named her “Mma Pula” after the man who found her. In the Setswana language, “Rra” is for a male and “Mma” is for female. “Pula” is the name of the currency here which is more valuable than money which means Rain. Being in the desert, rain is life and blessing! Her name literally means- “one who brings blessing”.
Three months later, my family went to visit a friend who had given birth. While the family waited outside, which is the custom in the 3rd world hospital maternity ward, I went in and asked to see the baby we came to visit. I went up to the nurses station and there was a little trolley there with a baby I asked if it was the one I was looking for? They said that this is Mmapula, the baby found by the river, don’t you want to take her?” Astonished, Mmapula and I locked eyes with one another and something magical happened! Any woman would have felt something but this was even more than that! Her almond eyes so wide and searching, her heart shaped lips and golden skin, long fingers and delicate body captivated me! I picked her up and asked the nurse if I could take her out to see my family. I passed the eager couple we had come to visit and said I would be right back. When I took her outside, conveyed the story to my husband and 3 boys. As I was talking, my oldest son, then 14, scooped her out of my arms and said, “Mom, we can’t leave her here, we have to take her home”. And that’s just what we did! Mmapula came home a week and a half later into foster care in our home, and less than 2 years after that, she was legally adopted into our family. In the remote areas, if a lady likes my dress, she will say “give me Christmas!” I tell people here that Mmapula is our Christmas every day! She is now 5 years old and is every bit of my African Angel!
She is full of life, promise and destiny, truly is “one who brings blessing!” Love Botswana, the NGO we founded is opening a house for abandoned babies. No trace of the mother was ever found. Baby dumping is not an uncommon occurrence in this part of the world. That is why Love Botswana is going to reach out to abandoned babies and have a place that is a ‘safe haven’ for these precious ones. Babies live in the hospitals for months on end since there is no place in the country that targets 3 and under. We look forward to being a place of hope for many!
I would like to thank you Mireille, for your products and for the great book you sent me! It is fascinating and has been an education to me as a non-kinky Texas girl! I am committed to celebrating Puli’s natural curls as long as I have anything to do with it!
Jana Lackey
www.lovebotswana.org
