Biniyam Abraham, Sophia's brother came from Alaska, Abel Beyene (My son) came from college in Kentucky & I came from New York to spend Christmas with Samron Ghebrehiwot and Sophia who were already settled in Virginia, sometimes in the late eighties.
Abel Beyene, my son, and I (Abeba Isahac) came to visit Sophia in Virginia USA from London, England, sometime in the very early eighties.(1981-1982)
My brother Fitwi Isahac's wedding day to Guenet Worede in Asmara after the church ceremony wedding - out in the woods ( Beit Gherghish) for pictures, fresh air and repose before the wedding luncheon. Double wedding with her sister Kidan Worede on the left.
Poem by Mr Zeriselassie Kelati (her uncle)
ሶፊ ከመይ ዋዒልኪ
አፍቅድለይ ሓንቲ ክሓተኪ
ካበይ ረኺብክዮ ሉቦና ሃብቲ
እወ ኔሮም እዮም
አቦታትኪ አብሓጎታትኪ
ዘብርሁ ከባቢኦም
መኺኾም ከሞ ስምዒ
ግን ሓቢእክልና ንዞሎና አሕትኪ
ክንብዝቡዞ አይከአልናን ሃብታም ልቦናኺ
ግዜ ቀልጢፉና ከይንእክብ ንመጻኢ
ሶፊ እቲ ዝነበረ ሃብቲ ልቦናኺ
አቐሚጥኪዮ አብቲ ሱቱር ባንኪ
ገሊጾም እቶም ዝኮሰኮስክዮም ደቂ
ገሊጾምልና አባኺ ዝነበሮም ፍቕሪ
ብቃል አይነበረን ግን ድኣ ብግብሪ
ዝዘራእክዮ ኢኺ ዝዓጸድኪ
ለዋህ ኔርኪ ሓላፍነትኪ ዘይስሓትኪ
ዝገርመኪ ብዙሕ እዩ ተመስኪሩልኪ
እወ ሶፊ ጳውሎስ ምሂሩና
ከይንኸውን ከምዘይ አመንቲ
ትስፋ አሎና ገጽ ንገጽ ክንርኸብ ምስ ጎይታ
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through.
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."
"It's good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, They'll be here later on.
I need you here so badly, you are part of my plan.
There is so much that we can do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you.... in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years.
Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
If I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is over.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
But together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too;
That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who is in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to God at night...."My day was not in vain.
And now I am contented... that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile."
So if you meet somebody who is sad and low;
Just lend a hand to pick them up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free.
Remember you're not going.... you're coming here with me.
Author Unknown
I'd Rather See You Smiling
You must not think that I have gone
Please don't grieve or pine
I'd rather see you smiling
Laughing - working - looking fine
Death is an exciting key
Which opens many doors
It leads us into other worlds
Quite similar to yours
Life is not an accident
Death is not the end
God designed a mystery
Life and death do blend
So do not think that I have gone
Please don't brood or pine
I'd rather see you smiling
Laughing - working - looking fine
Alan Pemberton
