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.

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

The Kamanga Family - 1983

The bridal party

My grand mothers at the wedding

Cutting of the cake

Eating of the cake

The evening after the wedding

Micah our son turns 5 months today - 15th March 2013

One day old Micah - 16th October 2012

5 months ago today, Micah was born to us at 06:00hrs, making us very proud parents. He was small, he was young, fragile, he was innocent and yet very active and very adorable. We were so grateful for the gift that was bestowed on us on that blessed day we will live to remember and be thankful for.  We instantly fell in love with him even though another part of us was scared and uneasy that this little delicate human being was in every way depending on us to be providers and good parents to him and we were so determined to be the best parents we could be even though we knew very little about what that entailed being first time parents.  We had picked his name which means ‘Who is like Yahweh’, several months before he was born.

In Chingola visiting grand parents

By Yahweh’s grace, he has always been an easy child, he rarely cries, he is very friendly and extremely lovable. It’s been a journey of learning, mistakes, uncertainty, joy, patience and so much happiness. Micah brought a lot of happiness into our lives.  He is Yahweh’s perfect gift to us. Seeing him accomplish his milestones is so fulfilling and rewarding. Seeing the once frail baby discover his hands, chomp on his fingers and palm, kick and play with his feet, roll, sit, babble and sing in his own language is just so warming to us. When he laughs and smiles you can’t help but reciprocate, it’s so contagious and heartwarming.

Yes being parents comes with a lot of responsibilities and it can be a bit tiring but rewarding; the middle of the night changing and feedings, the under five clinics, establishing good nap and sleep time routines, the pain to see your little one in pain (after injections), etc but Yahweh has been very faithful in providing us with a network of knowledgeable and experienced people in this regard who are always on hand to help and advise. The last 5 months have been a great period of change upon change as the newborn grows and progresses to where he is now. We give Yahweh the glory.

Micah and daddy - 13th March 2013

In a world full of pain, uncertainty, suffering, hunger, hatred, sin, etc, we have a lot to be thankful for. We are grateful for what Yahweh has done in our lives and for what He has shown us through the miracle he granted us-our lovely baby boy.

Micah as you turn 5 months old today, we choose to give Yahweh the glory for your life, we choose to thank Him for showing us how faithful and mighty He is through you, we choose to acknowledge Him as Yahweh Ebenezer-The God who has brought us this far.  We choose to thank Him for showing us that no matter how complete and fulfilling our lives may seem, He alone has the ability to show us that He always wants to bless us in an even mightier way and we will be eternally grateful to Him for having given you to us our dear boy.

Micah and mummy - 19th January 2013

May He continue to show Himself strong in our lives and may He help you to grow up in His way and to teach you more about Himself as you grow. May He give us the wisdom necessary to bring you up in a way that is pleasing in His eyes, may He help us with the nurturing tools necessary to help you live up to your name so that the world may indeed ask, “WHO IS LIKE YAHWEH”

Family picture - 30th December 2012

We continue to pray for you each day as you grow older. May Yahweh show Himself mighty through you, may He set you apart for His will, may you grow up to one day declare – How great is our God! May you always know His love, joy, justice, peace, foundation, strength, power, beauty and understanding. Micah, thank you for filling our lives with so much joy, laughter, happiness and so much learning.  Its good to see Yahweh’s beauty revealed to us through you.

Loving you always,

Mom and Dad

The Kamanga family - 9th December 2012

We must honour and recognize our grand parents

Me and my grand father Mr Mumba Kamanga - 25th Dec 2012

There must always be times in life when we appreciate our grandparents for bringing up our parents, without them we would not be alive neither will our parents be because they bore our parents. Take my grandfather for example, he was born in 1932 (81 years ago) and he is still alive today, his name is Mr. Mumba Kamanga. He bore my father. I remember him telling me a story while he was in UTH sometime in October 2012 of how they really struggled in fighting for our Independence in the early 1960s. Indeed it was like I was watching a movie. 

Phoebe my sister with grandpa

He is now much better and was discharged from Hospital. On 30^th December 2012 just before crossing over into the New Year; dad, mum, Phoebe and I visited him at his residence here within Lusaka just to say hi and wish him well as we were entering into a new year. We found him sitted by the door watching passerby and behold he was so happy to see the family; we paid him a surprise visit. We did not find grandmother as she was at the market. The few hours we spend with our grandparents were so refreshing and how I wished I could spend much more time with them.

Mrs Matildah Munthali Sambo

The other woman I want to talk about is my mother’s mother. Her name is Mrs. Matildah Munthali Sambo, she was born in 1935 (78 years old) and lives in Mazabuka. She visited us to see our little bundle baby boy in November last year. Oh how I miss her, she is a very funny woman to talk to, she cracks jokes and when need be she really gets upset especially when she gets drunk. One part that I always remember her of is when she would claim to have stopped drinking; she would talk to convince you that she has stopped drinking even when she would have a bottle of beer in her hand. I always pray for her salvation that God softens her heart and save her; she is a church goer and claims to be a Christian as she is in the choir at United Church of Zambia (UCZ)

One interesting thing about my grandparents is that none of them remembers their birthday. They both know the year in which they were born but date and month only God knows. I just hope that I will not forget mine if God permits me to reach old age.

Grandma with Micah our son - November 2012

As we begin this New Year, may we honor and recognize our grandparents if they are still alive and find time to visit them, they will surely feel good and appreciate your visit.

Mum and my sisters visit grandma in Mazabuka - December 2000

   

Rodrick Phiri and Mildred Phiri Weds - 09/06/2012

The newly weds with me and my wife

Saturday 9^th June 2012 was a joyous moment when Rodrick and Mildred had their wedding in Kitwe. Having known both as good friends in our Youth Meetings and NARBYC Committee meetings, it was such a good moment for me. Mildred became my niece when I married her aunt, Racheal last year though I knew her even before I knew my wife; as for Rodrick, he became my son in law. It was such a great moment for the Phiri families. The wedding was officiated by our Pastor at Emmasdale Baptist Church, Pastor Isaac Makashinyi.

At Sherbourne Guest House for Photos

The church service or marriage blessing as others may call it, was held at Nkana East Chapel a church where we had our wedding in November last year and also a church I used to go to when I just started College in Kitwe. The service started around 11 hours and the reception at 15 hours

Rodrick Phiri

I came to know Rodrick Phiri for the first time during our Annual Reformed Baptist Conference by then my dad was Pastoring Choma Central Baptist Church, I cannot remember the exact day but it must have been sometime in August 2001. My dad was Pastor from the year 2000 to 2005. He became one of my good friends at my first ever Reformed Conference to attend in Lusaka.

Mildred Phiri

I first met Mildred Phiri in 2005 when I was just starting my tertiary education at Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice (ZIBSIP); she was working for Stanbic in Kitwe. In my second Semester at ZIBSIP, I went into boarding and become a member at Trinity Baptist Church. I served as the Chairman for the youth meeting and Mildred was the Vice Chairperson. She then got transferred to Chingola and again got transferred to Lusaka. We met again when I found a new job in Lusaka at Tata Zambia.

At the Lusaka Show Ground in 2011

We took this opportunity while on the Copperbelt to visit my parents in Chingola as it was a special day for my mum as she celebrated her 51^st birthday on the 3^rd June 2012. We had a good time to catch up on family issues.  We again met with my parents at Rodrick and Mildred’s wedding.

Me and my niece Mildred

Me and my wife at the Phiri's Wedding

We finally traveled back to Lusaka on sunday 10th June 2012.

Mum celebrates her 51st Birthday today - 3rd June

Mum

Its obviously one of those days when I sit down and write about a mother who will continue to be so caring and loving. She turns 51 today…

It’s a blessing indeed to have such a wonderful mother as you. You have been such a pillar of strength to all of us and you continue to open your heart to us even when we are sincerely undeserving and sometimes turn out to be ungrateful. That doesn’t seem to stop you from being the best mum of all times. 

  

Mom, on your 51^st birthday, I want to thank you for all that you have ever been to me and my sisters and to the family at large, you have been such an inspiration to many of us and indeed a rock of strength that God Himself has placed in our family. Mom, I cannot repay you for all that you have ever done for me, I can’t even begin to count the many times that you have made life to be so meaningful and easy for us. You carried us in your womb for nine long months, you went through all the complications and changes associated with pregnancy and yet with love, you carried us and brought us forth into this world. Then came the many sleepless nights you spent when we were sick, the many times you carried us on your back even when you were tired, the many times you had to force us to eat for our own good, the many times you bathed and dressed us for church and school and play, the many times we took you for granted and yet your motherly heart still loved us unconditionally…

Family Picture

Mom you continue to be so loving, caring and supportive throughout the years. I really thank God Almighty for you and for a chance to be called a son of such a great woman. Many queens the world has known and surely many queens the world will know but mom, you need not wear a crown to be identified as the greatest queen who ever lived to me. You love even those who are seemingly undeserving in the opinions of many of us, you help those you know will never extend a hand to help you and you hold out to anyone in need.  You are really a channel of blessing. As long as you have the capacity to help, to extend a kind hand, to say a kind word, you have never been short or held back but you always go all-out to fulfill your Christian duty. Many women do noble things, but you really do surpass them all. You have always been the perfect Proverbs 31 woman to us your family, you have always been a great mother and friend and you are surely a great example of what a true Christian should be. 

My late elder sister Precious with mum

Me and mum in Chingola - July 2010

Ruth my young sister with mum in Chingola - May 2012

Phoebe my youngest sister with mum - Feb 2011

It is my prayer that God may add more years to your life and indeed make your remaining years even more fruitful and plenteous. May He see you through in all that you do and light and guide your path that you may continue to minister to many lives through your life. Your own life is a great testimony of the love, impartiality, kindness and faithfulness of our God whom you have continued to serve meekly. May the God that you have served so faithfully satisfy you with good things and grant you the desires of your heart. May He forever meet you at your point of need and give you even a bigger heart to keep accommodating all of us as you have always done.

Family picture

Mom, to have turned 51 today is a real blessing. May the God whom you have served diligently see you through the many more years to come and may He continue to preserve your life. May He continue to protect you and grant you perfect health. May you see His greatness in this land of the living and may He grant you the courage and perseverance to hold on to Him and to your faith at all times and in all things.

Mum with Racheal my wife

Continue to be the way you are and surely you’ll always be near and dear to the people who love you so much. Mom, I love you and will always do. As I said earlier, I can’t repay you but God Himself will repay you. I want you to know that I am very grateful and continue to be very thankful to your kindness and indeed to all that you have done for me in the past and what you will do for me in the future. You have always shown us a love so amazing and its truly inspiring, challenging and its evident that its all the work of God. 

Mum with her mother and my cousins in Lusaka

Mum holding her grand child Melissa

I will always love you….