Dear Family and friends,
After an intense week end, here is a little mail to share with you Amna’s last trip home.
We met Rizal yesterday at noon in Medan Airport where he flew in from Banda Aceh. He had gone home from Penang two days earlier. He came with his brother-in-law: it was hard but we were very happy to see him and help him. Elly arrived from Penang with Amna’s body not long after. She was relieved to finally be with her husband and no longer alone. It was very hard seeing them reunite as you can imagine. Elly came to both Abel and I and fell in our arms. It was difficult for her to walk at first but Rizal was holding her tight.
Rizal had to go and organize Amna’s transfer from one company to the other. Off course, here, nothing is automatic or easy, even in such situation. We stayed with Elly who told us about Amna’s last day and also that she had loved her book we made her with all your messages of love and support.
Some family of Elly living in Medan came to the airport and it was good because Elly was capable of receiving their support (women here are the biggest source of support for other women. A part of course from Rizal, it is hard for other men to be “physically” supportive). We then went and had food, and talked about Amna. She had asked the doctor in the morning to tell her honestly what her condition was. He had told her it was critical, and she had thought about it a lot, and then had gone to play in the play room with other children. She then had her hemorragy.
We took the plane back to Banda Aceh at 5 all together in the same plane. Once arrived, there was an ambulance there for Amna. We went directly to their house where there was already many people (the community, friends, family.. ). We met Erwin and Ika there. Amna’s body arrived shortly after and she was brought into the living room and laid on the ground (there is no “coffin” here, just a wooden box for the journey). She was wrapped in white lining and was very beautiful. Everybody came in the house and said goodbye. The family was sitting next to her on the floor. We stayed quite a while, I couldn’t stop looking at her, trying to say goodbye and also not wanting to forget her face. It was very hard for Putri, her older sister; Huzna I think wasn’t too sure of what was going on, and Latifah was sleeping.. Then they put a white cloth on her face and wrapped her in a white and golden cloth. The men then went to the mosque with her body to pray for her soul. Then they went directly from the mosque to the cemetery, where she was buried. There were songs and prayers, and two trees were planted on both sides of her grave. I stayed in the house with all the women. We talked, ate, and took care of Elly and the girls. Then Abel and Erwin came back, we left.
In Medan, Rizal told me that we had done everything we could, and that now we needn’t worry for Amna was in peace with Allah. He told us that what had taken her was bigger than our powers and that we shouldn’t worry for her anymore. He also thanked us and all of you for everything. I envy their faith.
We will miss our little angel. Rizal and Elly are family now so we will continue off course to see them and give you news. The money that is left will go for Amna’s sisters, to pay for school or their future education. We trust the family entirely to decide what’s best.
Lots of love,
Emily
Ps: I will forward and translate all words of support you guys send to Rizal and Elly…
After an intense week end, here is a little mail to share with you Amna’s last trip home.
We met Rizal yesterday at noon in Medan Airport where he flew in from Banda Aceh. He had gone home from Penang two days earlier. He came with his brother-in-law: it was hard but we were very happy to see him and help him. Elly arrived from Penang with Amna’s body not long after. She was relieved to finally be with her husband and no longer alone. It was very hard seeing them reunite as you can imagine. Elly came to both Abel and I and fell in our arms. It was difficult for her to walk at first but Rizal was holding her tight.
Rizal had to go and organize Amna’s transfer from one company to the other. Off course, here, nothing is automatic or easy, even in such situation. We stayed with Elly who told us about Amna’s last day and also that she had loved her book we made her with all your messages of love and support.
Some family of Elly living in Medan came to the airport and it was good because Elly was capable of receiving their support (women here are the biggest source of support for other women. A part of course from Rizal, it is hard for other men to be “physically” supportive). We then went and had food, and talked about Amna. She had asked the doctor in the morning to tell her honestly what her condition was. He had told her it was critical, and she had thought about it a lot, and then had gone to play in the play room with other children. She then had her hemorragy.
We took the plane back to Banda Aceh at 5 all together in the same plane. Once arrived, there was an ambulance there for Amna. We went directly to their house where there was already many people (the community, friends, family.. ). We met Erwin and Ika there. Amna’s body arrived shortly after and she was brought into the living room and laid on the ground (there is no “coffin” here, just a wooden box for the journey). She was wrapped in white lining and was very beautiful. Everybody came in the house and said goodbye. The family was sitting next to her on the floor. We stayed quite a while, I couldn’t stop looking at her, trying to say goodbye and also not wanting to forget her face. It was very hard for Putri, her older sister; Huzna I think wasn’t too sure of what was going on, and Latifah was sleeping.. Then they put a white cloth on her face and wrapped her in a white and golden cloth. The men then went to the mosque with her body to pray for her soul. Then they went directly from the mosque to the cemetery, where she was buried. There were songs and prayers, and two trees were planted on both sides of her grave. I stayed in the house with all the women. We talked, ate, and took care of Elly and the girls. Then Abel and Erwin came back, we left.
In Medan, Rizal told me that we had done everything we could, and that now we needn’t worry for Amna was in peace with Allah. He told us that what had taken her was bigger than our powers and that we shouldn’t worry for her anymore. He also thanked us and all of you for everything. I envy their faith.
We will miss our little angel. Rizal and Elly are family now so we will continue off course to see them and give you news. The money that is left will go for Amna’s sisters, to pay for school or their future education. We trust the family entirely to decide what’s best.
Lots of love,
Emily
Ps: I will forward and translate all words of support you guys send to Rizal and Elly…
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