Death. It’s a dreaded word. Something we don’t like to think
about or talk about. But, in this life, it can’t be avoided.
Yesterday, we received word that one of our local pastors in
Lubumbashi lost his two-year-old son, Celestin. Our hearts immediately dropped.
Just three weeks ago, we had worshipped with this pastor and his congregation
and watched this little boy as we all gathered together for a meal afterwards.
Celestin was busy grabbing food from his older brothers plate and waddling in
and out of the house between play buddies; of which he had many being the
youngest of 10 children.
Celestin had briefly been sick with malaria and was taken to
the hospital, where he died…unfortunately; this is not a rare occurrence here.
In the DRC, when someone passes the grieving process is an
important thing. Depending on how close the person was to you, you mourn and
stay at the family’s house for up to 7 days. You eat there, you sleep there and
you mourn together with others who knew them. You cry and wail, you sing, you pray.
Grieving is very public.
As Gavin attended the burial today, it was a reminder of how
short life is. While small Celestin was being laid to rest, two other families
were at the same cemetery burying their loved ones.
While death brings pain and heartache and loss so deep, we
cling to the hope for which we fix our eyes upon…Jesus!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome
the world.” –John 16:33
“So we fix our eyes not on
what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what
is unseen is eternal.” -2 Corinthians
4:18
Please
join us in prayer for Pastor Adolf, his wife and their nine children. May they
find comfort and peace in The Comforter.
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