God has a purpose. (literally, intention)
Today we went to visit the families of the three boys who were shot and killed last Sunday. We came to find out that we had connections to the other two boys, not just Luis. Gilmar, the 22 year old, was the cousin of Manuel, another high school student that worked with us at the ministry for the past two years. Daniel, the 13 year old, was Manuel's brother.
The first family we visited with was that of Daniel. There are just so few words to say to a mother and father who have just lost their thirteen year old son to such a tragic death. What we did share was God's Word with them and we prayed that those words would bring comfort and healing to their broken hearts. I told Daniel's mother that I was a mom, too, and couldn't imagine her pain, as we wept in each others arms. As his father wept such tears of sorrow, all we could do was hold him and try to share his burden of grief.
Just steps away, was the house of Luis' family. According to his mom, Luis and Manuel were always together. Ruth said that they'd grown up together and were best of friends. So Manuel has not only lost his younger brother and his cousin, but his best friend, as well. As we visited with Luis' mom, Manuel (from our ministry team) said that he didn't know if he was correct or not, but felt that there was something very different about these two homes, about how they were dealing with their losses. The things that Luis' mother was saying about everything that had happened were filled with such hope. She said that, of course, she is devistated and asks God "Why my son?" But she has such a trust in God's love and wisdom and she knows God has a purpose for allowing Luis to die. Luis knew his Savior and his mom knows for certain that he is enjoying heavenly perfection, free from pain and sadness and is forever with his heavenly Father. Several times she said she trusted in God's mercy and knows He has a purpose for this. Perhaps, she said, Luis' death was a sacrifice to bring others to Christ. What a living testament to God's neverending love and His desire that ALL would know Him as Lord and Savior! We prayed that Cristina would continue to be a witness to her daughter and to the family who lived so close to her, bringing the Light to their darkness.
Thank you for your prayers for these two families and for the many friends, many of them young adults, who knew and loved these boys. We pray that hearts will be softened and all will draw closer to their Savior through these deaths as there is only one hope for eternal life, Jesus Christ. It is with a renewed urgency that we tell everyone what He has done.
"I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 Luis' favorite verse.
No comments:
Post a Comment