LYDIA ONGAYO - Nairobi, Kenya
"Will he say, well done well done, Will he say this to me?
Will he say well done well done -
good faithful servant well done."
The above chorus in a sense summarises the kind of life that our late sister Lydia Ongayo set her heart on achieving. Lydia, who had been a disciple for more than five years, died on September 26, 2004 succumbing to a long illness. She left behind three children.
Humble, grateful and cheerful even in the face of adversity are some of the words that those who were close to Lydia use to describe her. Her gratitude was even more evident on the evening she received her trumpet call to go and be with the Lord.
"She kept on thanking all those who had helped her in one way or another," says Christine Nyukuri who was her sector leader in Eastleigh. Nyukuri says she was blown away by Lydia's sincere and honest thankfulness just a few minutes away from her demise, at a time when many would probably be complaining and blaming God.
Lydia's discipling partner at the time of death, Margaret Ng'ang'a, remembers a disciple who never missed church without a valid reason given her condition. "She never blamed anyone and was never bitter towards other disciples," she says. She adds, " Lydia had her own all night prayers on certain days of the week and fasted every week."
Samson Mokaya who leads the teens ministry remembers Lydia's determination to put her life right with God at the time she was studying the bible. "I was blown away by her determination and efforts to get to know God," remembers Mokaya.
Let us strive to emulate Lydia's life even as we desire to be with the Lord.
"Loving Memory" Page