FAMILY TRIBUTE

To Our Dear Son, Brother, and Uncle
Late Rev. Br. Augustine Kubdaar

When the day of toil is done,
When the race of life is run,
Father, grant Your wearied one
Rest forevermore.

When the breath of life is flown,
When the grave must claim its own,
Lord of life, be ours Your crown,
Life forevermore.
(CHB 365)

Today, we stand before God and before you all with heavy hearts, yet with faith.

The words of Scripture remind us:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than yours.”
— Isaiah 55, verses 8 to 9.

These words are not easy to accept.

They are not easy to understand.
Yet they are true.

Our dear son, our elder brother, and our beloved uncle, your sudden departure is painful. Very painful. But the faith you lived by does not allow us to question God. Instead, it strengthens our hope in the resurrection through Christ our Savior.

You lived a life of faith, love, and service.
You were proactive, always seeking unity in the family.
You were deeply concerned about the education and future of your nieces and nephews.

We did not know that your days with us were so few.
We did not know that you were hastening to complete your earthly mission and return to your Maker.

Today, we accept your passing with faith.
We trust in God’s will.
And we hold firmly to the hope that you will rise again.

Though, as humans, we may ask why good people die, Scripture assures us that the righteous find peace and rest in God’s presence. Our hearts grieve deeply. We wish you had lived longer to enjoy the fruits of your good works.

We now realize that your return to Ghana this time was a quiet farewell—not the joyful reunion we were used to.

Brother Augustine, we will miss you deeply.
We will miss your guidance.
Your advice.
Your prayers.
Your discipline.
And your fatherly care.

The vacuum you have left behind is great and cannot be replaced.

To say that your passing is a big blow to us is truly an understatement. It feels as though we have been left in the middle of the deep blue sea.

Questions fill our minds:
Who will care for your aged mother?
Who will speak for the many mothers in the village who constantly reminded us to do right?
Who will call us together for a family meal?

For you, truth was truth, and wrong was wrong.
When you were angry, you raised your voice—not out of malice, but out of love and correction. Some misunderstood you, but that was your gift.

Through your vocation, you showed us that the Kingdom of God was your only limit. You sought no personal gain. You gave your whole life generously to others.

Brother Augustine, who will take us through now?
When will our tears stop flowing?
When will the emptiness stop echoing?

We do not yet have answers.

But this we know for sure:
The tears will one day dry.
The emptiness will ease.
And the sorrow will cease.

We are an Easter people.
An Alleluia people.
A people of hope.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead. Our faith tells us that Brother Augustine has only crossed over into eternal life.

We promise to continue the good works you left behind. We trust that God, who works all things for good, called you home for a purpose. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Our son, our brother, our beloved uncle, it is very hard to end this tribute. But we assure you that we will do our very best to continue what you left for us to do. And we hope you will continue to guide us, even in our dreams.

We never knew how wide you had expanded the family. Your loved ones are grieving deeply, wishing to hear just one more word from you.

We, your siblings, thank Almighty God a million times for the gift of your life to our family—for the love, the memories, and the many sacrifices you made for us.

We pray that the angels of the Lord will welcome you at the gates of Paradise and usher you into the bosom of the Almighty, who will keep you safe in eternity—until we meet again on the resurrection morning.

We love you, but God loves you best.
You will forever remain in our hearts.

Sleep well, our beloved Brother Augustine.
May the earth lie gently upon you.

Kul vela. A Natie; pollenaa ani kubdaar yirdem tuori de fo.
Kyaa Puorekorete. Te me napuore na kore fu.