The Words of the Elias Family
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The Words of the Elias Family |
In
this December 1979 photo of missionaries in Africa, taken in Ivory
Coast, Werner Elias is standing in front of the column of the top
left row.
Dear brothers and sisters Last time I wrote an update on Kevin's progress, I told you that from now on Kevin will be writing his own updates as he is making very fast progress. I also said that I must go back to Africa where I belong. Kevin is preparing his update and he is doing well. He is healing so fast from his operation and is preparing further treatment as well as taking good care of fortifying his body. I did go back to Africa as I said and arrived in South Africa on September 10th late in the evening. Just a couple hours later, at 2:30 a.m. South African time, I received an urgent phone call from the Ivory Coast from a dear sister, Lorette Elias, the wife of my longtime very dear friend, brother and missionary colleague, Werner Elias, telling me that Werner had just passed away at 1:00 a.m. in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from a sudden heart attack.
Werner had just turned 64 on September 2nd, 2014. He was the original German missionary to the Republic of Niger, sent by True Parents in April, 1975. Werner worked as a missionary in the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) Niger, Ghana, Senegal and the town of Ekaterina in Russia. He is currently the National Messiah to the country of Mozambique in Southern Africa. He was born in Germany but the moment he set foot on African soil he fell in love with the people, the culture and the heart of Africa. He has remained in Africa until today, continuing his mission and loving every minute of testifying to our True Parents.
When Kevin first had his medical emergency in July in Ivory Coast, Werner came to visit Kevin in the hospital. Many of us, the 1975 missionaries are very close to each other and when Werner saw Kevin in such condition, he lamented to Kevin saying "Why is it you -- why isn't it me? You are working so hard on the font line to find a way to restore God's authority on this earth. Maybe I should be the one to offer my life as my health is slowing me down from doing more for Heaven." Werner and his wife remained with Kevin until Kevin left for France on July 24th.
We love and we miss Werner – such a kind hearted soul who loved his wife Lorette and his children, Dae Mang, Estelle, Dae Sung and Ekaterina with a passion and who also had absolute love and fidelity to our True Parents. Every time Werner read the Cheong Seong Gyung at Hoon Dok Hae, he could not help himself from shedding tears. Every word from True Parents went straight to his heart. I flew to the Ivory Coast to support Werner's family and help in the preparations for Werner's Seonghwa Ceremony which will take place on September 20th, 2014 in Abidjan. Once again, we are asking for your prayers for a devoted and loving son of True Parents who ascended after 40 years of deep and sincere devotion to the will of Heaven -- our dear Werner Elias.
Thanks again to you all, with love from Africa
Kathy Rigney