Precious in His Sight...Part III

Nikolin is the wife of Mumbunda I, a godly man who loves the Lord and has blessed us by working with us for 30 years. Just a very young man when he came on staff in 1979, he has never caused us one iota of grief. Second in command of the work staff, he is as honest as the day is long, always quick to please, and never complaining or asking for anything. We love him dearly.

He buried his wife on February 15, 2009. She died suddenly in her sleep. Last fall, she began attending classes at the Women's Literacy Center. She was just forty-six and mother of five children, one of whom is deaf and mute. He ran away--far away--three years ago to his father's consternation to look for diamonds. He was so badly beaten and taken advantage of that when they finally found him, his father, with pleading eyes and tears streaming down his face, asked for $100 to bring his boy home. That is the only time I remember Mumbunda asking us for anything.

He came back to work today. Sitting on our couch with tear-filled eyes, we assured him that he could take as much time off as he needed to mourn, but he said he couldn't stand sitting around looking at the four walls of his hut and allowing his mind to be flooded with her memory. The one son is so upset, he just cries all the time. Silent crying and moaning from the depths of his soul for his mama, who has taken flight.

I walked an aerobic hill today. At the top of the steep incline is our dispensary. Puzzled by Nikolin's sudden demise, I questioned Marvina, our head nurse. She told me that by the time they figured out what was wrong, it was too late. She had tuberculosis. A decent microscope and lab equipment, as well as a lab technician, could possibly have saved her life. I shuddered. So many needs here. I cling to God's sovereignty and so does Mumbunda. It gives us peace and comfort. He does all things well so that even things that look like an accident are orchestrated by Him.

Yes, truly, precious in the sight of God is the death of His saints. Their absence leaves big holes in our lives. Unanswered questions. Death always does that. Why? Why now? Why them?

I remind myself they are asking none of these questions. Nor would they ever choose to come back here. Their absence beckons us to that place called heaven. They have joined the great cloud of witnesses we are surrounded by. Not having them anymore makes us long for heaven's shores where sighing and sorrow will be no more.