The world lost a special person today

I received awful, shocking news this week. I've lost a dear friend in Kenya, a person who was important to me, and important to everyone she knew. Tuma was my host "mom" while I lived in Kenya this summer.

I received this news from the village yesterday:

"Fatuma (Tuma) Rashid died December 12th, due to complications of Typhoid, diabetes and high blood pressure. I know that this will come as a shock to all of you. We all still can't believe that she is gone. Tuma was a very young and strong woman, wife to Khamis, and mother of three young and beautiful girls. We will all miss her dearly. Words cannot explain the grief that Tuma's family and the community of Takaungu is going through now. Her burial will happen today."

I still can't believe this ... what a shock.

Tuma was a friend, mother, and inspiration to me. This is so unexpected, all I keep thinking about are Ryann, Sue, and Baby Ummu and how this will effect their lives. She was such a strong person in Takaungu Village; this is a huge loss to the whole community.

Tuma fed me, taught me, housed me, trusted me, and even clothed me. That's what I remember most about her- she gave so much to everyone else. She would make sure everyone in her family ate before she did - I'd always ask her if she had eaten yet and she would just nod and say, "don't worry about me."

She loved to teach people, she'd always say, "Dana, I'll teach you how to cook anything you want. I'll teach you." She was also open to learning new things, asking me questions and wanting to expand her abilities.

Tuma would surprise me, too. She brought me to a Swahili wedding in Mombasa dressed like a beautiful queen, wearing make-up, and ready to party! At the wedding, she laughed, danced, and let loose. It was like a different Tuma!

The day I left Takaungu Village, Tuma gave me one piece of her kanga, and I gave her half of mine, so we could remember one another whenever we wore our half. We cried- it was a great moment.

We had plans... plans for continuing our friendship, plans for helping out the girls when they were older, plans to see each other again. I'll miss her, and hope I can teach her daughters one day some portion of what she taught me.