The Passing of a Legend

David and Eunice Simonson arrived in Tanzania in 1956 or so, ready to spend the rest of their lives there working with the Maasai people. He was originally from eastern Montana, she was from North Dakota...back when Africa must have seemed so vastly unimaginably far away. For over 50 years they preached the Gospel, not only in words but in all the work they did--education, health services, building, and church. They were part of a breed of missionaries that are so rare now--those that came to live their lives intertwined with the people they came to serve, those that never intended to leave, and the epitome of the saying "Go and preach the Gospel--use words, if necessary." The Maasai Girls' School, Operation Boostrap, and the hospital in Arusha all owe their beginnings to the Simonsons. If you have ever booked a safari through Serengeti Select, or stayed at the Tarangire Safari Lodge (and if you haven't you SHOULD) have experienced a taste of the Simonson family hospitality.

We were so privileged to know Dave and Eunice when we lived in Arusha. By that time, Dave's health was failing, but he still gave off such an air of strength and stubbornness! Eunice is impossibly gracious and humble, so kind, but you know that same inner strength had to be there to do what they did. They raised 5 children in Arusha and we counted two of them as our friends there. They may have moved to the other side of the world, but they were so blessed to have 3 of their children and attendant grandchildren live in or near Arusha. When we were preparing to move to Tanzania, I read Jim Klobucher's book The Cross Under the Acacia Tree. I suspect there is a lot of legend as well as fact in there, but I took so much courage from their story. If that woman could cross an ocean and go live in the bush with little children way back in the 50's, with no phones, no computers, no skype, no travel allowance, then obviously I could do what I was planning to do! They lived lives of service, compassion, and integrity, with complete trust in God's plan for them.

I know he was welcomed into Heaven with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." No one could have worn those words better.

(picture of David and Eunice from Lutheran Mission Cooperative here.)