Across the Bridge: May 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

The pain of losing the people we love

Mr Austine Munthali

Losing a loved one can be so painful especially when a dark cloud dawns unexpectedly. We tend to ask a lot of questions as to why such a thing has happened to us and many of these questions go without answers. It is only God who knows and we need to accept the situation as God is the one who give and gets in His own time.

Part of the congregation at Presbybetarian Church

Grandma putting flowers

On 11^th May 2013 in the late evening, we lost our beloved grandfather (mum’s uncle) Mr. Austine Munthali in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH); he was sick for some time and was admitted on 6^th May 2013 which is five (5) days before passing on. His kidneys had stopped functioning and his heartbeat had reduced from about 60 per minute to about 13 per minute, he was on Oxygen up to the time he breathed his last breath. I felt bad when I heard of the sad news as I did not anticipate that such would happen even after seeing him in hospital on Thursday evening. He was a retired school teacher and used to teach many people even after he retired, he was an Elder at Kabwata Presbyterian Church, Lusaka and a very mature Christian that many people sought council from him.

Grand Children putting flowers

My Grandfather knew the Lord and we mourned knowing that we shall meet again in the precious kingdom. He was in his late 80s and we put him to rest on Wednesday 15^th May 2013 at Leopards Hill Memorial Park. May His Soul Rest In Peace

Indeed grandpa will be sadly missed

Barely a week on the 18^th May 2013, I lost another grandparent; this time around it was my dad’s father Mr. Mumba Kamanga. He suffered from prostrate cancer which was in the advanced stage and I remember being told by a doctor when he was in hospital towards the end of last year that his cancer had spread and all that could be done was to manage it as curing it was almost impossible.

Grandpa Mumba Kamanga

While in UTH - December 2012

Ruth, Mum and Phoebe paying their last respect

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Grand Children putting flowers

Dad (far right) putting flowers

He was discharged from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and had some appointments with doctors for medical checkups and he was supposed to do a bone test before he passed on, we were waiting for UTH to call us as appointments for the same test were to be booked 1-2 months in advance. He was still in pain and suffering while at home. He passed on at the age of 81 years at home and we put him to rest on Monday 20^th May 2013 at Leopards Hill Cemetery. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church in Matero, Lusaka.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Happy 32nd Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad – 2nd May 2013

There are generally two events in life that normally bring families and friends together:

The first one is when a closely related person we love so dearly dies, we gather at a funeral house to mourn the beloved one who has departed. The second event is when one is getting married, we again gather to celebrate with the newlyweds as friends and families.

Mr & Mrs W. Kamanga

I love weddings so much as they not only celebrate the love of two happy people joining to become one flesh but they also provide a wonderful way of bringing all the important people that matter in one place to share the joy of the two who are joining in holy matrimony. As I was growing up, I felt bad when there were weddings and invitation cards said ‘strictly no children’, this to me meant that we were completely cut off from the word go. As time went by I then came to realize why we were cut off. I thought for some time that maybe children eat a lot but that was not the case, there were other reasons …

From Left to right: Mr. Chongo, Ms. Racheal and dad

I want to share about my parents wedding as they celebrate their 32^nd year in marriage. I thank God for giving me God fearing parents and raising us in a manner that pleases God. 2^nd May, 1981 which is exactly 32 years ago today, was a remarkable day for my mum and dad as it was the day that they said ‘I do’ to each other and joined in holy matrimony. By then dad was a secondary school teacher of Industrial Arts at Choma Secondary School where he taught from 1979 to 1984 and mum was staying with her mother in Mazabuka.

Church Service - 2nd May 1981

Marriage blessing by the Late Pastor Stan

The wedding was held at Inter-denomination Church which is now called the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Mochipapa area in Choma and there after a Reception at Choma Secondary School in the Luangwa Dinning Hall which happened to be my Dinning Hall when I was doing my high school at Choma Secondary School from 2000 to 2002.

Sister Racheal playing the organ

The wedding was graced by the late Pastor Stan and the lady that played the organ at church was Sister Racheal Melhorn who was my dad’s workmate at the time.

The newly Weds - Mr & Mrs Kamanga

Mum and dad, as you celebrate 32 years of marriage, may the Lord God Almighty bless and keep you safe now and in years to come. You have really been a blessing to us.

Yours with much love

Obvious