Home call: Rose Mueni Gitau, Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi:
Letter from Dr. K.M. Samuel:
Celebration of a live well lived
This is the usual phrase used to announce a Christian’s death in Kenya. That was literally meaningful to the life of Sis. Rose Mueni Gitau (65) who has gone to be with the Lord on 21 May 2014 . She was the wife of Evg. Robert Gitau who is one of the pioneer evangelists in Kenya. Bro. Robert is presently the Chairman of Kenya Brethren Mission Fund.
Rose, a qualified nurse from Kenya Medical Training College, was born again in 1970 through the ministry of God’s servants, Bro. John Roberts and late Bro. Walter Nyasamo. She left her job in 1976, immediately after her marriage, to serve the Lord full time along with her husband Bro. Robert Gitau. Together they served God in Kimathi Chapel in Nairobi from 1976-85 and thereafter moved to a rural place called Nguluni in Tala about 65 kms away from Nairobi and established Nguluni Chapel under Fellowship of Believers’ Ministry (FOB). They together established an Orphanage, two Primary Schools, one Secondary School and a Dispensary in the church compound to serve the poor people of that area.
My wife and I had the privilege to visit this church last month and enjoyed the warm hospitality extended by Bro Robert and Sister Rose. Though she was weak in her body due to sugar and heart ailment, she took care of us, appreciated my message for the church, and she never forgot to give us a gift to cover our fuel expenses!
Sister Rose was laid to rest on 31 May in their residential plot in Nguluni in presence of more than 2000 people. In addition to friends and relatives, local people of the area, Lord’s Servants and members representing most of our 110 plus Brethren Assemblies in Kenya witnessed the funeral of our sister. They travelled from nook and corner of Kenya to bid farewell to this woman of God, whom they loved dearly. I and my wife also had the privilege to attend the funeral along with some Indian friends.
What we saw in this funeral:
1. Africans prefer to bury their dear ones in their own home land more than a common place or a church cemetery.
2. We didn’t find any one weeping or crying. Instead, there was singing and dancing, and great celebration of a life well-lived.
3. Individuals and churches, through several fund-raising at different places, made it point to chip-in something to meet the heavy expenses of the funeral.
4. No one was allowed to go without participating in the ‘great feast’ prepared in her honour. The family will feel bad and get offended if you leave without taking the meals with them.
Dr. K.M. Samuel
Evangelist
Nairobi
[Adelphoi News]
