RPN Director Blog

We buried a friend today... by Jeff Martin on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 8:02pm We buried a friend today. Betty was 40 years old, had 5 children and was the second wife of an African Headman. He is also my friend and labor foreman on our base. Betty died giving birth to her second dead late term baby. She was a heavy girl, and had diabetes. The taboo's here won't allow the hospital nurses to touch her or to help her through her forced delivery. She is alone in that terrible ordeal. I could blame her death on her weakened condition and the diabetes. However I think Betty died brokenhearted and in a state of total depression. I think she simply gave up. Life is hard here. The enemy hates these people, and the curse is in full operation unless we stop it with the force of the true gospel. Death here is met with a very different face than in the first world. The grief is openly shown to the point of physical collapse. No family member is absent from the scene. All of them come from near and far to be with there to mourn Betty and be there for the husband and children. Last night starting at midnight they all began to sing. We stood outside my house and just listened. Village life shuts down, and nothing is done outside the service. I have traveled over a great deal of this planet, and cant remember such a display of grief and mourning. It looked like a revival meeting where they hand out grief. Our team ministered to them as we could, and love them all the more for including us in their grief. As Betty and Teddy are employees and family to us here, we were able to help with the natural details of the death. We provided the tent for all the visitors to sleep under. We were able to provide the coffin and the food needed for the crowd that began to form as soon as word got out. We were also able to provide the transportation for the family to go attend the body, and bring it back to the village for burial. Mostly we were able to just be there. Sometimes that's all you can do. Christian speak and niceties are not what is needed. Just lovingly being there. As they don't do a lot of first world care, the body is not embalmed, and needs to be buried quickly. The family washes the body, and prepares it for the coffin. The coffin is transported to the church in the village. After the service, it is transported to the grave site where it is carried to the plot. They place the body in the coffin and arrange the white sheet around the face to present the most beautiful view possible. A simple coffin is used, and the plot is dug by friends or workers. Literally hundreds of people are there as the the coffin is laid in the earth in the presence of all who attend, and covered up before their eyes. Death is real, and the reality of it is not covered up with fancy supports and grass carpets. Words are spoken, and stories are told. Its 110 degrees, no shade in the field. The church choir sings slow hymns in their sweaty suits while the coffin is covered with the dirt. All of us give a handful of earth to the grave. When they dismiss, they gather again at the husbands house for a meal and singing. The children need to be sorted out, the future is complex and family will need to step in to prevent another African family statistic. Either that or we will step up and do what we can do. The church there is locked in Moses law, and needs serious adjustments in doctrine. They are still doctrinally stranded in Abraham's bosom, and unable to fully enter in by faith. Salvation to them is a works based thing, with an offering due the church to assure your final salvation and promise of seeing Betty again. I could pick it without end, but can't we all? Its so easy to find fault rather than common ground. That is why we exist though. Overland Missions is dedicated to long term Kingdom establishment of the gospel. The Rural Pastors Network is dedicated long term to the move of God, rock solid doctrine and biblical ethics. Its our life. I have been invited to spend time with the leadership of this church before I leave next week. Thank God for the liberty and anointing to speak truth with true love. Regardless of these things, my friend was buried today with all the grief and mourning that could possible be called up from the depths of a human soul. The end of the story however is that Betty was a born again woman and is with Jesus as I write this. She is stunned and overwhelmed with the Joy of His presence. She is no longer bound by a fat and unwieldy body, or trapped in grief. She is with the Lord Himself. I will miss Betty. She was a good friend, co-worker and lover of Jesus. It will be good to see her again when these days are over, and we step into the true reality of life everlasting. Jesus, I again pledge my heart, soul and strength that while I am in this life, I am a dedicated and radical man bringing light and truth where there is none, and joy and deliverance to the oppressed. I am dedicated to Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus, may your Name be great among these needy and hungry people. You have broken my heart once more! Oh God let the Glory fall on your people! Jesus is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. Amen