An E-Mail from Teisy

After Kino Kintaro passed away, I tried to stay close to his family. Almost every weekend I would pick up some of the kids, so that I could spend some time with them.

Chuukese families are huge and there were many, many children in Kino's family, but Teisy Tatashy always held a very special place in my heart. She is Kino's cousin. She was only 4 years old when he passed away. As the years went on, and the time we spent together dwindled, Teisy still always made sure to keep in touch with me.

Teisy is 19 years old now and is attending Pacific Island University on Guam. She still e-mails me occasionally. I replied to one of her e-mails recently and directed her to my post on Kino. She read it for the first time and sent me this:

HI aunty

Thanks for writting back...and yes, the story is long, but I can't stop reading it.....as i was reading it, i can just picture those times when you first saw him and when you visited him....even though i was young that time, I still remember him....I think the reason why you keep on thinking about Kino is that God is reminding you that you are a unique person...even though Kino wasn't someone you knew....it was God who gave you that feeling to help him out...It was God who gave you that sort of feeling to feel for him....God is good. All the time Jalna....many times in life we are so busy with work, family and all the things we do....and we forget that it was HIM (God) who has blessed our lifes with our family and the kind of work we do....I may not know if you believe in God...but I know you have a feeling that there is that True GOd...the one who created the heaven and the earth.....just take a time to look around aunty, and see how amazing God is. All these we see around us was created by the most creative and number one artist which is GOD alone:) This relationship we have between us will not be forgotten...you've been part of my life ever since i was young....and the best!!! I love you for who you are to me, and I surely thank God for you!!...though we are miles miles apart...but in heart and prayers we are together...I'm sorry for this long letter aunty, but this is what's on my heart at this moment.....and until then we will always meet again right?...:) God loves you and so do I. love always, Teisy. Tatashy

Here is Teisy . Teisy is in the middle of the pack watching TV.

I took a few of them to the zoo on this day.

This day was especially fun. I packed all these kids into my Honda Civic and brought them to my house. Pizza was one of their favorites. That's Teisy in the back.

Here we are watching Landon at Kaiser field playing baseball.

Here're Teisy and some cousins playing some Nintendo game.
This is one of my favorite pics.
This is one of the last photos I have of Teisy with her mom Sanci.

Hey Sweetie, I love you!!