Matricula

Matricula:  on Wednesday the men went to Nampula to get needed supplies for the construction.  Since they would be returning late, Lynne and I left before dark to go get dinner.  On the walk back from the restaurant, Leena (as she is called here) talked with a young man she had met on the street the day before.  As he walked back with us, he told Leena that he should have been in 9th grade this last year but had not had the "matricula"....school fee....for the year.  As with most people on the street, he was asking for something from the "wealthy tourist". But Rodger and Lynne know that once you make a handout to one, you will be a target of all. Many of you have known me through the trips I have made to Brazil or even been there with me.  There are some kids that just get to your heart and become something special to you....my Tevas or my Brazilian "daughter" Letitia. Lynne had that feeling about this boy.  She told the young man that she could not make this kind of decision without talking it over with Rodger.  She told him that he must come and talk to Rogerio "man to man".  He needed to come back the next morning to our guest house by 7 am to see Rodger or go to the house around 8 am.  He did show up the next morning asking for Leena.  No...he must go talk to Rodger ....again, man to man.  And we were proud to find out he did.  He ended up helping with some grout work in the kitchen and then raking in the yard.  And earned his matricula!  The amount....around $10 US which would allow him to go to school this coming year seems so little to us.  But he can be proud to have earned it and not just gotten a handout.  Rodger asked him to later bring him the registration paper for school and then to show him a good report card during the year.  We can hope he does so and proves worthy of what Lynne saw in him.