Death and Life

Death:
I was in Holland recently for my mothers funeral. Both my parents (aged 89 and 87) have now gone to be with the Lord. They both passed away within the last ten months after a happy and fulfilled married life of almost 61 years! We had the funeral service in the church in which she professed her faith in God some years before the 2nd World War. My parents got married in the same church the year the war ended (1945) and had a thanksgiving service for their 50th wedding anniversary, again in the same church.
Back in Ethiopia I was ‘confronted’ with some cultural differences. I was expected not to go to work immediately and stay home for three days for Ethiopian staff and friends to visit us and show us their sympathy. I had gone back to work immediately after coming back to Ethiopia (one week after the funeral). I felt that people also showed some surprise that I did not seem too ‘sad’, maybe the usual ‘happy one’ to them. Well, my parents had had a blessed life together for almost 61 years….
Life expectancy in Ethiopia is not even 60. Maybe I should also have shaved my head which is the custom here in Ethiopia.
I also discovered some other differences between a funeral back home and here in Ethiopia (the Orthodox church). When somebody dies the funeral will usually take place the same day or the next depending on the time of death. The coffin will be carried around the church three times before the coffin is taken to the church grave yard. Family and friends will get together to commemorate the life of the deceased on the 40th day. They again will do the same on the first year following the death for each year up to the 7th year. The numbers 3, 7 and 40 are of course very significant numbers from the bible.

Birth
In Mariet’s family their have been quite a few death already. With every death there also been a new life. This time in our family no exception.
Our daughter Lise and husband Remco presented us with their 2nd child Alina Malaika which means “beautiful angel”. She is the sister to Justin. We thank God for this new life!

Have you seen the added photo galleries?
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Shalom and blessings, WiMariet