This morning we received news that a good friend of our up in Isiro (NE Congo) passed away. Pastor Waule was the former General Superintendent of the AG for Northern Congo. We first met him when we were there in the 1980's.
During our time in Isiro in the 1990's Waule lived in a house that was outside of town, tucked away in the midst of trees and very tall elephant grass. There was a little trail hidden in the grass that eventually lead from his house to ours. As things became more dangerous (with the war beginning) our "safety plan" for our 3 kids was that if something bad began in the area of our house, one of our workers would sneak the kids away and take them to Waule's house, via this trail. Should we not be able to get away, Waule promised that he would get our children, somehow, to missionaries in Nairobi - that's how much we loved and trusted him.
He must have been in his 70's when he passed away, which is a good, long life for this part of the world. He lived all of those year in Northern Congo - I can't imagine all that he has seen and endured. But he never lost his quick smile and ability to laugh. He always valued relationships and he never lost his faith or hope in Christ. He went from a lifetime of living in difficult, dangerous, dysfuctional northern Congo to a mansion in heaven - I can't imagine! He is a man who finished well - and his was a race that was not defined by ease or recognition.
So today we we are sad at our loss, but we rejoice with all of heaven as they welcome a true and faithful warrior for Christ!!
