A TRIBUTE FROM FANO SIBISI
(the following tribute is an email sent by Fano Sibisi,
chairman of CFT and a co-worker at Kwasizabantu. It was sent to his friends and is
used here with his permission.)
Some of you have already heard that Mrs
Kay Stegen, wife of Rev Erlo Stegen, went to be with the Lord early this evening. In spite
of the pain of parting the family is greatly comforted that she departed in great
peace and victory.
Those who attend her funeral, which
is planned for Sunday, 1 December, will definitely hear more about her life.
You will remember how I have referred to
Baba and Mama (Rev and Mrs Stegen) in some of my "memoirs.
I am sure that in many minds my name
shot up straight away when they heard that Mama has passed away. This is because her name
and mine were mentioned together in many prayers. Some even wondered as to who would go
first. So, am I the next one? Not necessarily. It's in God's hands. And my friends, that's
the best place.
It was in 1972, on her wedding day that
I saw Mama for the first time. The Zulu members of the congregation called her
"Makoti" because she had married into "our family". Our Baba was
almost forty when he got married to her.
Later on, we called her "Mama
Makoti". We knew she was our Mama, but she still remained our "bride" to
the end.
Even though I was only a boy when Mama
got married to Baba, somehow I knew that she was a special vessel in the Lord's hand
to marry this man of God. As I got to know her better that was confirmed in many ways.
Those who know something about the
constant traffic of people, in and out of Baba and Mama's house will agree that God had to
choose a special wife for Baba.
It was a moving experience to see how
Baba and Mama brought every one of their children to the congregation and asked for
prayers and support in bringing them up for the Lord. The Lord has honoured
that in an amazing way.
Even during the difficult time of Mama's
illness the Lord's deep work in the children's life was evident and a blessing to
many.
When I came to KwaSizabantu into
full-time service for the Lord in 1977, I had the privilege of working very closely with
Baba, Mama and other co-workers. That's where I came to appreciate Mama, not just as
Baba's wife, but as a woman with a special calling from the Lord. It was always a
blessing to hear how she shared from her heart.
In 1986 when Domino Servite School was
founded, and Mama led the whole project as Principal, we that were in the Governing Body
got to sit down and work through things with her on a regular basis. We would look forward
to meetings in her lounge that have carried on till now with the added ministry of Cedar
College of Education. Mama led us again in the founding of the College, and was its
Rector.
The news that Mama had been diagnosed
with cancer shocked us, but the faith and courage with which she and Baba faced the
situation comforted us greatly. That's a story for itself.
As many will testify, it was touching to
see how Mama went out of her way to live for others. I saw this more closely when
in October 2000 I came back from Durban after I was diagnosed with MND. Baba and
Mama insisted that I stay in their house for some time. That's when I gave her the
nickname, "My Matron." The love, care and tenderness with which she
nursed me is a debt I could never repay. What made it more special to me was the knowledge
that even at that time she was suffering herself. Somehow she seemed to forget
herself in the process.
My case was just one of many. My own
father spent his last weeks in Baba and Mama's house in 1984. My mother reminded us these
days of the untiring love and care that Mama showed our family.
It was painful for me towards the end to
think how much I wished to visit her, but I was too weak to do so. I knew she would
love to visit me as well, but she also couldn't. In it all though, we kept in touch, and
our families did a lot of cross-visiting.
My heart goes out to Baba and the
family. How can I forget how Baba in spite of the burden of Mama's illness, always found
time to take special care for me as well! I can still hear his voice as he prayed for me,
and then for Mama.
It's been a blessing for me to see Baba,
a man of great faith that he is, praying earnestly for God to heal the sick
whilst humbly submitting to God's will.
So, my Matron is gone to glory. I
believe that as she prepared a room for many of us in her house, so the Lord of the
heavenly mansions has prepared something for her that is "out of this
world."
"In my Father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)
Join me as we pray for Baba and the
family.
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