Remembering Mary Clark

Mary Jane (Evoy) Clark

September 3, 1947 - August 13, 2016 

Erica and her mom, Mary

Mary at a tiny Baptist Church in the Dadaab Refugee Camp

Over the past ten years, we had the joy of Mary coming to Kenya and staying with us for the Canadian winter on three different occasions. Each time, it was wonderful to have Mary join us in our ministry. She braved long desert roads, crossed miles of rugged landscape and entered into the lives of people in refugee camps and urban slums.

With her nursing background, Mary contributed to community outreach projects and often found great pleasure helping with a local children's home. Mary often talked about her angels. Her home was filled with little angel statues and pictures reminding her of God's provision and care. We still have a little guardian angel in our car that she gave us early in our marriage -- a reminder that she kept us in her prayers as we travelled throughout the maritimes. 

Angels meant a lot to Mary, but in many ways God used her as an angel in the life of others as she shared the love and compassion of Christ.

 Mary visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Orphanage, Nairobi

In her visits to Africa, Mary enjoyed her encounters with nature. From walking in the verdant tea hills of Limuru, to wading in the Indian Ocean and driving the great plains, she found great delight in the birds and wildlife. But where ever we went, Mary always seemed to attract the unwanted attention of the monkeys. On many occasions we'd hear her let out a hoot as a cheeky little monkey would snatch her breakfast or interrupt her coffee break. 

Soon the monkey would dash away and Mary would treat us all to her laughter.

Sopa Lodge, Naivasha

Early this past Sunday morning, we drove to the town of Thika to join the African Christian Church and Schools for worship with heavy hearts. After a prolonged battle with health issues, Mary died of an infection in the Corner Brook hospital, Newfoundland. 

As we entered the town, we were startled to see a little angel walking toward us. A boy of perhaps ten years of age, met us. His bright eyes greeting us, as the wings of a giant eagle kite stretched out from behind him. 

Mary would have been delighted.