It's been too hard, near impossible for me to come to terms with the fact that THE GREATEST AND ONLY LOVE I EVER KNEW, besides the Almighty God, slipped into eternity, just few minutes, after I reassured her that my love and commitment to her would rmail forever, as it has always been "FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE" My late wife knew the kind of love, affection and care that awaited her when she said, "I do " on Saturday, June 13, 1998. For eleven years, we simply spoiledourselves with pure Godly love! I'll never find another love like my Pearl, my Baby, my Best friend and my Wife. Uche was an embodiment of all that was needed to make me complete, and for the eleven years of our marriage, we journeyed together through thick and thin. Her unwavering commitment to our marraige was secondary only to her commitment to our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Uche supplied all the missing links of my being and therefore was my cover in my areas of weakness. Uche perfectly made up for everything that I wasn't and that I couldn't. I am now forced by the cruel hand of death to live without the only woman who ever completed me. It is a mountain too high for me to climb, a river too deep to cross. In the years of our marriage, (cut short by the cold hands of death on Sunday, February 22nd, 2009), my sweetheart generated and pumped so much energy that sustained me in life and ministry. No fire was strong enough to cut the strong cords that held us together, up until her translation to this glorious rest she has found in God. Pearl was my most sincere prayer partner, intercessor and accounatability partner who did everything to ensure that I was fit and updated regularly, spiritually. She wasa like a spiritual check on me, because she was the only human at all times who could truly guage where I was and could speak to me, eye ball to eye ball to rebuke, warn or encourage me - because of her unwavering commitment to the cause of the kingdom that God c ommitted to us together. She vowed, in the midst of life threatening conditions that she would serve God with her last breath. My Pearl kept faith with that vow, up to thevery last minutes of her life. The memory verse in her daily devotional for that evetful day, had she read it would have been a perfect prelude to her translation to glory: Phillipians 1:21 - " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" My Pearl excelled at the noblest of callings: For her primary occupation, she had an 11 -year career as a Mother and truly set the standard of excellence for this most important of professions. Despite the difficulties, this magnificent damsel not only accepted, but with unparalleled determination aggressively embraced, the profession of Wife and Mother to my friends and all that have lived in our homes or come under our guardianship and in shouldering the burden of functioning as a pastor’s wife and a working woman. God’s Kingdom priorities and I were her primary focus for her entire married life and she devoted her affection fully to a loving relationship with God and me, which would last until the end of her time on earth. The years following our marriage in 1998 provided a challenge worthy of her abilities and commitment to doing everything she could for the love of her life. Refusing to feel sorry for herself and any tough situation, she was always determined to not be a burden on anyone. Supporting our home became a multi-faceted challenge; whether serving food to members of our household or guests who were never in short supply, cleaning up the house or washing and ironing clothes. She willingly did anything necessary to ensure we had what we needed. Even more important than the material support were the lessons of life she provided: a work ethic focused on success, a respect for others no matter their differences, and an overall drive to be the best they could be. Did she often have it tough? Yes. Was she always sure where the next naira was coming from? No. Did she ever complain? No. Was she always committed to providing the best for us? Absolutely. Did I ever feel I lacked for anything? Absolutely not! Uchenna was an absolutely wonderful human being! She will always be the example by which the wives of those who looked up to me will live their lives. We will miss this darling woman so much. She was the sweetest person I have ever met. I was so fortunate to have Uche as a part of my life. I "lost" my wife on Sunday, February 22nd 2009, but don't be too sad for us. She's gone on to where she'd rathetr be. She's gone on to what was always the overriding goal of her life: to ultimately be with her Saviour, Jesus Christ. the moment she departed, it was clear that her Lord's verdict was this: that this earth was no longer worthy of my Pearl's presence. So, don't be too sad for us. We lived together as I loved her without reservation on a daily basis. I am not going to suddenly remember our life together through rose-tinted glasses, that it was pure bliss or anything like that. Our first few years was tough, but our untainted love for ourselves was stronger. We will grieve and miss her, but when we took ourvows, we said until death do us part, but the reality of the fact that one of us will survive the other never dwaned on us, until it happened to me. All the same, we lived our lives as if each day was our last. We grieve not just for our loss, but yours too. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend and my wife, but first, she was God's child. She is with her Saviour now, and we will see her again. That My Pearl, Uche departed on the 22nd of February, 2009 without any warning or indication of being near death is a mystery to me. As I reflect on my wife's passage to ternity, I am consoled by the fact that she has relocated to a better place, having joined the innumerable company of saints, the souls of just men made perfect