Merville Mattered

This afternoon friends and family gathered to celebrate the life of Merville Le Roux who at the good age of 77 went to join his beloved Val in heaven last week. Here is Merville’s best friend Keith showing photos to Glen while Merville’s dog Waffles keeps looking out for his late owner who has gone home. Nearer. My God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Now for those who knew Merville would know that he was an interesting and unusual man who was at odds with just about everybody sometime in their life but since he became a Christian over 40 years ago he was unbending in his beliefs to a state of aggravation yet one of the most caring and compassionate man anyone ever knew.

It was quoted at this celebration of his life this afternoon that the level of frustration could not be measured yet all who stood up and recalled memories were choking back the tears. After his anchor, Val, left for heaven, things for Merville fell apart. From the lofty heights of the top of business to being rock bottom but not out as Merville still had God. This unwavering belief in God remained and his never say die kept Merville going and going and going. If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

Merville knew how to push your buttons with his long emails and only getting to the point right at the end of his message. So much so that I once threatened to put his email in my spam list just so I wouldn’t get his blunt, annoying emails. I can imagine I will be getting an email from him from heaven. Yet Merville with his big smile had so much empathy for the down and out as he without many worldly possessions went out of his way to help others with no thought about himself or praise from others. He mattered to many people who could not help themselves. You could say that his mantra was if your problems are too big than your God is too small as he left a legacy that everyone mattered.

Previous posts of Merville serving coffee, he was part of the Launch of Metal Cross, and then there is the Merville post which flooded the memories back and I battled to hold back the tears. Merville mattered.

Relaxing Sunday

I needed just a day to recover before the new week starts and Sunday is the day. My slow day started with waking up to no electricity but I had to get myself to BBC. Here are two friends, Keith and Rob, at BBC. Keith runs the Men's Group and Rob is in my Home Cell group. After the Sunday service it was time to start relaxing and the best way to start is to put your feet up. Sometimes all your body needs is just time to rid itself of stress. My relaxing day ended with taking the dogs to Kingfisher Park for a walk to tire them out before bed.

Keith and Carlie

With the family sick with flu it was up to me to represent the family at BBC. Here is Keith with Angie's baby Carlie, looking all set to become a grandparent that is if his eldest son hurries up and get married. It looks like he will make a wonderful granddad.

Back to the Men's Ministry

This morning I woke up to a beautiful summers morning and decided that it would be a good time to go to the men's group that meet at seven on Saturdays. Maybe it was meant to be as when I was returning, I saw this man walking that I recognised. It was a friend that had immigrated to Australia about two years ago. He had come back to sell the South African part of his business. We ended up at the side of the road in Bryanston chatting away. Well today's photo is of some of the men that meet regularly at BBC, they are Keith and Dave in the front and Gary and Leon at the back.

The Gift of Friends

It is good to have true friends who stand by you when the rest run away. Some of my very good friends meet every Saturday and it was good to start the day with them. From left to right are Dave, Frank, Ted and Keith.

Last meeting

Today is the men’s last meeting for this year. Here is Keith, Ted and Gary sharing a joke before we get started. Next week we will have a breakfast somewhere. I later took Maxy to the park for his weekly run and finished the day off slouched on the couch watching the Springboks kick England’s butt by a record margin.

Nearly 50

It is Keith’s 50th birthday this Tuesday and we celebrated with muffins at men’s group. Here is Keith (right) sitting with Gary and ? while Ted and Glen are busy making coffee at the back.

More on Saturday's Mens Group

Tom, Keith, Steven and Nigel

Three wise men

John, Keith and Tom

The Launch of Metal Cross

From Left to right: Nic, Nigel, Maurizio, Rob (hidden), Frans, Douglas (hidden),
Glen (hidden), John, Keith, Tom, Merville, Leon, Dave, Wayne and Frank