memorablemeanders.blogspot.com

Monday, August 10, 2015

Sad news

On Saturday as I prepared for bed, my phone went off. I saw I had a Facebook message, which normally I'd leave unread till morning. However that night I opened the post and couldn't believe my eyes. There on the page of blogger and FB friend,  Esther Garvi, (34 years young) of Niger, West Africa, I read that she'd died tragically in a car accident while traveling home across Africa. She was returning from two months in Scandanavia.  

I "met" Esther, seven years ago when she still wrote up her blog called Ishtar's Ark. Later on she primarily used Facebook to write about her life in Africa. The Garvi's (Arne and Bettan) founded the Eden Foundation in Scandinavia in 1985.  In 1987, they left all that was comfortable behind them, landed in Africa and traveled with their three young children, Esther, Josef and Mirriam,  across the desert to settle in one of the poorest countries on the continent, Niger. Please do click on the links to read about what this phenomenal family has accomplished in West Africa.

Bettan Garvi, who was inspired to help every child in her community attend school, established The Bettan Garvi School Initiative. When Bettan died in 2008, Esther continued her mom's dream. 

Esther was a keen horsewoman, a multi-linguist and she loved animals, especially Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I followed her blog avidly because of this.

When you read the many, many condolences and posts on her Facebook page this weekend, you realize that the shock waves - at her untimely and tragic passing - ran through across the globe from the US, Canada and Europe down through Africa.

As fellow-blogger, Gaelyn of Geogypsy  said on FB, "Esther gave so much of herself to others, it's hard to believe she's been taken from the world." When I shared the terrible news with Grant on Sunday morning, all he could say was: "What a terrible waste of a young and vibrant life" 
(Image from Esther's Facebook photos) 

RIP,  beautiful Esther. 

12 comments:

  1. Oh, how very heartbreaking to lose such a good and beautiful person so early in her life!!! Thank you for the lovely tribute to her, Jo!!

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  2. Oh, Jo....what sad, sad news. I'm so sorry for your loss, and for all of Esther's family and friends. I will check out all the info you shared just as soon as I can. Love and hugs to YOU, dear friend.

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  3. even though I do not know her, this is very sad news to me... that one so young and that had so much to give this hurting world, should die like this. she is beautiful and my prayers go out to her family left behind.

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  4. Oh my, I have visited Esther's blog in the past and enjoyed her blog and posts. I am so sorry for the loss of Esther, my prayers go out to her family and friends.

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  5. Hi Jo Such a beautful young woman taken so early in her life, it is so sad.

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  6. What a beautiful picture to remember her by. Her joy of life shines through.

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  7. What a terrible thing to have happen:( My thoughts go out to her family and friends.

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  8. I also met Esther when she was posting on Ishtar's Ark and am positively devastated. We were still communicating when she was in Sweden. So loved around the world!

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  9. RIP dear Esther. You made a big mark on all those you met near and far. Condolences to all your loved ones and family.

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  10. I didn't know her, but it is very sad to die so young !

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  11. I have only just discovered this sad sad news... A nice friend that made comments on my blog posts...

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo