Where Is Our Mother

_Compassion 4 Kids International Reaching Out to Invisible Street Children Since October 2005
Non-Fiction: Author Joseph A Burke
Chapter One 
In a country like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and others, there are those that promise those that have very little money to go somewhere else where they will make lots of money, become a singing star, or promise them the moon. This story is about a mother of 3 children. Her husband was a decorated military man, had a good income and had saved money and put it in the bank for when they would retire. 
But life doesn't always go the way we plan and the husband dies when he was in his early 30s. The mother was a good mother. Every Sunday she took the children to church and fed and clothed them. The children have many friends at school and in the neighborhood. 

About 4 years after the husband died, she knew that things were going to get very rough as the money was now almost gone that they had saved. Her three kids were now 8, 10 and the oldest, a daughter turned 17 the summer before. 

In early November the mother was met by a man dressed in a very nice suit and when he approached he was very eloquent in his speech and was very respectful of her. He mentioned that he was helping ladies like herself, find jobs away from home that paid well and she would be able to send money home on a monthly basis very easy. She said she might be interested and the man came back each week, giving her more assuance as to the green grass that was growing and in a few years she would be able to return to live out the rest of her days.

After the 3rd visit she knew that this is what she would have to  do. So the next time the man came by she informed him of her decision and said  she could go in one week.  Then she calls her three children to herself and explained to them that she was going to go away and was promised a job that this man had found, and would be sending money back to them each month. She explained that there was enough rice and other food items for a couple of months. They had no meat for they had no refrigerator like almost everyone else around them. 

The daughter, Ika, was confused but mostly understood. Ika is a typical teenager that loved to be with her friends at school and after school. They went to town together, to each other's houses, and did not pay too much attention to adult responsibilities. But now her mother was saying she was going to be the leader of the family while she was gone. She was to look after the welfare of the boys, and the boys were to respect and follow their sister's guidance.  She told them that life life would be better when she got to her new job and 
would be sending them money each month.

The two boys also listened intently as their mother described everything that was going to happen. They were to keep their own area clean, no friends in the house after dark, and help their sister with cleaning the rest of the house. They were to make sure they were at church every Sunday.  First Doud (David), being the youngest began to cry now understanding there mother was now going to leave. Soon Johannas (John) began to cry and their mother put each one under her arms and squeezed them and then all of them were crying. After fifteen minutes the sobbing had slowed down and mom went on with what they needed to do for each other. 

Then had never been separated from their mother before and now the questions came. Why was she leaving? Where was she going? How long will she be gone? What if something happens to her? 

She answered each question except where she was going. For that answer she said, "The man told me it was in a big city and they were short of older women that were taught well and knew how to work through problems. So I have decided to go with others and him to this place. We will be leaving in the morning. He said that there will be two of us in a modern room to sleep. The way he described it, it will be nicer than our home here. So you do not have to worry about me. Pray for me each day for my health and my return. Depending on the pay, will depend on how long I will be gone. I will send you money every month."

Ika asks, "Mom, I will try to be a good mother in your place, but I do not think it will be easy. I miss you already and you are right here. I have so many questions and do not know what to ask."  

Mom replies "I know Ika. It will be hard for each of you for awhile, but when I can send you money, things will become easier for you."    
Time went by so fast and it was time to go to bed. No one slept but they were deep in thought within their own minds. Morning came and mom made breakfast for them for the last time. She showed Ika where all
the food was and gave her some motherly instructions. About 9 A.M the man drove up in front of the house. The car was nice a shiny and there was one lady already in the back seat. 

All  the children gathered around mom for one last hug. The man said "It is time to go ma'am. Say your goodbye's and we need to get to the airport right away and it is about 2 hours away."

"Okay, children ....." as she looked each child in the face "I love you so very much. I am sorry I have to go but all the money is gone and I need to do this for you. I left all the money I could with Ika and she will spend it wisely. Pray to God for yourself, your brothers and sister, and me. No matter what happens, remember, God is with me no matter where I go." 

The boys knew how to pray along with Ika, and they new they had lots of new responsiblities for each other. They all went to their mother and gave her a smoochy wet kiss. Mom backed herself through the door and then turned and walked to the car. She hesitated just before opening the door ...... (she thought 'Should I not go') and then she opened opened the door and got in. She rolled the window down and yelled to her children.... "I love you so much, be good, and I will send you money soon."

Doud, crying, waved his whole arm as he was saying "Bye, mom, I love you and I really wish you would not go!"

Johannas also said "Mom, I love you so much too. I will be good and when you return I will be the man of the house for you. I am growing up fast. Bye mom, I love you so much."

The man was itching to go but waited for Ika to say something and she broke out in tears as she ran to the car, "Moother, are you sure I can do this? I have not done much cooking."

Her mother quickly responded, "You will do fine, now step back so we can go, I love all three of you with all my heart."

Ika pulled away "Yes mother, I love you so much too, please come home as soon as you can and teach me what I need to know to be married. ..... Mom never stop thinking of how much we love you. I will not say goodbye for you will be retuning."

The man stepped on the gas and the car slowly pulled away. Within 30 seconds the car turned the corner and disappeared. The children pulled their arms down from continuous waving and began to hug each other, crying and crying and crying.

We don't know how long they stood there but when a neighbor came out to see what was wrong, they separated and the woman said "Children, what is wrong?"

Ika, now the mother, stopped crying and told her "Our mother just left to get a job somewhere so she can send us money for food and stuff."

The woman is about 15 years older than Ika's mother, She replied "I am so sorry your mother had to leave, if there is anything that we can help you with, you let me know." She turned around and went back to her house but she knew that the mother was probably not going to return, let alone be able to send any money. But it was not her place to tell them.

Ika said, "Okay boys let us go back in the house and get the breakfast dishes cleaned. Johannas, it will be your responsibility to make sure we have enough wood pieces to be able to cook with a fire as much as we can for we are low on gas for the stove (a two burner camping type stove.) Doud, you need to make sure that we have enough clean pure drinking water at all times.

Both the boys responded "Okay, Ika."

A month went by and another went by and no response from the mother came.

Life has now changed for these three children. Mom was no longer to say “I love you.” She was no longer to be able to help them learn life’s lessons from that last time, so long ago.



To continue this story go to How Are We Going To Live?

Author: Joseph Burke