Joy/tears in heaven/earth

I was at a relationship camp for teens a week ago. It was on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Had a really great time! Had some bad news as well. About 21:30 Thursday evening I got an sms that one of my friends and colleagues passed away. She was on an outreach in Yemen, felt the Lord’s call to go there for two weeks during and just after our September holidays. Her team consisted of five people, they also had a driver that was chauffeuring them up and down. It sounds like he lost control of the vehicle and rolled it. Marina died on site, the driver later in the hospital. One of the other ladies hurt both her legs and the rest came off fine.

She was working as a Youth Coach (this is what we do) in Fluorana Akademie. A small private school in the northern side of Pretoria. I went to visit the school yesterday just to see how the kids are doing. Every thing seems fine, sad but okay. There are definitely one or two who are taking it worse than the others, but for the most they seem fine. One of the teachers at the school is also a professional counselor and she’s doing a great job debriefing them. I’ve arranged for some of them to come and camp with us next weekend where I’ll spend some one on one time with them.

We had been working together since January this year and got to know each other pretty well. She was the strong, quiet type. She also had an amazing sense of humor. From the 25 odd Coaches in my team I would say that she was probably the most sorted out. Sorted out in terms of purpose, character, discipline and vision. She also had a great sensitivity for the Lord’s voice and always acted in obedience.

Anyways, it was the first time I ever lost someone close to me. Hit me pretty hard and I spent a lot of time crying on  Thursday night. Not really angry or rebellious or anything, just sad. I knew she experienced a lot of the Kingdom in her time here, and still would in the time now come. I was just sad, we had lost an awesome person and a good friend.

Still something beautiful emerged that evening. I was sitting around a corner where I thought no one would see me. In the midst of my sorrows the kids came to comfort me. It was an awesome experience to have a sixteen year old young man look me straight in the eyes and comfort me with the love and strength I needed.  At one stage one of the girls came and sat with me. Not saying much, just giving perspective. Reminding of the awesome time and place Marina has moved to. I also laughed a little. One or two of them got completely freaked out and sort of froze, checked me out, turned on the heel and made a move in the opposite direction. Clearly confused about what to do and how to handle it.

And in this God came through from a most unexpected place, through kids I was there to serve.

I went to join them again. The same girl wanted me to play a song, she was in the mood to sing. So me and one of the boys each grabbed a guitar, picked our way through the intro and got lost in the notes, rhythms and lyrics of one of the classics.

And as the sweet words of “Knocking on Heaven’s Door’s” chorus started to echo in my ears, I still remember feeling the peace and irony of this very odd situation.

Love and peace to her family and all who knew her.

~ by Schalk Holloway on October 5, 2007.