|
|
|
|
PL803
1 September 2019
There is no official start to this story.
The day Cathy Lal arrived at the mission is unclear. We know she was very young, but the actual date is not recorded. When asked, even Cathy isn't sure. One report claims she was left in the mango orchard, picked up by the carpenter on his way into work. Cathy doesn’t believe this is true—but however it actually happened, she arrived.
|
|
|
|
Cathy as a baby and at around the age of 6.
|
|
Cathy has no early memories of Mission life, but she does remember the day Roma Singh first appeared. It was October 12th, 1999. Cathy was six. Roma was seven months old and the newest orphanage resident.
“I was so excited,” Cathy says, remembering the first time she saw the beautiful big-eyed baby girl. “And from that day on, I helped raise her. I loved her right from the start.”
|
|
|
|
Roma at maybe 7 and at 7 months old.
|
|
As the days began to pass and the girls grew, they also grew closer and closer together. “I liked the times Cathy used to massage my hair with oil and pigtail my hair,” Roma recalls. “She is the most caring person I have ever met. Whenever I am sad, she comes looking for me. Eight, nine times a day, just to check if I’m okay. She makes me feel like I am the most beautiful person. I could never ask for more.”
(In spite of their farm-famous friendship, we don't have many early pictures of them together. But here are a few shots of them growing up.)
|
|
|
|
Roma and her pigtails with a few of her other sisters, Maya and Reeva.
|
|
|
|
Cathy modeling the hottest new playground toy and hairstyle of the season.
|
|
|
|
Roma posing as the sweetest angel in the nursery.
|
|
|
|
Cathy and Nancy in their early Strong House days.
|
|
|
|
Roma's the flashy toothbrusher in green.
|
|
|
|
Cathy doing a bit of drama. Apparently April is the other actress.
|
|
|
|
Roma with her small sister Kelly.
|
|
|
|
Cathy (far left) with a group of small girls on a walk to the jungle.
|
|
|
|
Cathy and Roma, Together (in a photo) at last!
|
|
|
|
Roma in 2014, growing up fast at 15 years old.
|
|
|
|
Cathy looking sharp, certainly sharper than Izzy.
|
|
|
|
Maya and Roma, all grown up.
|
|
There are bonds stronger than blood forged in orphanages, and Cathy and Roma’s friendship is one of these bonds. From their shared room in the Big Girls’ Hostel, where the walls are washed blue like the expansive sky, blue as the many tears they have cried together in this small space, these sisters have dreamed of a future that is finally coming to life.
|
|
|
|
In their room, laughing about something on Roma's phone.
|
|
Last October, long-term Mission supporters Paul and Paige Quinn decided to foster a small boy in Hong Kong. Paul is a lawyer and Paige is a teacher over there, so a nanny would be helpful. But in an act of incredible generosity and kindness, Paul and Paige decided not to break up the sisters, inviting both Cathy and Roma to come live and work with them.
Ten months later, after passport delays and visa worries, the adventure has finally begun as the girls drove to Delhi to catch their flights. (Paul and Paige are flying to India to pick them up.) 7251 days since Roma arrived as a beautiful big-eyed girl and Cathy began pig-tailing her hair, they left together for a new life, hand in hand, ready to take on the world.
|
|
|
|
Whether you're the sister leaving or staying, it was an emotional morning.
|
|
|
|
Malik is still adamant that he will marry Cathy one day.
|
|
|
|
Some moments are beyond words.
|
|
|
|
While some goodbyes are less touching than others.
|
|
|
|
A group prayer for a safe journey.
|
|
“I’ll miss talking and joking around with my friends,” Roma says, excited for the lifestyle and language opportunities she’ll find in her new home. And Cathy is even more nostalgic. “I will miss this big family. All the people,” she says. Then she smiles. “And I will miss Priscilla’s cooking the most.”
We don’t know where Cathy and Roma’s parents are or really why we were given the great honor of raising these girls. And we can’t say exactly what the future holds for them. Roma dreams of becoming an air hostess one day, and Cathy goes back and forth between librarian and councilor. But all of that is for another time.
|
|
|
|
They never met a rainstorm they didn't love.
|
|
|
|
Real girls wear face paint.
|
|
|
|
Roma and Cathy with their brother Clifford.
|
|
|
|
Cathy's Captain Jack Sparrow won first prize in this costume contest.
|
|
|
|
Roma and Cathy Forever.
|
|
Our story has no real beginning and it has no ending either. As these children of the mission leave, now powerful independent young women in their own right, we give thanks for all the laughter and joy they have brought to each one of us, and we wish them all the safety and love the world can offer them.
Bonds stronger than blood are forged in places like ours and on days like today, filled with pride and sadness, we all feel it. Good luck, girls. We love you.
Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene, Priscilla & John
|
|
|
For Those Who Pray:
- We ask for safe travels and an easy adjustment into Hong Kong life for Roma and Cathy. May the right friends be found and the right doors open up. May they be treated like the priceless gifts that they are, and may their success be a light that inspires all of our kids on the Mission.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
