The Resident Bishop of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, UMC, John Kpahun Yambasu was laid to rest on Sunday at the UMC University campus at Leicester Peak in Freetown. A university he dedicated so much of his time and energy to establish. His daughter, Rebecca Alicia Yambasu, pays him this emotional tribute.
My Dad passed away on the 16 August, 2020 in a horrific road accident. He was to have turned 64 years on the 24 August. Even though I know everyone is going to face death someday, I did not know it would come so soon for my dad.
I was hoping to have more time to spend with my dad especially after his retirement. Death is a part of life, and once it strikes someone you dearly love, your existence will never be the same.
I know the pain of losing my Dad will perhaps never go off my mind. I imagine it will ease with time as I proceed in getting through the hard realities of life.
Excruciating as it is, the sad memory continues to linger. He knew how to get me to smile whenever I was unhappy. I used to call him Sweet Daddy and he would call me “Cucus”.
It is still all freshly tough and distressing that a tragic accident took you away from me. We shared a lot and have unfinished businesses!!
Oh death where is thy sting? Death has taken away a father and rendered me fatherless. Gone is my role model, my twin partner, my hero, my mentor, an extraordinary dad. The World’s Best Dad, I used to call you. Above all, a disciplinarian, my secret keeper, my palaver mate.
Who will I tell my secrets or can be my next confidant? Who will I quarrel with again? I can hear us laughing together all over again. Your voice is still as strong in my ears. The true measure of a man is how much love he gives, how selflessly he shares whatever he can to help others, how consistently he lifts up those around him with a kind word, a funny joke, a compliment, a humble ear or the very shoes of his feet.
By this measure, my Dad is immeasurable and irreplaceable. I lost my Dad. But only in body – and not in spirit. This is by far the most painful, heart-ripping and life-altering experience I’ve endured. I will do my best to remain grateful and comforted knowing how much my beloved Dad positively impacted the lives of others and mine. His life, his influence, his energy are inextricably linked to mine and I now take comfort in that.
I take comfort in knowing that my Dad is no longer in pain from that horrific accident. That suffering is no longer something he has to endure. My Dad will forever be in my heart until the day I stop breathing.
And I am grateful that I am becoming a more fully realized human being, a more caring, compassionate and empathetic person because of my Dad. I would have forfeited anything for the sake of having him back. He was the most honest, sincere and altruistic person I have ever known, with no attachment to material things. He would literally and happily give you the clothes he was wearing.
All you had to do was mention that you liked something and he would immediately insist on giving it to you. All he ever wanted to do was make other people feel comfortable and make sure they were not feeling left out. I know it’s because he knew what it felt like being left out. He grew up poor and knew what it felt like to be that person. “A heart of gold” is what every family member or friend has described my Dad as. And it’s incredible to see just how boundless his reach has been. The love we shared was immeasurable. My Dad left an impact on every person he met, even strangers. The love my Dad spread on earth continues to grow and will live on forever – and that is the ultimate measure of any human being. With this I say to you dad: There will be no more pain, no more shame, no more loss in Jesus name: no more sorrow, no more hatred, no more pulling down syndrome, no more witchcraft, no more bloodshed in Jesus name.
He said “it is finished”, we believe. He said “it is finished” on the Cross of Calvary, we believe. There is no more fighting left, sinking to rise no more, and every road that I have taken leads to my regret, and I don’t know if I am going to make it. My leaves have fallen, my walls have come tumbling down on me. The rain is falling, defeat is calling, dad I need you to set me free: Take me far away from the battle, I need you, to shine on me.
I therefore say, I look to you after all my strength is gone, in you I can be strong. I ask that you never go away from me dad. Thank you for loving me endlessly, thank you for the sacrifices you made to educate me to a Master’s degree level. I sometimes called you “Dr Yambasu” and you would respond by saying “Dr Rebecca Alicia Yambasu”. That was a way of telling me that I needed to do more. And my promise today is that you will call me Dr Yambasu in heaven by God’s grace for it will come to pass. I will make you a proud father over and again even in death. I love you, Dad. Now and forever more.
Rebecca Alicia Yambasu (Cucus).
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