In Kaslo Africa

In memory of Fr. Herman Engberink SMA  Dec 16,1919- Oct 3, 2010

 It has been many years
Since we set foot in this little town
Its access a winding road
Narrow at times in the driving
We have traveled these past five weeks
On this our last visit
We pray for you, dear friend
In this tiny mission church
With tears and memories
The hard times of those years ago
When your kindness kept us hopeful
Now your passing from this life
Sends grace and peace swirling
In this sunlit October time.

In October the sunlight is warm
Until suddenly the shadows go chasing
Up the tall mountains across the lake
With autumnal golds fading
In the evening light outside this church
The chill in the breeze
Quick to descend as we watch
The sun retreat for another day.

I remember the times we went together
Across this valley
Wild places you loved with company
Explored with great adventure
Oh missionary to Africa
All those years
Whose love affair with the
Dark continent began
When you were six
How you labored long
To build the Faith into vibrant form
Walking miles to serve and
Call into being the hungry souls
You found.


And when at last you came to our shores
To shepherd in a wilderness
More trees than people
More doubt than faith
You gave us your last working years
A warm beacon of truth
A kind heart with firm intention
A mind that served the living Tradition
Not afraid of wolves
Brave unto old age and sorely missed
When you returned
Home to Holland
To wind down these last ten years
Still at last
You who loved the open spaces
Eagerly explored the beauty
And sat with us in this little town
Down to dinner one autumn
Such a feast we shared that day.

We have traveled here today
With a priest from Africa
A shining star of his culture
Gracing the mystery of Faith
We treasure this short time with him
A gift happily bestowed
Yet again.

We sit in the same restaurant
As all those years ago
Your presence now unseen
But keenly felt
Your death from a good life spent
Shines on this present time
Love passes onward in journey
Vibrant in the evenings time
And even in the darkness
When we step into the night
The wind blows cold off the lake
 Moonlight filling the starry sky
Africa lives within our hearts
Warm with the exchange across
Timeless miles to go.