Johnson Gamngong-Jato

Dear Uncle,
After living in the US for years, you were the first to call and check on me, the first to come and see me on Staten Island. Thanks for all the memories and the nice out fits from Cameroon.
What i remember the most, was the first time Gerald meet you in Baltimore, he was excited thinking we were in Cameroon because he met Grandpa. Depsite the sad occation that year you reassured Gerald he  will some day see his grandpa in Cameroon.  My wish was the day we finally make it to Cameroon we will sit and make new memories. But the lord called you home too soon.
I hold all the great memories close to my heart you and Janet, Stephen, Gladys and Bruce coming down to Victoria to visit years ago. All your books from College in those large drums dad kept for years.
We shared you with the world but to us you were just Uncle Johnson(daddy) we love always. I will miss you Uncle, big smiles and hugs to Bruce and all the others we have lost.
Love Munsha and Gerald

Johnson Jato exemplary disciple of Jesus Christ in our time

Obedient and patient and truly walking in the way of the Lord

Honest and driven by the very highest moral and Godly standards

Noble man in humble spirit who trod these lowly paths below

Strong and steadfast in the faith that rises above the storms of life

Onward like a mighty soldier braving the narrow path to glory land

Now resting in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord eternally!

 

Justified in Christ, yea in good and right standing with man and God

Admired, cherished and loved by streams of children and brethren

Tall in the faith of an enduring servant persevering unto the very end

Offered to man, in this time as a pleasing aroma now sanctified.

 

Daddy,

We rejoice in our grief because we are certain that you rest eternally in the bosom of the Lord. His amazing grace has led you home. The Lord be magnified! His Name exalted!

 

We remember the humility of your posture and gait. Oh how we would all greet like you did. We remember how you dug the cliff at Anguissa to set the foundation on which God’s house FBC now towers. We recall those evenings when we would clean the windscreen of the Tercel so you could drive home safely.  We remember your faithfulness and unfailing presence at all events. When you preached a sermon on genealogy, you wove meaning into the mystery of God’s Word. We remember your favorite benediction: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24-25

 

Your gentle humility has amazed and inspired us always. When you reached out to us by email on 14 September 2011: Staying in touch; your greeting was – “My most precious people,” a pauline greeting indeed. In it, you talked about the hope of a harvest and the blessings of the rain. You gave us an opportunity to share with you the love of God that binds us together. What pleasant memories you leave to be forever cherished! Fare ye well.

 

God has truly been at work in your life and given us, through you, an example to emulate. Smile, you did from the heart and your face shone upon us. Dance, you did to the beat of Christ’s bidding to drop a loving offering into the basket of eternal blessings. The teacher in you molded so many thankful boys and girls. We are blessed to have trod these paths with you. You have been a hero before our eyes Prof, Daddy, Brother!  Fare ye well!!

 

Daddy, now that you enter into the rest of the Lord, we know that you now commune with your friend Christ the Lord Jesus. Isaiah 57:1-2. We look forward to the happy reunion yonder.

 

Eugene and Esther Tawe and your grand children.

 

A humble, gentle soul thus departs. Prof was gentle in ways, walk and words But who would such a collosus be so humble, I used to wonder.

I knew Prof on the stairscase of Abongwa Office Block (Friendship Building?) at Melen Yaounde, oposite the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital (CHU) where Prof collabroated with Augustin Njamshi on environmental issues and I visiting Eugene Nforngwa of The Standard Tribune.

May the gentle soul go in peace. F.S. Bayen