Thursday, April 24, 2025
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It’s with great consternation and inexplicably intense grief that I write about Mike, knowing he’ll never see or read about our memories. I am however grateful to God that some time in February 2025 I attended a church service in Edmonton, where the pastor gave a sermon about serving others. The more he preached, the more I felt that he described Mike’s kindness to others. After the service I phoned Mike, shared with him the sermon and narrated to him how special he had been to me and my family. That was Mike, a magnanimous and selfless individual who wouldn’t stop at anything to serve others.
I came to Canada in the spring of 2022 as a student at Fanshawe and resided at Culver Drive. While I walked to the Argyll Mall for the groceries, I spotted the Good News Church on the Clarke Rd. The following Sunday I attended the service and that’s how Mike and I met. What would follow later was a formidable friendship from Mike and Lise who sought to care about a young man who came from Africa- who didn’t look or speak like them. Mike would pick me from my house for dinner at his home, restaurants and even at his daughter’s- Nicole place.
The relationship deepened further when my family visited and as I wouldn’t be available most of the time, Mike would take Nellie (my wife), Kayla (my daughter) and Yannis (my son) for shopping, apple picking, library and numerous recreation visits.
A time came for me to leave London for Halifax. Mike’s kindness continued. Among other remarkable moments was that he drove my family over 3 hours at night from London to Pearson International Airport to catch an early morning flight to join me in Halifax as I had preceded them.
When my situation became difficult in Halifax following some uncertainty, I shared my predicament with Mike. Told him that being away from my family and our paths crossing, he seamlessly held a special place in my life as a father. I asked him to assist me in prayers that God would intervene in my situation. With my consent Mike shared this with the Good News Church- just like he had done earlier when I needed God to give me a permanent job, before leaving for Halifax.
Mike was not an ordinary a person but just like his name means “A gift from God”, to me he was an angel. God gives us angels to guide and take care of us, and in Mike I felt loved, cared for and gratified. Angels come and at the right time, God’s takes them and in deed in Mike departure my family grieve.
To Mike and Lise, we’ll forever cherish with utmost pleasure what you have been to us. We Loved Mike, but God has better plans. Till we meet again, Dance with the Angels Mike- my dad and my mentor.
