Tantine Mbwizu Ndjungu, daughter of United Methodist missionaries Nkemba and Mbwizu Ndjungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who died in a swimming accident August 31, 1998 in Dakar, Senegal, was buried September 10 in the St. Lazarus Cemetery in Dakar.

About 60 people went to the mortuary for a short service of prayers and Scripture led by the Rev. Harold Smith, UM missionary, before traveling to the cemetery. Her wooden casket was placed in a cement box about ground, shut in the presence of the group, and her name written in wet cement. Members of the family left their hand marks as well.

A service of remembrance was held September 9 at the Grand Yoff Methodist Church. More than 100 attended. Alice Saperau, lay pastor of the emerging Methodist mission church in Senegal, led the singing and intercessory prayers, with Rama Fall and Jean Mendy, lay leaders of the church, assisting with Scriptures, music, and testimonies.. The Rev. Al Streyffeler, UM missionary, preached in Wolof, and Ibu Njaay, another lay leader, translated into French.

The Rev. Streyffeler preached on Isaiah 43:1-3, "I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you." He emphasized Tantine's death in the waters of the ocean and the water of her baptism.

A young women's choir from the church sang in Wolof, and a choir from a Congo Baptist Congregation in Dakar sang in Kiswahili. The Ndjungu family also sang. The music and testimonies were a powerful witness to Muslims in the congregation.

The lay pastor staff has prayed and counseled with the parents and their children.

September 22, 1998