This is a very difficult one to write because not only is it tough to put this woman into words, it’s also hard to say goodbye to her. Tata is our cook at the children’s home and we had to say goodbye to her last night because she is stepping out to find a job that will keep her home with her own children more often. It’s a huge move for her to make, but as a mother, it’s one she has to make.
Tata has been cooking at the home for a while now and has pretty much made it her home as well. Whenever teams come through, she’s the one that makes them feel more at home with french fries, BBQ pork, and coffee. She works constantly for this home and it’s not a rare thing for weeks to turn into months before she is able to leave the camp-sight to see her children. She has given up a ton to provide for her two kids, even time with them.
A little over a year ago, Tata was widowed after a car accident and ever since then, she has been the lone provider for her kids, while other family that doesn’t work has taken care of them. Her hours at the home have steadily increased over the year and the home has become more and more reliant on her. Over the last year, she has been an excellent picture of a mother for these kids, but there comes a time when that example needs to be focused on your own kids, and Tata is taking that step.
I want to share one quick story about Tata that I can never forget. On one of our first nights in Malaybalay, I was a little restless so I got up for a walk. It was a little after 10 at night, which might as well be 3 am around this home because the camp grounds were silent. I noticed one little light still on at the top of the hill in the dining hall, so I ventured up to see who was still awake. When I walked in, Tata and one of her helpers were elbow deep in a vegetable protein mixture we used to make “meat”balls. The Best of Pop was blaring on the speakers and I felt like I had just walked into a karaoke bar.
Over the next several hours, the three of us formed “meat”balls and sang as loud as we could to songs I would normally be embarrassed that I knew. When we finally finished, my back was so tight from bending over and I thought my hands were done for. I couldn’t imagine this everyday… It was a little after 2 am when I turned to go to bed, but I decided better of that and stayed a little longer to keep talking with the girls. I found out Tata had two kids, the older a girl and the younger a boy, and she loves these kids so much. A typical day for her starts around 4 am straight in the kitchen because the kids are up and hungry by 5. One meal leads to another and she’s often finishing her night around 11 pm. On the rare occasion, (this night was one) she would cook for the mass feedings we do often in the neighborhoods. I asked her when she slept and it was the first time I noticed how tired her eyes looked.
Up to this point, Tata’s smile and laugh could light up a room so much that it was easy to overlook how tired she was. None of us knew how little she slept or how much she worked, we just knew meals were on a schedule. I’ve never been much for being in the kitchen, but since that night, that’s a good place to start looking for me. It’s a place of service and even though it can get pretty hectic, it’s often a joyful place to be. One phrase stuck with me after that night and I’m not even sure where it came from, but I can’t shake it.
“Everyone wants a revolution, but nobody wants to do the dishes…”
So, I guess I say all of this to thank Tata. She may never have the chance to read this, but she has left a lasting impression on my heart and has shown me what it looks like to serve and truly be a provider. As of now, she doesn’t have another job, but is just stepping out in faith that God will provide her with something that will allow her to be home. As much as it pains me to say, I hope she doesn’t have to come back to us. She’s going home to be mommy. God, please allow her to be just that and provide for her kids…
