Weeping with You

 On Tuesday, September 6th, we received word that Mum Anne Emuron had gone home to be with the Lord. She had fought the good fight, and finished her race here on earth. Sadly, cancer took her too early. Anne was one of the few neighbours we visited during quarantine. She always had a door open and the kettle ready. 

She was passionate about the Bible Society of Uganda too.

Toto Anne was a "spiritual mother" to Moses since his childhood.

Anne was also a faithful member of Deliverance Church and a spiritual mother to many.  Over the past two years Moses and I have taken a number of Timothy Leadership Training modules with her, and with only one more module to go, she was set to graduate with us. 

On top of all of this, Anne was the mother of Moses' lifetime best friend Patrick. Moses spent a lot of time in Anne's home when he was a child. And Patrick served as our best man for our wedding. Patrick needed Moses by his side when Mum Anne passed away. Moses hopped on the first available bus to Kampala.

For two days they organized things from Kampala, before escorting the funeral services vehicle to Soroti. On Thursday afternoon there was a vigil at her home. I drove from Gulu on Thursday afternoon and arrived at her home around 7pm. Wailers were crying on the front porch as a shade/rain tent was being set up with chairs lined up underneath. I had arrived at the home before Moses and Patrick because they were still coming from the church service. 

I tried to find ways to serve the family - setting up a crib for family members who flew in from the US, or finding tea for people who needed strength. Mostly I was there to offer hugs.

Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn." 

We wanted to mourn with our friends, who are really family to us. The next day we travelled further to the village of Pallisa and spent a day together telling stories, crying, and organizing for the big burial that was being planned on Saturday. Thankfully I brought tents for Moses and I and others to sleep in for the night, because many people tried to find space anywhere - crammed in huts or rooms, outdoor furniture, wherever.

Beside our tent these two had wrapped themselves under tarpaulins and tucked in for the night. I'm not really sure if they spent the whole night there because rain started to sprinkle in the early hours.

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On Saturday morning, the burial service began. It was a full day of praise and worship, stories, speeches and a church service. Moses stood by Patrick through the whole thing and assisted with directing the program and managing the MC's for the whole event.

Moses was there to be a shoulder to cry on!

When the church took over the program it was almost 3 in the afternoon. Many church leaders and elders surround the family in a time of prayer.

The crowd was huge, I'm guessing more than 1300 people came to say goodbye to Toto Anne before they laid her earthly body to rest.

Throughout the day there were times when the worship led to dancing, because we rejoice that she knew the Lord as her personal Lord and Saviour!

Patrick escorted his dear grandmother as she said one more goodbye to her daughter.

I was there to pray, support, cry, and serve. The family asked if I would help collect the financial contributions and condolences. A small table was set up behind this tree and throughout the day people brought envelopes or open cash to share with the family. It's a way of helping to cover the costs of the burial.

Around 6:30 pm, after a meal of rice, pilau, chicken, beef, cabbage, greens, beans, plantains, and water was served to everyone, the burial was complete. Crowds quickly dispersed as the sun was setting. Exhaustion started setting in, but so did the emotions. A few of us close family member - Moses and his brother, Patrick and his two brothers and two sisters, some spouses, and a few dear friends spent the rest of the evening in a square gazebo sharing meat, stories, laughter and tears.

Toto Anne will be missed.

Sunday morning I drove the 6 hours from Pallisa back to Gulu while Moses faded in and out of conversation and sleep.

From dust to dust, may the name of the Lord be praised.