I met Mama Rebecca in February this year. She came to Impact Kids School inquiring about a job. In a community where unemployment topples 65-75% you can imagine I get a lot of these type of inquires.
I knew she was a part of Judah Africa, the church we work with in Kya Sands and there was just something about her that I liked. I told her we'd try things out 2 days a week with her helping in the kitchen. Soon those 2 days turned to 5....even when she wasn't working she'd bring her bible and hang out at the school. Rebecca, became "Mama" to everyone at the school and Impact Kids became a "home" of sorts for this precious lady!
She was sickly but having been to the clinic with her just 2 weeks ago, we were assured it was nothing life threatening. Thus the shock when I got the call Saturday that Mama had collapsed. When I arrived at her shack, she lay on the floor covered in a blanket, people all around and my fears were confirmed, Mama was gone.
In my initial year of the Franzenfam blog (when I actually posted frequently), I posted about an exercise I did with my kids (which were so small then). We spent time dreaming and talking about "what heaven would be like" using our 5 senses...click here to read. There is a silly twist at the end but I found myself thinking of this, this past Sunday. As we drove to church we began to imagine what Mama Rebecca was experiencing now in heaven......Formerly unable to discern where her next meal would come from, now feasting at a table filled with all she could possibly desire. Formerly living in a small shack sleeping on the floor, now in a mansion jumping on a King size bed. Formerly in pain and sickly, now whole in body...and on the list goes.
I'm sad to think I won't see Mama Rebecca on a regular basis; her smile and greeting were a highlight of my days however I look forward our meeting again! I now imagine heaven even sweeter and know I'll again "hear" her say, "How are you, Pastor Rich (Reech) and (in a sing song manner) my friends (referring to my kids)?". And I'm confident an enormous cup of strong coffee will accompany her greeting. :)
Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:8 (NLT)
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