Tuesday, February 3, 2015

ISAK LALCHHANDAMA IS NO MORE

Exactly at 6:10 p.m. yesterday (IST), my aunt Lianbuangi and her family said goodbye to their son - Isak Lalchhandama - who was diagnosed with stomach cancer last November.

Families and friends gathered around the lifeless body of the once healthy and sporty young man as the world stopped revolving for the family of Dawrpui Presbyterian Church elder Rokamlova, also former Speaker of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

At the funeral, his father gave an eulogy on behalf of the family. One of their great joys and perhaps the greatest joy is the fact that despite his troubled life, he met the Lord and experienced peace in his heart. 

At the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore doctors told his mother that the cancer had spread and that he would not be able to receive chemotherapy treatment due to his health that had already gone down drastically. 

He was cared for by his family, relatives, friends and well-wishers for about 8 weeks after he was discharged from the hospital. And at exactly 1810 hours IST yesterday, the many sleepless nights of his already grieving family came to an end when the Lord called my cousin to be with Him. His mum watched him leave peacefully.

A translated version of Fanny Crosby's song "City of Gold" was sung at the funeral held in the family home today at noon. In Mizoram, funerals are conducted at home and are organised by the local community organisations free of charge. The grave is dug by volunteers of the local community organisation in the local community cemetery at no cost. There is also no charge for the burial plot. While the community organises the logistics, the church takes over the role of organising the funeral program. Pastor C.Zorammawia, the local pastor of Dawrpui Presbyterian Church led the funeral.

Isak Lalchhandama, or Machhandama as many know him, was born on Oct 1, 1977. "All the days ordained for [him]" (Psalm 139:16) came to an end on Feb 2, 2014. We will miss him dearly but we know we will meet him again in glory because of Jesus who once said to Martha of Bethany, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die."

I remember back in the early 90's when his father was the Speaker and they lived on top of MacDonald Hill where the Chief Minister resides today. We would go there and have great fun playing cricket, table tennis or Nintendo video games. Some childhood memories.

He can now rest in the arms of his Saviour who died for him.

Dear brother, 

"Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done.
Go to heaven a-shoutin'

Love for the Father and the Son."

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