Life is a Vapor

Ombeni (seated) at his son's funeral

Ombeni

Many of you may recall an update about our dear friend, Ombeni (2011-06-12). He was at Idigima Secondary School from its beginning, teaching Swahili and Civics, and later served also as the Assistant Headmaster. He left Idigima a couple of years ago for a teaching position with the Iyula Secondary School. He married and had a son, Advent.

He and his wife, Jenita, had been in Mbeya town where their second son was recently born. Because of complications, the stay had been longer than planned. Leaving his wife and sons with Jenita’s sister, Ombeni had returned to the Iyula area to take care of school responsibilities and arrange for his family’s return. The day he left, Advent was running around the outside of the house and fell into an open pit; he died on the way to the hospital.

Advent's funeral

Standing beside the grave at 2-year old Advent’s funeral, the current Assistant Headmaster, Mr. Mgale, asked me what I was thinking. “Life is a vapor,” I said. He responded, “It is true. Life is only for a second, and then we must stand before God to show what we have done with our life.

Most of these people who are sharing here in the sadness of our friend will leave and go back to their business of struggling to get money to live. They will not think about their breath of life and who gave them their breath. They don’t do the things that count. They are only looking to get the “things in this life.”

Mr. Mgale’s summary of man’s nature seems pretty accurate, whether you are living in the affluence of America or the poverty of an African village. We all need to constantly evaluate our choices in life and consider the contribution we are making to God’s kingdom agenda.

On Easter Sunday, Ombeni came to visit us. I was away, preaching at an Easter Conference in the village of Itewe, but Joanne had a tender visit with Ombeni. She asked if she could make a suggestion for the naming of their second son. (The custom here is to wait and get suggestions from family members and birth attendants.) She suggested the name, Raphael, in reference to God’s ability to heal (Jehovah Rapha). Joanne wanted Ombeni and Jenita to see that this child may bring healing to their grieving hearts.

We ask that you join us in praying for Ombeni and Jenita’s comfort and dependency on God during this time of grieving.

In loving service to the least of these,

Gary and Joanne Grenell