Elizabeth Semo Masiga - Online Memorial Website

Dr. Elizabeth Masiga was my sister in law. She was godmother to Malindi, my older daughter. Dr. Masiga was also a friend. She helped me personally on two ocassions, enabling me to become a certified High School Teacher in Kenya.
I had passed my "A" levels with two principles and two subsidiaries. College spots were tight (I did not belong to the politically correct tribe at that time). I was going to lose out. My father, Shem Ayienga (who was on his death-bed December 1985), requested my cousin, Canon Eli Masiga, to make my case known to Dr. Masiga who we referred to as "Nasiekwe".  I was in my dad's bedroom listening to this conversation. Canon Eli said he will. When I phoned Nasiekwe January 1st 1986 to tell her my dad had passed away, she told me I was on the list to go to Kagumo College starting May 1986. Then in 1988, we roited and I was among the few students unfortunate to get letters of expulsion. I again showed up at Nasiekwe's office in Nairobi to plead for her help. She picked up the phone and spoke to the late Reverend Kagume (then College Principal). My expulsion was overturned and I graduated.
I am publishing a book end of this year, and I am mentioning this very same story in it. May God rest her in eternal peace.
Zabde-Ezra Ayienga, Toronto Canada.

Dear Mummy,

First I would like to congratulate you on a life well spent.  Mum thinking about you brings tears to my eyes but at the same time such great joy.  I always thought you had a script you were following because you always did the right thing at the right time.  So this time mum I was sure you were in scene two and you would make it to scene three.  But I guess you must be warming heaven up with your presence right now.

 

Mummy you were such a special woman with such a special calling like the last time we talked when we went through Joshua 1 and we spoke about the battle that was ahead of Joshua.  Mum I always knew you were strong and courageous always walking around earth with angels.  I remember the time we spent together in 1999 and 2000 when we kept evaluating what God’s plans were for your retirement.  And we said that you were going to accomplish much more than you had ever dreamed or imagined.  It is surprising that we only had 10 more years and we didn’t know.  However mum I think you knew because you still fell into a plan.

 

Your  short journey was to last 64years and in that time God had set out for you a lot of responsibilities.  When I joined your journey in 1974 I did not know that I was born to a woman of such great capabilities.  Born fourth in a family of girls it didn’t take long to realize that we were up against the grain.  You and dad were very generous and positioned in a place where you had to take responsibility of the extended family.  So I joined a much larger group than the original nuclear family. 

 

Despite this I never once felt like I did not have a mother to myself.  Mummy you paid attention to every detail of my life.  Doing my homework with me; playing games with me; encouraging me and ensuring I had good health. You were a subtle teacher.  You never spelt anything out to me but  just directed my path the way you wanted me to go by example and encouragement.  Mum, you never believed in negativity.  I remember you telling me ‘Kiki, out there are different kinds of people; those who will always bring you down and try to keep you there and those who are interested in your growth. Beware, those against you will always be more than those who are for you.’ You encouraged me to sift and decide to have more people of value around me.  You always told me that a woman has to fight twice as hard and for every man’s 12 hours I needed to put in 24.  You also said that life had many traps and often I would fall into them.  But what I needed to remember is that what mattered is that I should get up, shake off and go on.

 

For most of my life you shielded me from all the wild winds of life and later I discovered what you meant. Mummy, you always told me to look upwards and forwards, never relenting on the word of God and I will never forget that  last time we were together when we read from Joshua 1 verse 9 as the Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous and we read through the whole chapter. I need that now mummy, I will be strong and courageous.

 

I will never forget you mum, never.

20.6.08

There are many of us burdened by this in so many ways, the pain is deep and expressing the hurt, can take many different forms.

Mum E, led a life full of honor , passion and zeal. Whenever I was around her I felt warmth, her arms were always open . She never lashed out in anger, bitterness or resentment..even though she may have had reason to. She shared her love, her strength and her leadership with all who crossed her path. Mum E always led by example.

Her life was marked by great accomplishments- Chief Inspector of Schools to the First Woman appointmented as Permanet Secretary of Education, loving mother , sister, wife aunty and friend- she has truly led the way.

Her memory will not be shadowed by bitterness and resentment- we all know too well that such things leave us hollow and empty with nothing to give back to those around us -even to ourselves. For we shall never forget the sacrifices she made for all of us, the doors she opened for us through her actions and kindness . And we all had a place to call home ..

Elizabeth Semo Masiga set a high standard for us , which we shall all continue and pass on for generations to come.

My prayer for our family is to take what Mum E gave us using her life as an example.

The lessons she taught me are hard life lessons, the toughest one being Love- unconditional love. Among others I learned Forgiveness and Humbleness , Hard work and Dedication . Even though my heart cries for her absence, I know I am a better stronger woman because of her. And so are all of us.

May we find peace as a family.

We shall always have each other-no matter where on this earth we live , we have the power to Choose to continue to draw closer as a family- all is not lost- as we are indeed believers.


I love you all- with all my heart.

20.6.09

ELIZABETH SEMO MASIGA

   1943-2008

 

FUNERAL SERVICE PROGRAMME

NAIROBI BAPTIST CHURCH

25^TH JUNE 2008, 2.00 P.M.

 

·         Funeral Procession

·         Hymn: Great is thy faithfulness

·         Opening prayers

·         Hymn: Stayed upon Jehovah

·         Eulogy – Dr. Fred Ojiambo

·         Special recitation by grandchildren

·         Tributes:

·         Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University

·         Husband

·         Daughter

·         Sister/brother

·         Uncle Sheldon Muchilwa

·         Friend – Mary Okelo

·         Hymn: When peace like a river

·         Scripture readings

·         2 Tim 4: 7-8

·         1 Cor 2: 6-8

·         1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

·         Psalm 23

·                     Sermon

·                     Offertory Hymn: My name is written there

·                     Prayer for the family

·                     Vote of thanks

·                     Announcements

·                     Benediction

·                     Recessional Hymn: God be with you till we meet again

·                     Viewing of Body outside the church

 

Body transferred to residence for overnight stay.

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HYMNS SANG DURING HER FUNERAL SERVICE

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

 

1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with thee

Thou changest not thy compassions they fail not

As thou hast been thou forever will be

 

      Great is thy faithfulness

      Great is thy faithfulness

      Morning by morning new mercies I see

      All I have needed thy hand hath provided

      Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

 

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

 

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside

 

STAYED UPON JEHOVAH

 

1.   Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace

Over all victorious, in its bright increase

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day

Perfect yet it groweth, deeper all the way

 

      Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

      Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest

 

2.  Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care

Not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there

 

3.   Every joy or trial, falleth from above

Traced upon our dial, by the Son of love

We may trust Him fully, all for us to do

They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true

WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER

 

1.     When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul.

 

 

It is well….., it is well

With my soul, with my soul

It is well, it is well, with my soul

 

2.   If Satan should buffet, if trials should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul.

 

3.   My sin—oh the bliss of this glorious thought,

My sin, not in part, but the whole

Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul.

 

4.   For me, be it Christ, be it Christ, hence to live

If Jordan above me shall roll

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper thy peace to my soul.

 

5.   But Lord, tis’ for Thee for Thy coming we wait

The sky, not the grave, is our goal

Oh, trump of the angels! oh voice of the Lord

Blessed hope, blessed rest, of my soul.

 

I KNOW MY NAME IS THERE

 

1.   My name is in the book of life

Oh bless the name of Jesus

I rise above all doubt and strife

And read my title clear.

 

 

      I know… I know…. My name is there

      I know…. I know… My name is there

      I know, I know, I know, I know

      My name is written there

 

2. With sinners lost my name once stood

Upon a painful record

But now it’s cancelled by the blood

And written on His roll

 

3.  Yet inward trouble often cast

A shadow o’er my title

But now with full salvation blest

Praise God it’s ever clear

 

4.  While others climb thro’ worthy strife

To carve a name of honour

High up in heaven’s book of life

My name is written there

 

GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN

 

1.   God be with you till we meet again

By His counsels, guide, uphold you

With His sheep, securely fold you

God be with you till we meet again

 

      Till we meet……, till we meet……

      Till we meet at Jesus feet

      Till we meet……., till we meet…….

      God be with you till we meet again

 

 

2.     God be with you till we meet again

‘Neath His wings protecting hide you

Daily manna still provide you

God be with you till we meet again

 

3.     God be with you till we meet again

When life’s perils thick confound you

Put His arms unfailing round you

God be with you till we meet again

 

4.  God be with you till we meet again

Keep love’s banner floating o’er you

Smite death’s threatening wave before you

God be with you till we meet again

 

ABIDE WITH ME

 

1. Abide with me, fast falls the eventide

The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me

 

2. I need Thy presence, every passing hour

What but Thy grave can kill the tempter’s power?

Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

 

3. Swift to the close, ebbs life’s little day

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away

Change and decay in all around I see

Oh, thou who changest not, abide with me.

 

4. I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless

Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness

Where is death’s sting, where grave thy victory

I triumph still if thou abide with me.

 

I remember vividly Saturday, 24 April one happy year. 

 

This was the day Elizabeth Semo got married. You see Semo is my eldest sister, in position one, while I am her youngest sis, at position 6. That day I got to put on a brand new dress as a flower girl and walk behind Semo, the bride, holding her net. Wow, that day! I felt  soooo important. Not to mention the food at this huge hotel in Kisumu, Imperial Hotel. And then my brother Peter too had a role to play, can't quite figure out what, but he got new clothes too and later we accompanied the bride and groom to some park where they took pictures - I had watched TV for some time and so I had a jolly good idea at age 8 what was going on... romance was in the air!

 

It was in some way a sad day too. It meant she would not be coming home for holidays as usual since now she was changing her name from  Elizabeth Joash to Elizabeth Masiga and would now be staying with this new man in her life called Walter Masiga. He was a tall dark man who wore glasses. During her courtship months I remember he visited us in Bunyore but only after dark, I never understood why. But ma did talk about this, that is why I remember.

 

It was sad too because I wondered whether now that she was no longer Elizabeth Joash whether we would be able to spend our holidays with her again at her house... (by the way those days girls called themselves after their father's first name, so since dad was called Joash, she was known as Elizabeth Joash). I also wondered whether she would also meet us at the Nairobi railway station to take us to her university where she would first wash us in those large bathtubs, then take us to the huge dining hall where we would have a three course breakfast now that she had changed her name.

 

Fortunately for us things did not change and later that year we were proud to have our first niece, Caroline Ruth and there, right there at the age of eight I became an aunty!