Thoughts from Rock Cliff Drive Kikota in Serere District by BE, Obaate Phillip Jr dated Friday, 1/3/2024.
Introduction; today, papa Vans OMOME, early morning of Friday 29/2/2024 in a city you brought peace into you transitioned to glory. Soroti City it is. To the fully spirit world you entered. Entering to eternity on a day where departure can only remembered after every four years. The leap year that you taught. The teacher, headteacher, head of culture, mentor, disciplinarian, future builder; you have left us.
At the time of your departure to glory, deep into the night after fifths watch, I was dreaming of a Teso icon Faustine Etilu. Vividly recalling his journey from the time we were in Amucu Primary School under your headship. You have to greet him on arrival. Was this the spiritual communication, I may not have understood!?
It is hard to accept, believe. But fare thee well.
I am bereaved, we are saddened! I am sad. I am bereaved. My sisters and my brothers are sad, bereaved. Ms Akwi Alungat, Opolot Augustine and many more are sad, bereaved. Our nephew OGa is bereaved. Your in-laws, our relatives are bereaved. Many more are sad, bereaved. But life begins and ends with God, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the Omnipresent, the Almighty, the ultimate Creator.
Journey thee well to eternity. In God you are.
Mentor of Many, some to budding professionals. Oh papa Omome, you brought us and mentored us to be who we are today. We are Ministers, MPs, Priests, Lawyers, Teachers, Engineers, Doctors, Accountants, Entrepreneurs, Veterinary Doctor, Medics, Planners, Economists, Statisticians, Politicians, … We are who we are because you were.
Avoid you have left. Big it is. Filling it difficult. Fare thee well.
Language teacher, administrator. We speak and write the English Language and Ateso Language you taught us. These languages others have perfected in us. We are for ever appreciative. Past simple, present simple, future simple; we know. Figures of speech we learnt from an early age. Adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, prepositions, … you inculcated to our speech. Fluent we are, because you taught with love, patience and compassion. With ease we use them now, till then.
Few languages here on earth, many they shall be there before God; fare the well.
Conflict, peace and remediation. Our conflicts, you mediated. Many, many, many. Many in the education world. Some in the family settings. Much more on land issues. At school, chicky we were. We knew your signature precisely. No crime we meant, but growing we were. Class time cut off time was 7:30 am prompt. Office time management was what your target. Little did we know! You managed our conflicts in early days to make us be.
To time with no limits you are in now. To us we are waiting, waiting for our D-Day. Fare thee well.
A parent with a golden heart. As little as we were till we became adults, you knew us, knowing us fully.You cultured us into culture. Such got enthrined in us. From toddlers to adults you inspired us to take first steps, but to many steps into life you you instructed. Saying make your future now. Indeed, the future we made yesterday. Because you said, admonished. We thank you.
The future of the earth is now for us but for a while, yours is now for eternity. Fare thee well.
The Arts, you made part of us Music, dance and drama plus other arts, you taught us. From Acowa Subcounty that later became part of Asamuk Subcounty to now Apeduru Subcounty, and beyond, your human products touch all the four corners of the globe. Wednesdays afternoons, for all those passed through your hands recall. A day for art and crafts. Ropes we made. Granaries we made, grinding stones we made. Winowers we made. This made the engineer in me develope at an early stage. Your determination determined our various life, career destinations.
You touched our lives, torched our ways, fare thee well papa.
A parent for ever. You checked on me, your little boy, when I would go silent. You etelepat are you well, you always could inquire! You wanted to know why. An adult I am, a parent you remained. Providing advisory of a life time when my challenges would seem overwhelming. Thick air became thin, life again bearable, your check-ins worked. I shall miss this. Annually, you hosted us your little ones. Hosting the now current bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Dr Joseph Eciru Oliach, just before he was announced bishop. The Catholic Charismatic prayers we held at Okooka Omome, at home. We shall miss this!
Checking in to eternity, you have. All is well. Fare thee well.
Guest of Honour, you shall be missed in our traditional marriage, burials. In funerals you taught us the importance of the three governments; that of God led by priests, that of governments led by politicians and that of the family driven by cultural settings.
These to us shaped our understanding of life. Giving to (Julius) Caesar what belonged to him, was right, we learnt. It shall continue.
In our social lives you lived. Living to we meet again, soon.
From the earthly governments to God\’s eternal realms you are. Fare thee well.
Papa Omome and onac Apedu, in others funerals you shined – releaving pain of loss. With my brother Simon Apedu, you made funerals easy to bear to the bereaved. Made tears dry. Hope you provided. Sadly, you two, conspired to leave in February 2024 and be buried in March 2024! At the will of God who was, who is and shall be it is, it has happened. Going you have gone. Going ahead of us too soon!
To that location, eternity awaits us. Travel safe. Fare thee well.
Amucu Mission, at St Benedict Church Amuria (now Amuria rural), you have left for us! At Amucu Mission you were patrons, shaping lives of the parishioners. You prayed with us. Now pray for us from the heavens. St Benedict Catholic Church you have left to us as you join God, as fully spirituals. Guest of Honour papa Vans Omome, Master of Ceremonies onac Simon Apedu, rest in peace at the heavenly realms.
That eternity becons us. Time soon. Papa Omome, brother Apedu; fare thee well.
Life, life, life; you made it easy for us Challenges of life separated us for awhile. Physically it was. In and out of the country I flew. Back home, we would meet. Consultation, at least for now, has ceased. But meeting again we shall meet. As we wait to join you soon. Greetings to all who went ahead of us. Greet papa Obaate Phillip Sr, greet toto Keturah Mary Arepo Adeke Apio.
Missing you, it is. But eternity becons us. Fare thee well.
Rest in peace papa Omome. Rest in onac Apedu.
Your son, and brother. Papa, from your little boy, with love. 💕
BE, Obaate Phillip Jr
phillipjustineobaate@gail.com
