A Place Without Pain, Tears, Sorrow...

First, we want to say sorry for not posting more often but life has gotten really busy for us here. Becks started working a second part-time job - she works as one of the janitors at church (besides still working for the inventory company). So between the two of us, we work every day of the week, plus homeschooling and ministry on top of that! But the Lord is faithful and has given us strength and endurance for this.

Anyways, I wanted to share a little bit about something that happened last week after service in the Spanish fellowship. During the service, one of the deacons got a call from the wife of a man who is dying of cancer. This deacon had been visiting this man weekly for the last 4 months or so. I went with him 3 weeks ago to visit the man. He has colon cancer and basically the doctors sent him home to die - they said the cancer was so bad that there was nothing they could do for him, except give him pain medication. So he has been dying slowly for the last 2 years. In any case, during service, the wife called and said he was really bad off and that he literally was breathing his last breaths.

So after service, I and 7 other people from the fellowship went over to the man's home to support his wife and family (he's got 2 daughters 10 and 12 I think). We simply prayed, shared some Bible verses and comforted them. Then the deacon who had been visiting weekly had it on his heart to preach a short message. Even though I didn't understand much of Spanish, I could truly see that the Spirit of God was upon him (this man truly has the gift of evangelism) and it was awesome to see God using him. And the fruit - one of the ladies present accepted the Lord with much tears and repenting. Just remember that all the people there are hard-core, traditional Catholics so this was truly a huge step for this lady. So praise God! We know that the angels in heaven are rejoicing over this one sinner who has repented and accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The man, we believe with all our hearts, is saved though. When he was able to talk months ago, the deacon had shared with him many times and he has accepted the Lord. And the wife also, we think, but can't be sure with her. Well, the day after we visited, last Monday, the man went home to be with the Lord. He is now in a much better place...

A place where 'God will wipe away every tear from [his] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. ' Revelation 21.4

This was the first time I had been with someone who was so close to death, yet it truly was also a joyous occasion as we celebrated with the man as he stepped into the presence of His Lord and King, Jesus. I am reminded once again of the brevity of this life here on earth. And what a privilege we have to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Of course we also mourn with his family as they will miss their husband, father, brother and friend. But we can comfort them with the fact that he will never know pain and sorrow and tears again. So please pray with us as we minister to this family. Pray for them - for comfort and healing but also for salvation for those who don't know Jesus. Pray that the Lord would use this death to bring new life into the lives of those left behind.