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" I, Fernando Rocha, married the young lady Luiza Lopes in the year
1962. In the year 1965 we moved to the Conceição farm, now called
Fazenda Tamanduá. We arrived on December 23, 1965 – it was a Saturday.
On the Monday, I walked to the market at Patos where I used to buy the
animal hides with which I worked to support my family.
Things we were very bad, and as I returned in the afternoon I bought a
curimatã fish for dinner and a table cloth, as we didn’t have one.
When I got home it was a joyful moment and Luiza prepared the fish,
which was delicious!
We had a hard time from 1965 to 1977. Things were very difficult, the
boss didn’t help, there was no work.
We had two daughters. We didn’t go hungry, but life was very hard.
Célia was 2 and Céu was newly-born. We had nothing. We couldn’t even
buy a tin of milk, but we had a neighbor – his name was “Seu” Jose
Aurélio – who was sorry for my daughters.
He gave us a goat which I milked every day, but as it was not much, we
added a little water to it in order to increase the quantity to last
for the day. |
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Fernando Rocha,
his daughters Célia e Maria do Céu, and his wife Luiza
1975 |
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But in the year 1977, God sent us a man called Dr. Pierre who bought
the Farm, and from then on everything changed.
It was all light! Doors were opened and a star shone! Everything was
brighter and nothing was lacking any more: money, work… My daughters
grew up and studied, all with Dr. Pierre’s help.
Today my life has changed: my daughter Célia works for him, it is an
honor to me and I feel fulfilled; and my younger daughter is happily
married and lives in São Paulo.
I am leaving the Farm because age requires me to stop. I would like to
be 50 so that I could work another 20 years with you, Dr. Pierre, but
it is good enough: 30 years ago I had nothing; today I have 2
road-side houses and a car to ride with my wife whom I love so much.
Dr. Pierre, I am leaving with tears in my eyes and we shall miss you
very much. Once again, thank you very much from your friends,
Fernando and Luiza.”
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Fernando and Luiza
2009 |
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