Yesterday it was raining and none of us really wanted to do anything. However 7:45am came around and we worked out, even though it was a half hour later than our usual workouts. We were all moving a little slow. Then we went to the Village of Hope and Pastor Jeffery informed us that we would be attending a funeral because visitors are expected to attend them in this culture. We all looked at each other thinking it was strange that we would be attending a funeral the same day as my Grandfather’s visitation.
There was something unifying in the spirit going on because I was able to mourn with these people. This was definitely a way God was helping me to go through the grieving process for my g-pa. Even though I couldn’t understand a majority of the songs or stories, the Lord was there to comfort the family and I. I could relate to their pain as they cried and I let my tears flow too.
We mourned over the life of Thembelihle Mahlangu, a 15-year-old girl who passed away from ill health. The entire school was there and all the family. The church was so packed that a lot of people had to stand in the back. The girl was described as polite, well mannered, humble, and hard working. Her teacher said, “A loss of one child is a loss of too many.” I would agree. It broke my heart to watch who I thought was her sister crying.
The principal read poems and they reminded me of my grandpa. Somehow I was able to be a part of the funeral and celebrate my grandfather’s entrance into heaven. The time to mourn at the funeral and to thank God for heaven was all a part of my healing process. I’m glad I’ll get to see g-pa again in heaven!
After the two-hour funeral I made sure to hug all the family. Because of the language barrier they didn’t know I was sharing in their pain, but I hope that in my hugs they could feel my heart wanting to comfort them. Hugs to all my family back home!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
