August 23, 2021
August 23, 2021
Ooh, my dearest papa…….what a shock! The longest dream and nightmare I have had, one that I continue to hope I will wake up from. Ooh, Papa, we have come a long, long way, just for you to leave suddenly. Papa, it was time to give back for all the sacrifices that you made, sacrifices above what you had. Oh, my dear papa, a man of integrity, a God-fearing man, God’s chorister, my mother’s advocate, our lifelong teacher, our peace lover, our dancer, our playmate.... oh papa, I remember when we went riding the children’s toil train in the mall…melted my heart and I long for more. Papa, why did I think you would always be here. I always looked forward to coming home to see you in your bedroom, in the living room, or sitting outside with your wife.
Oh, papa, who is going to call me “Ntum” again. I am shocked and still shocked.
Every night papa, I looked forward to hearing your grandchildren gather everyone for prayer/Bible study sessions in your bedroom, where they knew as the place of nightly prayer sessions, learning the Bible and reciting memory verses. Even on nights when I could not be part of the session, because I was consumed with earthly works, I still smiled as the children call out and rush to your bedroom.
Papa, I could write a book about you, but it hurts to even write, as it confirms you are no more.
Thank you papa for giving us more than what you had,
For instilling the spirit of worshiping and praising God
For instilling the importance of hard work in us “No sweat, no sweet”.
For encouraging us to achieve higher levels of Education.
Your daughter Emily Teteh Kwi stopped by the house the afternoon of your death, to deliver your medications which she had gotten from the pharmacy. She assisted you in placing your respiratory treatment machine before your nap. You asked her "When are you going to take this machine off, so I can rest? She explained that the machine does not come off for rest and that you rest with the machine. Oh papa, little did she know that you were talking of ETERNAL REST. Oh papa, a man of parables.
In the last song “The Lily of the Valley”, you taught your grandchildren a few minutes before your death, during the routine evening Prayer/Bible study session in your bedroom, you assured them of your comfort, in the lines “In sorrow, He’s my Comfort”.
Thanks for gifting us with such a powerful song, an anthem for life.
A song that guarantees us of where you are, in the lines “I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me” and “…..and now He keeps me by His pow’r”.
Yes papa, a friend more than us, a friend that can offer more that we can offer, a friend that loves you more than we do, and most importantly, a friend with whom you now dine in paradise.
A song that even comforts us as we grief and morn, in the line “In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay”. Oh papa, even as you knew your time was near, you prepared us, you worried about us and provided comfort and assurance to us.
Few minutes before your death, your daughter and wife asked if you were comfortable, not because they thought death was so soon, but because it was their routine, and you assured them both that you were comfortable. Your dearest daughter: Claudia Kimbong Kwi (your good Kimbong) helped you to bed and you said “I am comfortable and would not be needing your help after this”, oh papa, little did she know you were saying goodbye.
While laying down face to face with your wife, she asked if you were comfortable and you said, "I am very very comfortable" and then proceeded to take your last breath in no distress. Oh, our Papa, what a way to die, what memories!
Papa, we are comforted that you died comfortably.
Papa, we are comforted that you died in the arms of your best friend.
Papa, we are comforted by your assurance, the memories, and the legacy you left.
Papa, thank you for the contagious smile, laughter, and sense of humor. The smile on your pictures, laughter, and fun times on your videos are so alive and through them, we will continue to re-live the times spent with you on earth.
I remember when we were growing up, your laughter at a distance was our saving grace, as we would quickly put things in order and wait for you with blushing smiles like the most orderly children that existed.
Mama said you worried about her well-being during your last days on earth. Papa, we would never be able to replace the void you left in your best friend of 45 years, your partner, your advocate, your doctor…etc. Papa, we promise to do our best to be by her through her new life experiences without her best friend.
Papa, you wanted things so easy for us that you wrote an autobiography, you left notes of advice for a happy marriage “Ten Golden Secrets of Marriage”, you wrote notes of assurance and consolation, asking us to release you when you are gone and not to morn for too long, and that it was time for you to travel alone and would receive us with a smile when it’s our time.
You left a big legacy, a legacy so big that it scares me, the legacy of praise and worship, the legacy of love for one another, the legacy of Education, the legacy of humbleness, the legacy of contentment, the legacy of hard work…..etc.
I trust and pray that the Lord God continues to grant us all it takes to keep your legacy alive. Papa, your favorite Bible verse “Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is an assurance that with Christ, we can keep your legacy alive.
Oh papa, what a great loss! But through the tears, I have no doubt that we gained an Angel. Rest well, Papa.
Courage Ntumla Kwi-Mancho (Your Ntum-daughter).
Oh, papa, who is going to call me “Ntum” again. I am shocked and still shocked.
Every night papa, I looked forward to hearing your grandchildren gather everyone for prayer/Bible study sessions in your bedroom, where they knew as the place of nightly prayer sessions, learning the Bible and reciting memory verses. Even on nights when I could not be part of the session, because I was consumed with earthly works, I still smiled as the children call out and rush to your bedroom.
Papa, I could write a book about you, but it hurts to even write, as it confirms you are no more.
Thank you papa for giving us more than what you had,
For instilling the spirit of worshiping and praising God
For instilling the importance of hard work in us “No sweat, no sweet”.
For encouraging us to achieve higher levels of Education.
Your daughter Emily Teteh Kwi stopped by the house the afternoon of your death, to deliver your medications which she had gotten from the pharmacy. She assisted you in placing your respiratory treatment machine before your nap. You asked her "When are you going to take this machine off, so I can rest? She explained that the machine does not come off for rest and that you rest with the machine. Oh papa, little did she know that you were talking of ETERNAL REST. Oh papa, a man of parables.
In the last song “The Lily of the Valley”, you taught your grandchildren a few minutes before your death, during the routine evening Prayer/Bible study session in your bedroom, you assured them of your comfort, in the lines “In sorrow, He’s my Comfort”.
Thanks for gifting us with such a powerful song, an anthem for life.
A song that guarantees us of where you are, in the lines “I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me” and “…..and now He keeps me by His pow’r”.
Yes papa, a friend more than us, a friend that can offer more that we can offer, a friend that loves you more than we do, and most importantly, a friend with whom you now dine in paradise.
A song that even comforts us as we grief and morn, in the line “In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay”. Oh papa, even as you knew your time was near, you prepared us, you worried about us and provided comfort and assurance to us.
Few minutes before your death, your daughter and wife asked if you were comfortable, not because they thought death was so soon, but because it was their routine, and you assured them both that you were comfortable. Your dearest daughter: Claudia Kimbong Kwi (your good Kimbong) helped you to bed and you said “I am comfortable and would not be needing your help after this”, oh papa, little did she know you were saying goodbye.
While laying down face to face with your wife, she asked if you were comfortable and you said, "I am very very comfortable" and then proceeded to take your last breath in no distress. Oh, our Papa, what a way to die, what memories!
Papa, we are comforted that you died comfortably.
Papa, we are comforted that you died in the arms of your best friend.
Papa, we are comforted by your assurance, the memories, and the legacy you left.
Papa, thank you for the contagious smile, laughter, and sense of humor. The smile on your pictures, laughter, and fun times on your videos are so alive and through them, we will continue to re-live the times spent with you on earth.
I remember when we were growing up, your laughter at a distance was our saving grace, as we would quickly put things in order and wait for you with blushing smiles like the most orderly children that existed.
Mama said you worried about her well-being during your last days on earth. Papa, we would never be able to replace the void you left in your best friend of 45 years, your partner, your advocate, your doctor…etc. Papa, we promise to do our best to be by her through her new life experiences without her best friend.
Papa, you wanted things so easy for us that you wrote an autobiography, you left notes of advice for a happy marriage “Ten Golden Secrets of Marriage”, you wrote notes of assurance and consolation, asking us to release you when you are gone and not to morn for too long, and that it was time for you to travel alone and would receive us with a smile when it’s our time.
You left a big legacy, a legacy so big that it scares me, the legacy of praise and worship, the legacy of love for one another, the legacy of Education, the legacy of humbleness, the legacy of contentment, the legacy of hard work…..etc.
I trust and pray that the Lord God continues to grant us all it takes to keep your legacy alive. Papa, your favorite Bible verse “Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is an assurance that with Christ, we can keep your legacy alive.
Oh papa, what a great loss! But through the tears, I have no doubt that we gained an Angel. Rest well, Papa.
Courage Ntumla Kwi-Mancho (Your Ntum-daughter).
