I received a shocking call from Africa today. A friend of ours, about 35 yrs old was killed in Northern Nigeria. Steve Rehn had interned with us in Abengourou, Ivory Coast in 1997. A fun loving adventurous young man. But a passion for people, for Africa, and for languages. He LOVED Africa. Africa got into his blood like it does for so many of us who work there. It kind of messes you up for life.
Anyway, we moved back to Canada and Steve eventually married and he and his Nikki moved back to good old Abengourou for few years, and then on to Cameroon for two years as well. There he help with national Bible translation projects while Nikki taught in a Mission Kid school.
Steve and Nikki eventually moved back to Calgary. However, Steve kept going on short term teaching trips almost every year. Steve was in Burkina Faso this August- September, helping with some training, and decided to vacation in Africa after the work was done.
He decided to biking all the way from Burkina- through Niger, Northern Nigeria and then down into Cameroon, to his old stomping grounds. A 3000km bike trip in all.
Anyway, I got a call from a friend in Ivory Coast named Damon Jones. He asked if we knew anything about Steve. I guess the African bush wire was hot, and the news spread and hopped and was alive with news they had heard that Steve had been killed in an accident in Northern Nigeria.
I was shell shocked, but I immediately called Steve's parents, Rick and Linn, in Calgary today. Steve's Dad answered and confirmed that Steve was supposedly killed by a car hitting him on his bike while riding in northern in Nigeria, 11 days ago between Sept 26 an 28th. They where just informed by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria yesterday, October 8th.
A Team from the Canadian Embassy is dispatched and was on their way to the north. The local Nigerian police station did not have any phone and none of the police wanted to use their own personal cell phones to call the Capital to inform the Canadian Embassy they had a Canadian on hand.
Anyway, we moved back to Canada and Steve eventually married and he and his Nikki moved back to good old Abengourou for few years, and then on to Cameroon for two years as well. There he help with national Bible translation projects while Nikki taught in a Mission Kid school.
Steve and Nikki eventually moved back to Calgary. However, Steve kept going on short term teaching trips almost every year. Steve was in Burkina Faso this August- September, helping with some training, and decided to vacation in Africa after the work was done.
He decided to biking all the way from Burkina- through Niger, Northern Nigeria and then down into Cameroon, to his old stomping grounds. A 3000km bike trip in all.
Anyway, I got a call from a friend in Ivory Coast named Damon Jones. He asked if we knew anything about Steve. I guess the African bush wire was hot, and the news spread and hopped and was alive with news they had heard that Steve had been killed in an accident in Northern Nigeria.
I was shell shocked, but I immediately called Steve's parents, Rick and Linn, in Calgary today. Steve's Dad answered and confirmed that Steve was supposedly killed by a car hitting him on his bike while riding in northern in Nigeria, 11 days ago between Sept 26 an 28th. They where just informed by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria yesterday, October 8th.
A Team from the Canadian Embassy is dispatched and was on their way to the north. The local Nigerian police station did not have any phone and none of the police wanted to use their own personal cell phones to call the Capital to inform the Canadian Embassy they had a Canadian on hand.
Rick and Linn decided not to fly over, as the Embassy is sending people up to see what is going on. Anyway, the family is expecting a call soon. They will know more what to do, then.
Steve covered about 1500 miles on his trip to date. But I know he made it the whole way to heaven in an instant.
Africa was made a better place because of people like Steve. Heaven will be all the richer as well for receiving a great servant. I will miss Steve Rehn very much.
My Sympathy to his wife Nikki, to his his Mom and Dad (who stayed with us on Prince Edward Island before) and all his family.
http://justaboutcrazy.blogspot.com/
Link to Steve's Blog
Memories of Steve www Site Link http://memoriesofsteve.com/
Memories of Steve www Site Link http://memoriesofsteve.com/
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