Hamomi: September 2012

Dear All,

We've been going through a difficult time at Hamomi. On the morning of Wednesday, August 1st, 2012 we lost a dear member of the Hamomi family, Janet Kimuli.

Janet was never simply Hamomi's cook. She is the wife of Hamomi's dedicated Swahili teacher, Nathan Ukhevi. She is the mother to two of Hamomi's most spirited and enthusiastic students, Samuel and Godwin, sometimes joked about as the Hamomi mascots. She was at Hamomi day in and day out. She was our matron.

She died after giving birth prematurely to her third child, Joseph, who is still hospitalized but expected to survive. We asked our students to share their memories and thoughts about Janet in the hopes that it would be cathartic for them and also help us explain to all of you how tragic this loss has been. Their thoughts, messages and memories are below.

I personally will live my life attempting to meet Janet's standard of hard work, generosity and patience. She set the bar high.

~ Susie

Janet with her husband Nathan and their two sons, from left, Samuel and Godwin.

It is with great sorrow that we announce and write about the death of our beloved matron, who was our good mother and who knows how to take care of children.

The last time I saw her, I didn’t believe my eyes. She was very thin and too weak to do anything. We all believed that she will soon recover but it was God’s will to take her away from us. We loved her very much but God loved her too!!! Rest in peace.

~ Metrine

Janet cooking uji (porridge) for breakfast.

Dear Janet,

It’s only one month since you departed from us. Now it looks like a long time ago. I don’t think I will forget you very soon. It was a good life with you when you cooked for us here in Hamomi. Thank you for being a nice person. May you rest in eternal peace.

~ Musimbi

Samuel , aka Sammy the Hammy playing in the teacher's office.

If my memory flashes back to the life of our matron Janet, tears flow down my cheeks. When I saw her for the last time, I thought she would make it back to normal but I didn’t know God’s plans. She has just left a big gap.

This sad story makes me remember her politeness, hard work and unity. She really was a mother. I loved her care for Hamomi pupils. Everyone is now mourning for her. It was unpredictable that we would be missing her by now as all of us are doing.

She has been working in a peaceful manner and she was a role model to many of us. Her soul really did what it had to do in this world but now it is back to where it belongs with all the goodness it was meant to serve and share with the world. All I can say now is, "Fare thee well dear friend and mother till we meet again."

~ Moses

Godwin (left) and Sammy (right) hanging out.

Am very sad that our school Hamomi has lost our lovely matron, Janet. If I remember how she cared for all the pupils and the teachers. I have never met such a kind and polite person like her. She treated everybody equally without discrimination. She cared for us all and made us as a team of Hamomi. She cooked for us very good food and we were happy. We miss her very much.

~Milly

Dear Janet,

I know you have gone to heaven to be with God. You were a friend and a good person to all. We all miss you dearly. When you were gone I looked everywhere to see you but I did not. Now I understand it’s over. What I can say is please friend rest in peace.

~ Gudah

Sammy (left) and Godwin (right).

Janet was one of my favorites. She cooked for us every day like her own family. Since her sickness we looked at her with sorrow in our hearts hoping she would get well. We are now left with her good memories in our hearts. Rest in peace dear Janet. We hope to join you in heaven.

~ Daniel

Janet (left) with Madame Ruth preparing for the 8th grade graduating party.

When we, the pupils of Hamomi children centre got the news of Janet’s passing away, we were very sad. Many girls broke down and cried loudly. I could hardly believe my ears. I wanted her to recover from her sickness and come back to us but I was wrong. She did not make it. It was too difficult for her.

She was the mother of Godwin and Samuel. I saw her on Sunday evening, she looked very ill and she was very thin. She was on medication. The next day the news were out. Janet was dead.

R.I.P Janet , dearest friend and mother.

~ Silas

Nathan teaching Swahili.

Hamomi Children Centre has lost their beloved matron, Janet. She was working very well in our school. When I joined Hamomi I realized that we had a matron who was humble, quiet and kind. Janet was just working well up to when she started to be sick. Our school was just praying for our matron to be free from illness.

I believed that our matron could get alright again. When the report came out from our teacher that our matron had died, I never believed it. I started thinking that our teacher was just pulling our legs. After two days I realized that it was true, she had died. That was the time I was shocked. She respected everybody and we loved her dearly. RIP Janet.

~ Aling'aling'a

Godwin

The extremely sad news of our Janet’s death was something I can still hardly believe. It is impossible for me to be put my feelings into words.

The only thing I can say is that I thank Janet for all the works she did in our school, Hamomi. May God bless her whenever she is. Janet left three children. My deepest sympathy to go to her children and their father Mr. Nathan. May God give them the courage to bear this great loss.

~ Charles

Sammy posing for his class picture in 2011.

Dear Janet,

We loved you but God has loved you more. We needed you but God had other plans for you. We thought about you but God wanted to be with you. We ate with you and we lived with you, but God provided. Finally we will be with you too one day.

~Douglas