Grief, Joy and the Future!

Earlier in the week a new friend of ours, named Faith and her husband Roger flew to 

America to sell their home there.  These are the folks that have the beautiful fish farm that i wrote about earlier. 

 They had only been gone a day or so when Faith received word that her mom had gone to be with the Lord.... or here they say, she passed. 

Faith had taken care of her Mom for sometime so this was really difficult...not only because of her mom's passing but because they had just gotten to the States. 

A week later they returned and held the funeral in the Anglican church
where her Mom had attended.

 The funeral was to start at 11:00 but it took awhile for everyone to get there.

This is Brian and Brett from our church.  As we were waiting for the service to begin

music was piped in.... All music that we knew..old hymns and songs from our

past in the church... but they were all being sung in Kinyarwanda.  The people sitting

around us were singing along so we joined in --in English.  It was amazing how those songs are songs of comfort in every language!

At 12:15 the service began.  Traditions are different here.
The family took care of all the flowers being arranged and
everything that needed to be done at the church.

This is the only picture I have of Faith....taking one
of the flower arrangements that would sit in one of the four pretty
wooden columns surrounding the casket.  The man behind Faith
is carrying one of the columns.  We had tried to help her make these
arrangements the night before at the house but ours were too small.
What she had was beautiful.  

This is Philippa, Faith's sister.  She spoke on behalf of the immediate
family. She lives in the States now and we had met her last July when we were
here.  Her talk was so uplifting.  I wish I could have known their Mom before
she died.  She sounded like an incredible saint. One young man spoke of how she had changed his life... by taking him in, helping him.  He had come to just "see her" as he often had done.. only to find out that she had left this life before he arrived.
She had been a mother to many and was a tremendously generous person. 

Geoffrey Rugege also spoke about their family connections and  how
Faith and Phillipa's mom had touched their lives over the years.
They aren't blood relatives, but their families were very close!

There were many others that spoke.  Some in English and most
in Kinyarwanda.  All is know is that I wish I would have had the
opportunity to know her.
 I believe the service ended at 2:30.  

We did not go with the family for burial, but the service had
been one of tribute and joy for who their Mom had been here
on the earth.   All though their hearts were grieving and still
are... there was still great rejoicing in who their Mother is
and was.  She loved the Lord and lived a life to honor Him
and love all of those He put in her path.   

 The sky was so unique when we exited the church...

looking out over the valley... 

A day and time of grief... shared space with the joy 

of knowing a saint is in the arms of her Maker! 

Her future is eternal now... and in a totally joyful eternity! 

On Sunday Brett preached about Paul and the joy he experienced

in the depths of his circumstances. 

He rejoiced in all things!   Listen to what he said.... ,


¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every waywhether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.



So after two days of thinking about all of the above... Monday arrived.

 The staff of CMU threw a surprise party for Nadine...
the woman from RDB (the Rwandan Development Board)
who has worked hand in hand
with the development of the program since its inception.
Nadine was the project manager from the
Rwanda government for the CMU program.
But she has decided to go back to school
and get her masters at McGill in Canada.

Nadine was surprised!

 Really, Congratulations, Nadine... we will miss you!

Nadine filling us in on her plans.

Nadine's interim replacement on left and
 Johnson on the right. 

Hedda, Innes and Crystal 

 Hedda, Innes, Crystal and Lillian the party planners.

 Nadine...thank you for all you have done to make
CMU/Rwanda a reality.  You will be missed but
we are so happy for you and wish you all the best
for your future!


So whether in life or death-- past, present or future....

Let's take Paul's advice! 

Phil 4:4
"I wish you joy in the Lord always.
Again, I say...all joy be yours!"


love,
margie