A Friend Has Gone Home

We heard a few weeks ago of the loss of one of our friends in Namibia. We were only able to confirm this news yesterday. Marcus, the property manager at Dieter and Joan’s ministry center, and a man whose smile will never be forgotten by members of our teams in 2005 and 2006, was killed on a bicycle, hit by an automobile.

This is what I wrote in my Namibia 2005 recap about him:

Since we were introduced to Marcus on our first visit to Vyf Rand we recognized him as he came to work each day at Mpampo. On one occasion Marcus shared a bit of his testimony with members of our team. A few years earlier he had received word of an infection that would require the amputation of his leg. He realized that he did not have the money for a prosthesis, and the prospect of caring for a man unable to walk overwhelmed his wife. She left him for another man. He pondered life alone, in his words, "among the ‘thrown away’ people". But then, he met someone who introduced him to Christ. A short while after his surgery, a group of believers came together to help him afford a prosthetic leg. Now, a few years later, he is a land owner, landlord, the manager of Mpampo’s staff for Dieter, and testifying to all of God’s goodness to him.

The next time I am at Dieter’s place I know that I will miss what has been an institution for me the last couple of trips – being up early in the morning and seeing Marcus appear in the distance making his way to work for the day.
The Scriptures remind us that we do not grieve like the rest of the world. Indeed, it is true. I look forward to seeing our friend again – thankful for him today, for both the testimony and example he gave us, and for the fact that today he is dancing in glory with perfect legs!

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