| Dr Simon Mphuka laid to rest |
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 Last Friday had a very rare combination to its date. It was the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year (in the twenty-first century). All the joy of such a rare providence was missed here at Kabwata Baptist Church because it was the day when we laid the remains of our beloved elder, Dr Simon Mphuka, to rest. His body arrived from South Africa accompanied by his wife, Lillian, on Wednesday 6 August. Two of their three daughters went towards the airplane and hugged their mother as she walked towards the terminal building. It was quite an emotional moment. Later, the longest convoy of cars I have ever seen, escorted by a policeman on a motorbike, made its way from the airport to Simon’s home. After a few moments of prayer at the house, the casket was taken to the funeral parlour until Friday when the burial was scheduled to take place. Due to the many spheres of Simon’s involvement, planning his burial was not a straightforward matter. It was finally decided that his employers, the Church’s Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), would take the upper hand. We gladly consented to this as a ch  urch, asking only that the funeral service be totally in our hands.On the burial day, the first to hold a service for Simon were his fellow doctors. They held their service at the University Teaching Hospital. After they finished, the hearse came to Kabwata Baptist Church, where already a crowd was gathered, that I can only estimate around two thousand. They came from all walks of life and from right across the country. All our members were asked to be outside our auditorium that sits a maximum of about seven hundred people. We still had over a thousand visitors sitting and standing outside. Thankfully, the Lord provided a cloud cover through most of the  morning, and we put out extra speakers for our public address system so that those outside could follow the proceedings inside the building. The casket was carried into church by Simon’s fellow elders (myself included), with the help of elders from sister churches in Lusaka. We are grateful to Pastor Ronald Kalifungwa, of Lusaka Baptist Church, who graciously agreed to lead the funeral service because none of us within the eldership at Kabwata Baptist Church would have led the whole service without breaking down. We are also grateful to Pastor Raphael Banda, of Central Baptist Church in Mazabuka, who read out Simon’s Christian testimony during the service. It covered the period from 1978 when he was converted to Christ to the time of his death.  What touched people the most from this service seems to be the fact that Simon chose the songs he wanted to be sung during his funeral. He also chose the passage of Scripture that he wanted to be read and preached upon. This was Psalm 103. Although this is not unusual for people in the West, it is certainly very rare in our African context. Simon’s daughter, Wankumbu, read the Bible passage (see photo above) while I had the task of delivering the funeral sermon. I expounded Psalm 103 with an evangelistic tenor throughout the sermon. After the body viewing, which seemed to have gone on forever because of the number of people present, the hearse left for the Leopard’s Hill Cemetery. Simon was buried next to his elder brother, Hillary, who passed away in 2003. So many wreaths were placed upon his grave that it soon became a beautiful mountain of flowers. As usual his family were the first to lay their wreaths (see photo). To avoid this ritual taking us into the night, we only had a fe  w elders from the Reformed Baptist churches to lay wreathes on behalf of all the Christians present. Mr Johnson Malipenga, of Central Baptist Church in Choma, led the procession and prayed. Finally, the Minister of Health, Dr Brian Chituwo, spoke about Simon’s commitment to Zambia, especially in the fight against AIDS. Then Pastor Kalifungwa prayed and we were all dismissed. The three of us remaining elders, together with Simon’s wife and daughters, hung around the grave for a while to drink in the fact that “this was it”. We had finally parted ways even with Simon’s remains. What a day this was - the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year in the twenty-first century! |
Comments (15)
My heart was filled with grief may be not so much for the three children but for my own loss. It has been three years for me and I still feel this arching stingy in my chest. I rarely break up in public and thought I was very strong! However, today proved just otherwisea nd I had to just try and hold myself so much. I was supposed to be on my way to Washington at about 13.50hours but with all the messages that I received from brethren, my children, family and friends, I found myself mourning since midnight of the 4th. All my energy was drained out of me and had to counsel this trip. Attending the late Ireen's burial brought even more sorrow, a time of mourning and remembrance.
The 3 teenagers are now without both parents but the Lord is Sovereign and He cares for them and what has befallen them. This is but just the beginning of a long lonely journey in their lives. Of course they have a strong supportive family system but parents are parents and especially mothers. She wass all they had! The Lord knows best and therefore, will be their refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble, Psalm 46 - A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Pastor & Mrs Grave-Ireen Singogo of Evangel Baptist just sent me a message on the morning of the 4th urging me to read this Psalm. I found it very refreshing and God's word just spoke volumes to my arching being. I wish the same Psalm for the 3 orphans. The Lord Almighty is with the 3 children; the God of Jacob is their fortress. They have to bless Him all the time: "when the sun's shining down on them, when the world's all as it should be' even on the road marked with suffering and even though there's pain in the offering. they just have to bless His glorious name.
Life is freely given by the Lord. When we resolve to live our lives in His will, He undertakes for us and grants us peace beyond ourselves. He leads and protects us, giving us counsel and guidance. We must love Him with all our being trusting Him our all in all. He is faithful and our portion and encouragement. He is our good God and the Father of the fatherless.
Fortunatley, in Yaweh's providence, it is reality. He is our God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come and He is on the throne! He makes all things beautiful in His own time and above all He gives us peace perfect peace.
Our brother Edward H. Bickerstein (1825 - 1906) meditating on Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you".
Edward then wrote a song, asking very pertinent questions to which he gives answers based on this song:
-Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
-Peace, perfect peace by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
-Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? In Jesus' presence naught but calm is found.
-Peace perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus' keeping we are safe and they.
-Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
-Peace,perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanguished death and all its powers.
-It is enough; earths struggles soon shall cease. And Jesus call us to Heaven's perfect peace.
The Lord reigns and therefore, cares and has our welfare on His heart. The Lord Jesus sits on His throne interceeding for us and all that we do is to agree with the Psalmist (103) to just Praise Him within our souls and with all our inmost being, praising His holy name, not forgetting all His benefits - for He forgives our sins, heals all our diseases, He redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and compassionate, He satisfies our desires with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.
And when He wills, He calls us back home to be with Him. He called my Kustu 3years ago today. Praise be His holy name!
I can't wait to go to glory too and sing with the saints who have gone on before me especially my Kustu.
My Kustu has been gone for exactly 2 years today. Yet sometimes I wish that he has but just gone away for a while and he will soon return. Two years seems such a long time but it is like yesterday. I still find it hard to believe that my Kustu is not coming back not till we meet in glory. Heaven for me is much nearer with my Kustu gone before me. Sometimes I even wish for the Lord to take me too only to come face to face with reality that I have three children to bring up.
The Lord has kept it a secret as to what tomorrow holds for each one of us. If we only we had an opportunity to speak with our Lord and ask Him the many questions that we have in our minds. The many puzzles that we have to deal with and never find answers to till He comes back.
Yes we know that He is near us though He seems to hide His face and we are sure that He hears us though no answer comes by. We also know that not one promise will miscarry nor one blessing come too late. The vision might be long and all we can ask for is patience to wait. And in so doing we really can't wait for our faith to become vision! Well prayer may lead us into praise and probably love when in full fruition will one day justify His secret ways.
The Lord is my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, my Prophet, Priest and King and His name ever sounds sweet. He is the rock on which I built and therefore, He soothes my sorrows, heals my wounds and drives away my fears despite the presence thereof. For we know that in all things He works well to them that love Him who have been called according to His will.
We talked quite a bit during that hug with Mr John Chundu and Luke Chirwa looking on. I basically complimented her on her managing to shed off some weight to which she cheerfully boasted having lost 7Kg with rigorous exercise that she was engaged in. And John jokingly cautioned her against skipping exercise.
However, after I came back from Mum's clinic yesterday where I actually witnessed her limb body, and told my second born daughter Dhozinta that Pamela had passed on; Dhozi was a bit disoriented. She couldn't believe that Pamela had passed on. She recalled how on Sunday evening at Church Pamela warmly hugged her and a few other young people Dhozi was standing with including her own older sister Wankhumbu. Dhozinta couldn't help but refer back to her own dad's death Dr Simon Mphuka who went to be with the Lord One (1) year Eight (8) months ago. She apparently recalled how dad had told her to watch and pray and wait on the Lord all the time for times had changed and one never knew when it was going to be their time to depart from this earth.
Thinking that tomorrow Thursday the 29th April will be her burrial day should not distress us so much as children of the living God full of hope (Pamela is in that country of the blest - with golden pavements and its walls decked with jewels so rare). She now has freedom from sin, sorrow, temptation and care. We will miss her - her big hearty, hard working, always serving saints and all, making us laugh and just enjoy her warm counternance.
Life is short on earth and we actually have no abiding city here. However, we should not be distressed! Yes we will shed hot tears - but these should not cost us! It is just a matter of time and we too will be in that better rest with Pamela and all brethren who have gone aheard.
For one reason or the other, Sunday the 25th April's evening service was particularly very very special. We sung hymns that particularly speak to the inner man in you and make you long for Heaven! -When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more ...; There's a land that is fairer than day and by faith we can see it afar ...; We speak of the realms of the blest that country so bright and so far ...; We've no abiding city here ...;When this passing world is done when has sunk the radiant sun ...; and Loved with everlasting love led by grace that love to know. And Pastor Mbewe preached a deep Spiritual sermon from John 15:1 where basically the Lord Jesus prepared His disciples emotionally and spiritually (on their way to Gethsame). Pastor dwelt so much on our lives being purposely handled by God the Father to ensure our fruitfulness. Pamela was indeed a fruitful worker - she was different! We will miss her but look foward to see her in Heaven.
I will mourn the death of my Kustu BUT celebrate his life for he was a large character in life: humble, loving, generous, caring, selfless, a mentor, kind, smart strategic leader, godly with a zeal for making a difference in god’s kingdom. He desired to honour God – he was a rare gallant soldier with a great level of maturity, wisdom and faithfulness as he was powerfully used by God for His glory. He was a visionary Christian always forecasting what he would be and do in future.
He often asked himself what kind of a Christian worker the Lord would define and categorize him at the end of his life’s’ journey. With this in mind, he lived out his life’s passion with great purpose and intention diligently practicing disciplines that led to his excellence, maturity and great impact.
“MY KUSTUDIO WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART AND LIFE. HE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT LIFE’S LIVING LESSONS & IMPACTED MY LIFE SO MUCH – MORE THAN WORDS CAN EVER TELL”.
MRS LILLIAN MPHUKA, HER CHILDREN: WANKUMBU VEDRUNA, DHOZINTA ZEWELANJI & WANKUNDA VERNA; & THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS , CHURCH AND COLLEAGUES TO THE MEMORIAL SERVICE OF HER LATE HUSBAND DR. SIMON MPHUKA TO BE HELD AT KABWATA PABTIST CHURCH (OPPOSITE LIBALA HIGH SECONDARY SCHOOL) ON THE 8TH AUGUST 2009 AT 09.30HOURS. TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE UNVEILING OF THE TOMB STONE AT LEOPARDS HILL. THEREAFTER, THERE WILL BE A MEAL & A DR. SIMON MPHUKA MEMORIAL DOCUMENTARY AND BOOK REVIEW AT HER RESIDENCE :
MHSRIP
DR. SIMON MPHUKA (11. 8. 1962 – 4. 8. 2008) “Or in Living or in Dying all will be well …” “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28
Mrs. Lillian Mphuka, her children: Wankumbu Verdruna Mphuka, Dhozinta Zewelanji Mphuka & Wankunda Verna Mphuka with the entire family would like to convey their deep heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, families and institutions too numerous to name, who provided and generously supported us emotionally/financially or in any other way to ease the burden during the illness/hospitalization, bereavement and burial of our fondly beloved late DR. SIMON MPHUKA CEO CHAZ, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, colleague, friend & mentor to many who went to be with the Lord on the 4th August and was put to rest on the 8th August 2008.
Special gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Directors, CHAZ Board Management & Staff, CHAM, all cooperating partners, NGOs, St. Johns Medical Centre, Care For Business hospital, Morningside Clinic (RSA), Church Health Institutions, Kabwata/sister Baptist churches, St. Paul’s UCZ, the Roman Catholic church (and all churches who with much love & care endured with us), Community organizations, the Medical Council of Zambia, the Royal Tropical Institute, Birmingham University, all friends and colleagues who travelled from outside Zambia, British Airways, Mindolo Ecumenical Centre and CCZ.
We thank you very much and may the Lord continually grant you His blessings and grace in your caring.