Geoffrey was trained by Emmanuel International some years ago in a curriculum for schools called "Why Wait?" - a life skills curriculum developed in Malawi that helps children build self worth, stay in school, and not enter into early marriage. It was during that training that Geoffrey was convicted that he'd only been a Christian by name up until that point. He gave his life to Christ and to serving in the kingdom of God. So when he heard that Emmanuel International had come back with another training (CHE), he immediately volunteered himself, telling his parish priest, "Anything to do with God's ministry, I'm there!" Geoffrey told us that it was his hope in future to become a Reverend.
Joy Mercy was born in between TOT2 (June 2014) and TOT3 (August 2014). When he told us he'd named his daughter Joy, we said, "That's Marianne's middle name!" He thought it was wonderful that his daughter was a "namesake" to Marianne. At the burial, Nighty was holding Joy Mercy as we were putting dirt on the coffin. Marianne looked at her and started to cry, thinking "Don't you know that your father is being laid into the ground right now??" As Marianne looked at little Joy with tears, Joy looked back at her with smiles, and ended up in her arms for most of the rest of the day. As we laid him to rest, the thought that comforted us was "He's not here any more". He wasn't inside that pine box we lowered into the ground. He's truly living now, with Jesus. |
| |