Tribute - Joseph Fuh Che

WHAT MAKES US STRONG – TRIBUTE TO PA MULEH JOHN CHE-NIWI

I am pleased to drop these few words in honor of my dad, as he moves to rest on His Bosom. As I thought of writing, many things came to mind, from the fatherly care, advice, stories and memories he left behind. Crowded with so much, I decided not to write at all, because I didn’t even know where to begin. However, one thing came to mind, which is one of those educative folk tales, analogies, stories, and mentoring lessons Pa gave my siblings and I when we were kids. He made this analogy several times, until it stayed in my memory for too long and many times. This has always been my inspiration, (especially in times of dare need) and I see this within the entire family. Sometimes, I imagine it as Christ’s “sermon on the mount”. However, I must confess that I never understood this until I grew older and became a parent myself. I would like to leave this analogy here below for your read and inspiration thereof.

“As we live, I would like us to imitate the life of the cattle family. I am the bull; your mother is the cow and all of you my children are the calf. The cow usually identifies the greener pastures, the bull takes the lead to navigate the way, while the calf moves along, imitating what they do. The cattle usually move in a flock and are exposed to equal opportunities in the pasture. Unlike the hen, the cow would never provide pasture for the calf, neither would you find the bull, nor the calf provide for one another. The herd of cattle simply move along in a flock. Nevertheless, realize that time and again, they turn to look back or forth, ensuring that all are together, as they try to protect one another from an encroaching enemy. As they look around, they also want to be sure that each one of them is taking his/her fare share in the pasture.

From this analogy and as a family, know that neither I nor your mother will provide for any of you, nor should anyone stay and rely on someone else for his needs. However, time and again, we must look back and forth to check on one another to be sure that everyone is healthy, strong and well protected in the field. By so doing, we shall all live well and grow from strength to strength”. The only reaction I have here to conclude this analogy is that many times when I have conversation with my dad, he usually asked, “I hope you are strong and eating your pasture in good health of mind and body”. To you the reader, I prefer to withhold any further comments and not to interpret the above analogy, so everyone can digest and infer in his or her own way. BUT please try to see how you and your family could be inspired by this.

I would like to end with these few impressions of Pa Muleh John Che niwi. Pa was a “jack and master of all”. “Not quite literate, yet well educated. Not so rich yet had in abundance, not a priest, yet so religious, so spiritual, yet not mystical, born and bred in a manger, yet lived and died in a castle”.

Adieu Pa Muleh John Cheniwi

Joseph Fuh Che

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Dear Pa john as we fondly called you. Thank you for being a caring father and a loving Patriarch for the entire family. It was always fun being around you. You never took things too seriously and always had a laugh about struggles. You were always the willing wise counsellor. You are incredibly missed. Your love and guidance will forever be etched in our Hearts.

Ngum Akongnwi Judith.