Steve has been my friend since High School, through Bible College and into adulthood. He became a missionary in Africa, who's greatest desire was to teach people how to read so they could read the word of God. The truth is Steve and I were not as close in recent years partly because we were on different continents and partly because we were at different stages in our lives. The last time I communicated with Steve was just before he was killed. We were chatting on facebook about a youth group we had both worked with, people we had lost touch with and facebook. One thing that struck me then was that Steve didn't give up on people no matter how broken they were or how they hurt or disappointed him. He was looking for an old friend on facebook that everyone else had given up on. He was a people lover and a God lover. He was making a difference in a number of people's lives.
There are so many levels of grief that come with Steve's passing. Most of my high school and college memories include Steve. A group of us met after his memorial to reminisce the old days. I realized as I drove into the parking lot I was looking for the cars we all drove in High School. It was like I had taken a step back in time. I grieve with memories of a time that has long since past and a boy I knew very well from that time.
Then there is the grief of who Steve was as an adult. This Steve I didn't know as well but I am still saddened by his loss. A man who loved God, people and Africa. His memorial was so sad and uplifting at the same time as people from around the world shared how he had impacted their lives. How he had taught people to read, played with the children, smiled on them, offered a helping hand... and I am so sad for their loss.
Mostly I am sad for his wife and family whom I have known for a very long time in very different capacities.
Finally I am just sad that someone I know died. Someone so young with so much more to give.
I am going to finish with two things. The first is a memory from my high school grad and the second is the email that Steve's brother sent out with the news of his death.
Steve came to my Grade 12 grad. It was pouring rain that night and Steve went to get the car. A group of us sat waiting for him to return. After a great amount of time Steve returned on foot. He said he had a flat tire and needed the guys to come help him change it. Later we heard the guys had stripped down to their boxers to change the tire as they were scared to get oil on their good clothes. What most people don't know is how Steve got the flat tire in the first place. Steve had this old Bowmount car that he was so proud of. The car was a bit quirky and one of its quirks was that when you put the car in reverse the speedometer still registered a speed. In a newer car the speedometer sits at zero when you are in reverse. So Steve decided to see how fast his car could go in reverse... through the parkade. He was racing around backwards and hit a curb; ultimately causing the flat tire. It was pretty funny.
Here is the letter announcing Steve's death.
Hi Everyone, As you may or may not know my brother Steve has been chasing one of his grand dreams of cycling across Africa - He went to Africa at the end of June to teach at a conference on Literacy of West Africa.- After that he's been riding since the beginning of August and has crossed much of West Africa.- On September 21 he last communicated with us via email and his blog http://justaboutcrazy.blogspot.com/ from Zinder, Niger- His plan was to cycle across the northern tip of Nigeria into Moroua, Cameroon and meet up with a friend from his time there. He also mention he'd probably would not have access to communication until he arrived- He was planning to arrive on September 30. BUT he never showed up.- After worrying for a few days we started to get worried. - Sunday Steve's contact in Cameroon phoned us worried about where Steve was- On Monday Mom and Dad register him with the Canadian Government as ' Missing persons Abroad' and contacted the Embassy in Nigeria.- We always expected he'd show up eventually with one of his normal crazy, bizarre stories. That was not to be this time:Today (Tuesday) we got word back from the Embassy and the Government that they had found Steve's body in a police station in Northern Nigeria: - Steve was killed in a car accident and died back on September 26. - The embassy is sending a team of people up there and we'll get more details then. Steve died in the midst of fulfilling his dream in a place where God gave Steve's heart a great love and longing for. Steve has gone home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus, and I will miss him till the day I get to see him again. Please prayer for our family and his friends in our time of loss. Dave Rehn
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