Loving, compassionate, caring, athletic, hard-working, stubborn, funny, a good friend- Emmanuel Bangalie carried all of these characteristics and more. One of the things that stands out most to me is just how much Emmanuel loved football. Now of course most of the boys at JCC love football, but Emmanuel played as often as he could and almost always in the goal. At one point he had a huge boil on his knee that had caused his knee to swell almost twice its size, despite all the pain- you could still find him on the football field each day at 4pm. Just within the past year he was allowed to play with the older boys and yet he still played each time the younger boys did as well. He was just waiting for the day when he could put on a jersey and play on the JCC team.
He was at the age where he was adjusting between being one of the middle boys into being one of the older boys. When it was time to get wood or haul rocks for building the school, Manny was at the front of the line. He was not only strong, but always willing to help. Emmanuel was in charge of the wood for the kitchen. In the mornings he would get the wood the cooks needed for the day and if there was a time when any of the rest of us wanted to cook something we had to go see Emmanuel to get the wood we needed. Many of the kids have areas of the home in which they are responsible for and most of them do it well, but with Emmanuel you could always count on him doing it with a smile as well as going the extra step.
Being a part of the JCC dance team was also a highlight for him. He seemed to have an extra bounce in his step and if you really gave him the floor he would go all out with his somewhat goofy moves that would put a smile on anyone’s face (I think that was what he was aiming for). At prayer time each night, no matter what the day had brought, you could usually find Emmanuel singing with his full voice and dancing with all that he had. Speaking of prayer time, for some reason whenever it was Manny’s turn to lead Wednesday night prayer meeting, or share a verse at prayer time, he would pull his shorts up almost as high as they would go, tuck his shirt in and stand with his chest out. I am not sure why he did this, but it was his thing and in a way it showed how proud he was to have his turn to share his Jesus.
Now Emmanuel was still a boy who managed to find trouble at times. He liked to joke and sometimes didn’t know when to stop and didn’t always know his own strength. I have to admit there was more than one time when one of the house parents had to get up at prayer time to talk about showing love to our brothers and sisters referring to Emmanuel’s actions. In showing love it meant that we could not shut others out. He was good at going long periods of time without talking to the person he was upset with. He was stubborn and didn’t let things go easily, but the thing that was so special about him was that when he did let God work in his heart and find forgiveness or even ask for forgiveness- he truly put it in the past and you would find Emmanuel walking with his arm around that person for the next few days being the closest of buddies.
He had a soft heart, willing to put aside his wants and ALWAYS willing to help out, whether it was carrying the wood or rocks, but also even doing laundry, cooking or mending a shirt. I would pull into the compound after coming from the market with 9 bags of rice and all the rest of the food needed for the home and the first people there would be Emmanuel and Jerry. After everything was hauled into the store room, he would come over to me, put his arm around my shoulders and say thank you for going to town. He often pulled others into a hug, or just stepped up beside them to put his arm around them. He was willing to show he cared and did it frequently. He had an ability to sense how those around him were feeling and he didn’t hesitate to offer his help. He needed to be able to bring comfort to those he loved which included everyone at JCC. Emmanuel was a lover and I know it was because of who God made him to be and the work of Jesus Christ in his life.
It is difficult to think he is not here with us. It seems wrong that he will not put on that jersey and be a full member of the JCC football team, and yet Psalms 139:16 reminds us that each of his days were written before he was born. God was not surprised Saturday morning. Emmanuel lived the life God gave him and he lived it fully with energy, passion, laughter and love. I know that I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with Emmanuel. I love that each time I think of him I can’t help but smile as I am sure it is for many who knew him. For a time that smile will be accompanied by tears, but I know Manny is dancing right now. He loved Jesus here on earth and now he is meeting his friend and savior face to face, with his pants pulled up and his chest puffed out, his head tilted slightly with a full smile on his face.
Romans 8:38-39 says:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Our son, brother and friend is now eternally in the presence of our Papa God experiencing his full glory and love. How can we not celebrate the life he lived as well as where he is right now. Soon we’ll all be playing football, singing and dancing together again.
Please pray for the kids and staff at JCC as they mourn and remember Emmanuel
(If you know my dad this is no suprise to you). I drive a stick so instead of jump-starting the car we decide to push start it. Dad hops in the driver's seat and Amy and I start pushing. We head down the road between the new house and the shop. As you can see by this photos it is not the curviest of roads but neither is it straight.
to panic. I tried honking the horn- no battery= no sound. I put on the breaks- being pushed by a powerful four-wheeler being driven by my dad=no stopping. I soon found myself over a rock and into the woods- taking a few trees down on the way.
My sweet niece that I have been waiting months to spend some time with. I think she looks just a BIT like my brother and she and I both seem to have the same double chin. 
I happened to visit on Halloween so I was there just in time to see the kids in costume. Obviously Alina is a puppy but as Nick was getting Koryn dressed I had to ask what she was- Amy loves to tell the story, but I said, "What is she a tomato?" in a bit of a monotone voice. Nick says, "No she's a chili pepper." "Oh a chili pepper!" I say in a much more excited voice. Amy, "Oh so if she is a tomato she's not cute anymore, but a chili pepper- oooo." You have to understand that right now I have been craving peppers and spicy foods. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner were all made with pepper in Salone- so I miss it and here she is as a pepper. (notice her toes going into a little point)
I love these two and am grateful to be able to spend more time with them as they come up for deer season opener next weekend. I will not be hunting, so maybe I'll have to be on duty with the kids. (that is if Grandpa Mark doesn't have me signed up for duty in the meat shop)
I met Jen and Ben my freshman year of college- in fact Ben started out as My best friend Pete Pfutzenreuter's roommate. Over the years Ben and Jen went from being friends to boyfriend and girlfriend one summer- engaged the next- married the next- and parents the fourth summer. My mom reminded me last weekend that in fact Ben was my first husband. I was honored to be Jen's maid of honor but when Ben's Army newsletter came out they had mistakenly read the marriage license (which I had signed as a WITNESS- not BRIDE) and wrote "Congratulations to Ben Folman and Christine Shermer on their recent marriage." It was great while it lasted, but...
They now have two great kids- Sophia who is all girl- rings, crowns, princess dresses, high heel shoes- the works; while Caleb is all boy- (notice the face), cars and trucks, pounding on things, climbing, jumping and of course break dances. I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with them this Friday. The kids are constantly growing and changing but it was great to have them both remember me and come up with some great games for us to play together. (how many rings am I holding along with my crown and push as many cars and trucks off the table as you can) Hopefully we'll play those games again soon.
Holly and Jackson
He truly is the best baby- so easy going and really does like to smile, that is until the camera comes out. Then it is always this wide-eyed look you see here. Jackson was born about than two weeks after my niece Koryn was born but was bigger than her the day he arrived and has continued to make her look like small.
