What began as a collection of farewell letters written during the darkest period of his life, has become a book offering hope to readers grappling with grief, depression and unanswered questions.

At 22, young author and National African Students Association (NASA) national spokesperson Matheus Isak Ndeyapune has published ‘The Letters’, a deeply personal book inspired by the death of his girlfriend in a car accident on 23 July 2023.

The tragedy came shortly after he had started his first year at the International University of Management (IUM), where, he said, the relationship had transformed his outlook on life and strengthened his Christian faith. “She introduced me to church, encouraged me to grow closer to God and played a significant role in my journey of becoming a believer,” he recalled.

Her sudden death left him questioning God and struggling to understand why someone who had positively influenced his life had been taken away.

“I kept asking, ‘Why would You take her away just when I had started becoming a better man?’ Those questions became a heavy burden that I carried in silence,” he said.

Consumed by grief, he began writing letters that were never intended for publication.

“They were essentially goodbye letters. I believed that if I were gone, perhaps the people I left behind would read them and understand what I had never found the words to say,” Ndeyapune said.

He admitted that he reached a point where he attempted to take his own life.

During what he described as his darkest moment, he experienced what he believes was a divine intervention.

“I heard these words deep within my spirit: ‘No, son. You must write these letters. Turn them into a message for everyone who is struggling’,” he said.

That experience changed the purpose of the manuscript.

“What began as preparations for my death became a testimony of my survival,” he said.

Rather than following a conventional storytelling format,’ The Letters’ is written as a series of personal letters.

He said the format allows readers to engage with conversations addressing faith, family, loss, love, identity and hope. “Letters are intimate. They allow us to say the things we often struggle to say face to face,” he explained.

Ndeyapune hopes readers, particularly those carrying grief or emotional pain, will realise they are not alone.

“Pain has a way of convincing us that our struggles are unique, but many people are carrying invisible battles,” he said.

He believes vulnerability should not be viewed as weakness.

“Healing begins when we stop pretending everything is okay. If someone finishes this book believing that their scars don’t disqualify them from purpose, then I have accomplished what I set out to do,” he said.

Among the book’s chapters, he described ‘Dear Mother’ as the most emotionally challenging to write.

Reflecting on his childhood, he admitted he had not always appreciated his mother’s sacrifices.

“As I matured, I began to see my mother not just as a parent, but as a hero. I realised mothers often give everything without expecting recognition in return,” he said. He hopes the chapter encourages readers to value their parents while they still have the opportunity. Beyond his writing, the author’s work as NASA national spokesperson has exposed him to the mental health challenges facing many young Namibians.

Ndeyapune said students frequently contact him seeking help for financial hardship, academic pressure, family problems and depression.

“I’ve had students tell me they feel they have no option left but to end their lives. Others have confessed they are considering prostitution, theft or other desperate means simply to survive,” he said.

Those experiences reinforced his desire to create a book that offers encouragement rather than judgement.

“My hope is that every chapter reminds young people that asking for help isn’t weakness, healing is possible, and purpose can still be born from pain,” he said.

Addressing young Namibians with stories of their own, he urged them not to allow fear to silence their voices.

“The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else. It needs the person you were created to become,”  said Ndeyapune.

He encouraged young people to pursue their dreams despite uncertainty. “So, write the book. Start the business. Lead the movement. Pursue the dream God has placed in your heart,” he said.

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