Homage to Mamarita Isaacks

We left Cape Town on Thursday morning to begin the 614 mile trek to Keetmanshoop, Namibia.  This trip to South Africa has been planned since August of 2017.  And, as they say “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”  Probably for the last 20 years every time I’ve come to South Africa, I’ve come up to Keetmanshoop to teach and preach.  The first 2 times Peter Manuel and I also went over to Luderitz on the Namibian Coast where there is also a church.  Since those early days, the church in Namibia has grown quite a bit.  There are now about 8 or 9 churches, where at one time there were none — only some contact names sent to Peter and others by World Bible School.

But, back to the point.  One of the things that has occurred in “Life” while other plans were made for this trip is that the wife of one of the leaders in the church in Keetmanshoop developed pancreatic cancer.  On Thursday night she passed away.  So, what was supposed to be a sermon at the church building in Keetmanshoop last night, ended up being morphed into a message of exhortation and consolation to the family and friends of our sister at her home.  Her name was Mamarita Isaacks.  She was 44 years old.  Her husband’s name is Bennie.  They have 4 children.  The youngest of the children is not quite 4 years old.  She was a wonderful, committed Christian sister.  She will be missed in this world.

Philippians 1:21-23 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

2 Timothy 4:7,8 -  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.