Namibian Mothers Day 13.05.12

This Sunday in Namibia was spent celebrating Mothers day with my Afrikaner boyfriend Gary's, family.
Gary, a 27 year old boer living in Omaruru, to whom I have been dating since December, was raised in Walvis baai until his mother, diagnosed from liver cancer, died when he was 13. He went from home to home, along with his 3 brothers, until his Aunt (Tante Corrie) took his 2 younger brothers under her wing and gave Gary himself a place to stay at the rest camp that she owns in Omaruru.

Tante Corrie is an amazing woman. Taking Gary's 2 youngest brothers into her care and paying to put them through school, housing them and being the mother figure that they need in their lives considering they are only just in high school.
Corrie previously has adopted 2 young black girls that were orphaned at young ages. Firstly, Rosa, who has been in the family now for many years. 23 now, she helps with work at the rest camp and is resitting her exams after failing the first time. Something Corrie has funded as well as a roof over her head and food everyday.
Secondly in Angela age 7. As a baby, Angela was brought to Corrie by her sick mother, just before her death, who begged Corrie to please look after her little girl when she is gone. Corrie did not refuse and now Angela is a happy, energetic little girl, always making everybody laugh at the rest camp.

Corrie also does a lot for charity in the community, and has made me feel extremely welcome here, allowing me to be as you may say 'a part of the family'. Her friendly and giving personality is unlike any other and I know if ever I have any problems, it is worth talking to her about.

So back to mothers day. We woke early on the Sunday and attended the church service at the New Apostolic Church that the family built and fund for the community. Corries husband, Johan, is also a district Evangelist for the Erongo region.
After church, we began preparation for the secret mothers day meal for Corrie, who at the time was in Windhoek with Johan, but they were on their way back.
I helped Rosa and some of the workers of the rest camp to set up the tables, balloons, lanterns and streamers for the meal.  Whilst a big meal was being cooked.
Gary and his brothers, Andries, Pieter and all of the other men were engrossed in a go cart session outside in the rest camp grounds whilst us women were hard at work.

Finally, everything was prepared, and everyone waited for Tante Corrie to arrive back to surprise her. She was trilled and many of us sat down together and ate a wonderous meal and presents were given out to all of the mothers there and Gary's son Ethan and brothers read Afrikaans poems.
At the end of all of it, everybody went back to their places to take a long afternoon sleep and then gathered again for a buffet type meal in the evening.

It was a nice thing to be a part of and was nice to feel like part of a family when I am so far away from my own. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to share the day with such a big, welcoming family.