The Dansoman District pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, Pastor Ato Kessie who lost five members of his immediate family in last week’s fire outbreak at his residence has spoken publicly for the first time since the incident.
Family, sympathizers and mourners could not hold back their tears when Pastor Ato Kessie paid an emotional tribute to his late wife, Mrs. Linda Kessie, children, niece and mother-in-law during the pre-burial rite on Sunday August 26, 2018.
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He said he has been shattered by the death of his wife, his three-week-old baby, a four year old son, mother-in–law and his niece.
“I never knew the power and reality of death until it hit my family. It is hard to accept your sudden death my dearest Linda especially when I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye”.
Death! Oh death!!! an enemy of mankind, an enemy that visited me on August 19, 2018. you took away my wife, my nuclear family, my in-law and niece” he bemoaned.
Pastor Ato Kessie sorrowfully shared their journey as a couple and events leading to her demise on that fateful day.
Linda your death has made me reflect and put things in perspective. I wish you can hear me. Having you in my life was the best dream come true” he stated.
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“Words cannot describe the emptiness inside me. I miss your mind, humility and gentle soul but most especially I miss some radical decisions you took for the family when I wasn’t bold enough to take them” Pastor Kessie said.
Pastor Ato Kessie however found solace in the fact that one day he will unite with his late wife in heaven.
“You are God sent and it is only Jehovah who knows why he permitted this to happen. It is sad but you have served God diligently and I know in my heart that God will one day raise you up and rejoice evermore in heaven”.
READ: Fire Service commence investigations into fire that killed SDA pastor’s wife and 4 others
“Farewell my darling Linda” the SDA pastor added sorrowfully.
The final funeral rites was held Sunday morning at the Methodist University park where family members, church members and all sympathisers convened to pay their final respect to the deceased.