“My mommy is in heaven…”

“That’s just my mom’s body; she has gone to heaven to be Jesus,” is what Anas (the little boy in the picture above with his mom and sister Tatiana) said when they were burying his mom’s body. It’s been a sad month here. 12 Moi people were travelling by land and river to get to the coastal town, but their boat hit a log and capsized. 5 of the people died, including my good friend and translation helper Wameaindo, her husband Betuma, and their baby girl Tatiana who I adored. (The other two men we did not know so well.)

I find myself continually remembering different comments Wameaindo said to me or things we’ve done together. I remember asking her in church one day as she sat down beside me all sweaty from her hike up from her village if it was hard for her to hike up all the time for church. She said, “Are you kidding, I go to bed anticipating the morning when I get to go up and hear God’s Word.” That’s what she was like. Eager to learn more about the Lord and the one who always answered the questions regarding the Bible teaching first. Anas, her little 6 year old survived so please pray for him as he adjusts to life without his family. He is being taken care of by his gramma, uncles, and aunts. May the Lord use this tragedy to bring more to the Lord and awaken the hearts of those who’ve grown cold.

Wameaindo gave this note to Stephen not too long before she died in the boat accident: “Hey, Stephen, a long time ago when you came here to bring the Creator’s talk to us we were living in real darkness so we didn’t know why you really came here. But now because I realize you came here to bring the Creator’s Good Talk to us I am thanking the Creator God for that. I thank and praise the Creator God because it was good that you came here. It’s like that. Wameanido’s talk is done.” One of the first notes we’ve ever received like this. Encouraging!

Anas survived the boat accident because he grabbed a hold of Edabodi’s shirt and they swam to shore. (Picture: Anas and I the day after he got back) Of the seven who survived they each have their stories to tell. Sepaiye, Stephen’s friend and main translation helper was one of the survivors. He said he remembered the story of Jonah running away from God and how the Lord used that to change his heart. We had been noticing a shift in his focus recently and were concerned about it. We pray this experience renews his passion for the Lord and serving Him.