It's november again...
Cette periode me fait tellement penser à toi Sifa!
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.
Can you imagine 3 good years have gone by since we lost you on earth?? but that was surely a huge gain in Heaven...quelle belle consolation!

In my dreams i often picture you being "serenated by angels" and smiling down on us :)
You recently welcomed your loving nephew Jimmy ...i asked myself "why only the best get to leave earlier?" well i guess we'll never get a proper answer to the "why". All we have to do is trust God and move on with our earthly life.

You are still in my heart sweet girlfriend, until we meet someday...
Xxx

Tessy Karimba
PTA-South Africa

Je ne sais pas où commencer, je t'ai connu quand tu était trop petite, trop gentille, après plus de vingt ans nous nous sommes rencontré à Gisenyi à l'occasion de mariage d'Alain. Le peu de temps que j'avais eu pour parler avec toi c'était suffisant pour ton estime. j'ai pensé toujours venir en Afrique du Sud te saluer, visiter la famille et surtout avoir du temps pour profiter de ton expérience. Soudainement, nous avons appris une mauvaise nouvelle. Cela ne m'a pas vraiment surpris en tant que chrétien. Le prodige de ce grand départ céleste qu'on appelle la mort, c'est que ceux qui partent ne s'éloignent point. Ils sont dans un monde de clarté, mais ils assistent, témoins attendris, à notre monde de ténèbres. Ils sont en haut et tout près. Oh ! qui que vous soyez, qui avez vu s'évanouir dans la tombe un être cher, ne vous croyez pas quittés par lui. Il est toujours là. Il est à côté de vous plus que jamais. La beauté de la mort, c'est la présence. Présence inexprimable des âmes aimées, souriant à nos yeux en larmes. L'être pleuré est disparu, non parti. Nous n'apercevons plus son doux visage ; nous nous sentons sous ses ailes. Les morts sont les invisibles, mais ils ne sont pas les absents. (V.HUGO)

Dear Sifa,

Today is 3 Months since you’ve been gone. Gone...but where? We can't call you on the phone; No BBM, no E-mail, no WhatsApp, no Viber message, we can't knock on your door somewhere and you open for us as it use to be. No matter how loud we scream you can’t respond.

A thousand times we needed you, A thousand times we cried, If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. A heart of gold stopped beating; two twinkling eyes closed to rest. God broke our hearts to prove he only took the best; never a day goes by that you’re not in our heart and our soul.

This morning as I sit here looking up to the sky I keep on asking myself WHY; I have cried and pleaded for a day to come; A day that I would get over it, a day that I can accept the fact that you are really gone. Ma Sifa, Ma Sifa ulituweza kweli. Mavi yako mbalala….

The memories of you will always be locked in the corridors of my mind and they will be visited from time to time. You left this world so soon, but with dignity and grace; forever in our heart you will have a huge place; I miss you sister.

I wonder if you know how many lives you have touched, Do you know that people here love you so much? Can you even know how many dreams you made come true? Or if you can hear the voices saying I love you? Do you know how many lives you have changed, And how many lives you completely rearranged?

I wish I could have just one more year. For some of us it is just hard to picture the rest of our lives without you here. Just another chance to spend the evening together, and share a laugh. Do you know you'll be greatly missed by us all?

Just one more time I want to hear you're voice when I call. Just one more laugh, one more time to see you walk through the door, another smile, another story, another hug, another day...Just one more.

At the beginning, memories of you came crashing in, beautiful, and angry, as I was very angry. Today they are gentler, but no less vivid. You are no less colorful, no less a part of my story. You just play a different role. I really hope were you are there is Justice and you don't have to fight for any Human right anymore.

However, I am starting to reclaim my place in the world. Each of us has to do so in order to truly live. I know it will be much harder for Daniel, Odette and Jeff. Thinking of them HARDER sounds as a weak word, I mean something close to IMPOSSIBLE. But we all have to try and be strong. We all contribute. We all err. We start anew and wait for our day.

I don’t know what you would say today if you were here among us in the living world. But I know that death doesn’t destroy love. It only heightens the experience.

Please continue to be a greeter of angels, my sister.

Say hi to Dad, Louis, Aime, Jeff’s Dad, Munya’s Mom and many, many others that we miss a lot.

I will see you again someday. Good Bye Angel.

Your Brother Roger. 

It’s so hard to believe that you are really gone and to know that I will no longer see your soft brown eyes of affection! Your laughter and our talk of childhood reflection! Your loving cares when I had a problem or I was sad!          Your long discussions and blames about the way I treat Munya and Shemma! Your worries about my finances! 

Why, why, oh why did God choose you?

When we lost Dad back in 2006, I did quickly got raisons to forgive God for taking him. I had explanations; he was sick for few years, he had more than 70 years, he was with me in the ambulance his last minute on earth, I discussed with him about death, etc… When Munya’s Mom passed last January I had good excuses to accept also.

For you precious Sissi, I am getting it hard to believe that your Life on Earth is really through. Your departure shook my faith big time. I need explanations! I am questioning everything in my life now.  I feel like giving up!!! What is life then? Can really God do something like this? Why?

I’ve heard people say “She was to young”, “Why did she, have to die this way” then minute later some offer gentle words and prayers to console, And tell me what has happened to your loving soul; Can it be true what they say of time healing grief? Is it enough when they say death has given you relief? Can we believe what others say of a better place? And that I should be happy you’re free of pain and sorrow, And rejoice that you’ll always have tomorrow??

Sorry Sifa this is Bull Shit!!!!.

Remember we use to say it as it is!! I am Angry at God and also at You at a certain extend!!

The only thing stopping me is when I think: If I am feeling this way what about Jeff then? What about Daniel and Odette? What about other sisters and brothers? This sucks. 

You were my trusted confidante and best friend, on whose loving support I could always depend. I miss all the little ways you showed you cared.

I look at your smiling face in all my photos; Memories flood my mind as I touch the mementos from the happy times you and us have had, But now these bring tears and make me sad; For the time together went by in a wink, Life was not as long as we’d like to think.

But I know your kind soul wants no tears or pain, Instead you’d want warm memories and love to remain. So I will force myself.

Although I cry and stand grief-stricken by your grave, I promise not to forget the loving memories you gave;

But still I miss you so very much my dear Sister.

You just made many of us push the reset button. Since you left us, I can’t go to bed without thinking about you and “ THE CRADLE SCHOOL OF LIFE”, the last lunch we had and discussions we had on your project with Koketso. I am considering giving up everything and join her to make this project a reality. I don’t know!!

They must be a good reason why you left us this way. I am here to find it.

Love you Sissi.

You left me so early my little sister, really Sifa, I still needed you.

You were more than a sister to me; my best friend, my personal mentor and advisor, you kept me focused on the life’s big picture when I was down, and you knew the exact words to soothe my daemons.

On dit souvent que la nuit porte conseil, pour moi il suffisait de te parler seulement.

Safi said you took a part of her with you, but for me, you took my back with you, I feel like the shield that protected my back and kept it erect is no longer there, and three weeks now but the pain of losing you is still unbearable.

You remember how you used to get in trouble with the bullies at your school Chipuko, then you would tell me to come fight for you? You had maybe 25kg only, with a 100kg brain, and your mouth… goodness Sifa, you had a big mouth that would always get you in trouble. You couldn’t just let it go, let the bullies do their job even when they were not bothering you. You just had to fight for the weak even if the fight was against someone twice your weight and strength. It’s funny how you could fight with anybody at such young age for your rights and, most surprisingly, for the rights of others. You would even fight with dad, with your big mouth of course, when no one else in the family would dare. But to tell you the truth, I was always proud to show up when you got into trouble at school, especially on July 2nd, the doom’s day for all the smart and outperforming kids.

How I wish I had a chance to show up when you were fighting death, maybe I was not going to be able to frighten it the way I frightened the bullies at your school, but I could have at least hugged you and tell you how much I Loved you.

I know we will all go one day, but your departure was a shocking surprise, the timing was not right and so unfair. Odette said it sucks. Yes, it sucks big time. I still needed you. Maybe there is a reason why you went so soon, and maybe one day I will know and comprehend it. Nevertheless, I am so proud to have been your brother, and frankly speaking, I don’t think I could have been what I am today without you in my life. Even our family could not be what it is today without you. So, go in peace little sister, say hi to dad, and tell him you left his family better than he knew it.
I Love you and will forever miss you.

Few weeks before your passing...@ my son's 1st holy communion. I wish i had just one more chance to share a cup of coffee with u & tell you how much i love you. 
You were an angel in disguise!
No need to say am missing u for i know we'll meet again!
XoXo

I'm going to try to make this sweet and short just like you were, although honestly you weren't really short - I was just looking for a good way to start. However, you were everything I wanted to be when I grew up. Every time I saw you, I was even more inspired than the last time. You made us believe in ourselves and showed us such a wonderful way to live and see life. Seeing you accomplish your goals encouraged us in a way that is impossible to put into words. For my part, it taught me not to give up so easily and appreciate life. To stop complaining because some people have it so much worse than I do. Through all the struggles, we had love and comfort in our family and it's really thanks to you. You knew how to bring us all together.
Our giant family is grateful for you because there aren't many people like you in this world and I think I speak for the whole family when I say that to have had you in our lives means more than you will ever know. And through the sadness and the heartache, I really can't help but smile because you truly lived your life the way it should be lived: by spreading happiness and love wherever you went and by having touched hundreds of lives in an incredible way.
I know you'll always be here somehow and that gives us all comfort.
People might say we look alike but if I end up being only half the person that you were and do only half of what you did, that, THAT will truly be my greatest achievement. I didn't really manage to make it short but it is sweet, 1 out of 2 isn't so bad, no?! ;)
T'étais pas mal cool toer pis j't'aime ben ben ben gros chumy ♥ 

I do not know Sifa, I met her on an obituary after her death, so bear with me. As I went into Hatfield Christian Church this Saturday morning to pray. This was my third visit to that prayer chapel and as I drew near, I knew that the prayer chapel would be closed but I tested anyway. It was. I had to be in prayer by 9:00 and said a bench outside would do but asked about the main chapel and a gentleman ushered me in. I was directed to the mother’s room in the chapel. I prayed but it was different this time, I was not praying for myself but for others and praising my Creator. When I was done, I looked at this booklet on the bench, it had her name on it, ‘leave it’ I said but I was drawn to this beautiful face on an obituary booklet. I read, and then said to the Lord, “I have a passion for youth and AIDS you must be speaking to me”; I decided to research this programme.

I searched for Sifa on google and came across a few sites, this woman served the Kingdom. I was in awe of this young, selfless and beautiful legend of my time that I’d known nothing about. I read a piece she’d written and was posted on HP Alliance.  Sifa had carried her mother’s wise voice across oceans and shared wisdon every virtuous woman should posses. This piece of mother daughter tête-à-tête so moved me and I had to ask myself  a few home truths and God what this encounter was really about. Sifa has made me ask myself what really drives my passion. Is it pure and humble? Do I have the discipline to stay where I am planted and or go where I’m sent even against all odds? She has given me inspiration, a benchmark, or in her words,  a measure.

I know my meeting her on 1 December 2012 has great significance, not just to me, but those who cross my path, because they will be crossing hers too.

I thank God for this morning and I thank Him for Sifa’s life. I pray, in earnest, that this time I will act, no matter how small, for I have been inspired by a legend of my time, after her time.

You have finally reached UHURU, as high as anyone would ever go, your spirit will now be free to go everywhere, and you will no longer know the physical limits of our world. What you have done will now touch way more lives than you could have imagined… Your smile brightened every soul you came across; your kindness brightened the future for countless lives.  You are finally Sifa, as you rest among those with qualities and characters of your caliber. You will be missed but your legacy will live on and until we meet again, may your soul rest in eternal peace.

I love you and I'll miss you so much Aunt Sifa. I know your in a much better place now. Stay strong Odette, Daniel and Uncle Joseph.

Rest In Paradise 

We would like to thank you all for the messages posted online, sent via emails, the many phone calls, cards, and flowers.  The children and I, as well as the other family members, are eternally grateful.  She wasn’t ours alone; she was the worlds.  We take comfort in knowing that if indeed Emerson’s words “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded” are truth, as we believe they are, Sifa’s life although short by any measure has been a resounding success.

With our thanks and love,

Odette, Daniel, and Joseph/Jeff :).

She was such a good person with a big heart.Her house was always open and she shared her warmth with each of her guests. She had a sincere smile on her face. Her tragic death is just another blow to a family that has endured so much. God bless her soul and protect the family she left behind.

Sifa,

You took good care of me ever since I can remember. You always had the funniest stories about my childhood. You came to Canada with us and lived with us. You laughed with me, cried with me and punished me when it was needed. You got married and started a family of your own but never forgot about me. You always made sure to have news from me and my brothers and sisters. You always made sure that we have long conversations about life, love, children and more. You are one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. You have done so much; I worked with Save Darfur Canada partly because you worked with Save Darfur US. You worked so hard and were so proud of ASYV, the kids in the village will forever be grateful. My hope is to honor you for the rest of my life and be at least half the woman you were. You were my superwoman, I will miss you forever and I love you in a way that cannot even be described.

Your niece, Linda

Sifa was just "humanity" in its true sense. she had strong and caring arms around everyone desperate, Sifa was just an amazing human being that so far I have not met in Rwanda. I will again start my search may be I may found her twin as we are told in this world there is always your "alter ego". She did not like "politics" and wanted always to do everything in its time and place. She strived for excellence in whatever she did especialy when it was about changing lives of vulnerables. She wanted to see our world becoming a world of equality and joy. We will miss her thoughts, strength, her love, her eyes..it can't end; she was so beautiful lady but her inerside was "beauty" itself.

Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow, she is gone but still living with us, on the hill of Rwamagana, in our way of doing as she used to say "everything will be ok"; be happy and calm down". this is really an untimely death! Sifa will be always loved and remembered with tears even if I know she passed on to a better place now! may her soul rest in peace, she worked for it her whole life. Rest in peace angel1

Jeanne d'Arc M.

My family and I were honored to be part of Sifa's life.We mate back in 2002 when my husband and I immigrated in portland Oregon (U.S.A) where Sifa and her family lived for so many years.We mate them through my brother in law's family who were very good friends of Sifa.

Her kindness,love,honesty and generosity were so remarquable that we all quickly felt in love with her.I will always remember when I gave birth to my son Tarek back in 2004 that she was the first person to come and offer to watch the baby ,so I could get some sleep while my husband was working.As a new mother in a foreign country,every thing was confusing in parenting process,but Sifa was always there to help emotionally as well as physically .

So much love,support,generosity and honesty from Sifa that many of us will never forget.She'll always be in our hearts and what my family and I learned from her is to love one another regardless of race,religion,nationality,social class or any other differences.That is Sifa's legacy and we will never let her chain of love end.
Our love and prayers to her husband,children,family and friends during this difficult moment.

                                                                  Amina and Mastylo's family
                                                                  Portland-Oregon