“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15
Sandiford Joseph Park was born in Guyana on May 2nd 1932. It was there that he found his lovely wife, Therese and at the age of 21 he married his love. They had seven beautiful children: David, Jonathan, Ruth, Racquel, Eva, Hannah and Pearl.
Joseph was a hard working farmer. He would leave the house before the sun rose and would return after the sun set. Joseph and Theresa were a team. They worked together as one to provide for their family. They shared the same faith and were devout Seventh-day Adventists. He lived by the Bible and was forever seeking the truth. He moved to Israel with intentions of finding the Promised Land. He lived there with his family for 10 years in a vegetarian village called Amereem. It was here that he developed his agricultural skills and learned to read and speak Hebrew. They developed every inch of the land they owned, filling it with apples, olives, grapes, oranges, and much more. Joseph was a staunch pacifist and did not want his boys to fight in the war. That went against his beliefs.
He moved his family back to Guyana in 1969, right after the six-day war. Upon his return Joseph bought Grant Niles, a large coconut estate in Pomeroon River. It was his pride and joy. Joseph’s agricultural background led him to spend a summer with the Jim Jones community. They were eager to learn his agricultural skills which he acquired in Israel.
In 1981, Joseph sold his coconut estate and once again moved his family, this time to Venezuela. They owned a convenience store in Amacuro River. Joseph would drive a large boat to the city to acquire goods which he would bring back deep into the rural river of Amacuro.
In 1992 the Park Family arrived in Canada in search of a better life. Joseph got what he wanted. His quality of life was greatly improved.
Joseph always lived a healthy lifestyle and encouraged others by his example. This lifestyle consisted of a healthy diet and a healthy spiritual and mental state.
Joseph’s primary goal in life was to lead others to God in order for them to attain eternal life. God was at the centre of Joseph’s entire being. He had a genuine and true relationship with God.
In Canada, Joseph came into contact with the International Missionary Society, Seventh-day Adventist Church Reform movement. In July of 2005 he joined the church, becoming a member in Toronto, Canada. His wife joined a few months later. Joseph remained a faithful member until he fell asleep peacefully in Jesus on December 7, 2014. He was 82 years old. His wife, Teresa, although feeble in health, continues to be faithful. Brother and Sister Park have faithfully attended the church meetings as much as their health permitted and were always very active in the meetings.
According to his granddaughter Anita, Joseph was always very affectionate. He would give all the grand children “Mang-Mangs” his version of a kiss. He would say, “come sit with granddad;” we would get on his lap, then he would hold us real tight so we couldn’t get away then start to attack us with Mang-Mangs. We loved it. My grandpa would drop me to school and pick me up every day. We would stop by the park on the way home and hang out for a bit. I remember climbing the monkey bars with him. He would show my cousin Jonathan and myself how he could hang upside down and skip bars. Jonathan would say “one last time granddad,” when it was time to go. Ten minutes later my grandpa would laugh because we were still there waiting for Jonathan to leave.
He loved to look sharp. He normally wore a suit, a top hat, and carried his briefcase with his Bible and tracts to hand out.
Joseph will truly be missed by all the lives he touched but will live on forever in our memories. We look forward to the day when we can see him again when Jesus returns to the earth to redeem His faithful children. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15