We’ve been so much involved especially in taking care of the sister suffering with terminal cancer. Even though for a short while, it seems as we’ve known her for many years as all these days have been so very intense physically and emotionally for all of us. Our sister Doreth has passed to rest two Fridays ago in our home (the one that we are renting), waiting for the great day of resurrection. We’ve been so blessed to know her, her family and also for having such a unique opportunity to serve the Lord! He has been as good and merciful to us as always, as

even though it felt like going through such a fiery test, He thought us so many valuable lessons! One is to show love to someone while still alive, to ask for forgiveness and to forgive before it is too late, to show compassion even to a stranger as it can become one of your most beloved friends – even if for a short time. Flowers have no value after the loved one had passed away – so bring them while still alive and able to appreciate them. The family – 7 of her 9 children also her old mother are very poor but we’ve been so glad to see their little church (SDA) helping as much as possible. The most precious rewards on this earth for taking care of her for the last couple of weeks of her life, were her smiles (even though it was so hard for her in such situation), the special moments when she grabbed my hand into her while I was petting her head trying to put her to sleep or when one time while I was with her and I was asking her if she knew how much the Lord loves her, she answered in such simple yet profound words between her taking deep breaths: “Yes I know. He loves me so much…” She paused for a moment and I thought she was going to say the most wonderful verse from the Bible, John 3:16. Yet she surprised me so much that it shook my soul. She said again: “He loves me so much that He sent me to you to take care of me.” Oh, how unworthy I felt for such! I’ve never felt like in that moment the presence of Jesus so close to me! It was such a special time that I treasure so much in my heart! Even though no miracle took place to prolong her life, she told us how much peace she felt in our home (since being with us through the mercy of our Lord, she was not in much pain – no need of any pain medication, only helped her with hydrotherapy, clay and castor oil packs, natural juices, herbs). No fancy sanitarium do we have, no out of the ordinary care did we offer to her: only our hearts. It seemed like this was enough for her. She did not want to leave our place, not even at the insistence of her children to be in her home for her last moments. At the funeral we’ve been so blessed to be surrounded by her family and church, making us feel as part of their own, even though having a different culture and skin color (they are black – such beautiful people!).

I’ve never ever thought myself capable of taking care of a terminal cancer patient. No way to see a person dying – especially in our home. I’ve never liked going to funerals – just been to a very few in my life. Yet my loving Father in His own wisdom found it fit to pass me/us (including our girls: 12 and 14 and a young missionary 25 that has helped us) through such aspects of a sinful life on this earth. This is such a treasured experience for me and for my family! I miss her and wish to see her soon – oh, how much I wish for heaven! This earth is growing so strangely foreign and dim while heaven with Jesus is so much attracting my soul! I get more and more tired and do not feel at home anywhere on this earth. We’ve been moving from place to place for 6 years now and we are already wondering where our Lord is sending us next. Even though problems and worries abound in our lives, I’ve never felt more peace trusting the Lord with our future. We are waiting for Him to give us the next signal. All that I can say to Him is: “Here am I. Send me.” So sinful and unworthy, such a broken vessel, yet so much pleading for the Lord to use me for His service and glory! And through Jesus I believe everything being possible – even me. Strangely, now the word is going around churches that we have a sanitarium and people started to call us asking if they can come to us… Yet our home is so small for that and we so unprepared….

This past Friday the Lord gave us another opportunity to be blessed and to bless others though Jesus’ love. This time around 70 kids from the poorest district of CR. Together with a few other brethren from our small church we’ve tried to bring a little sunshine in their lives by serving them lunch and giving them some childish gifts. Some of them do come to our church. Yesterday we went with a group from another SDA church to give clothes, furniture and food to a very poor village of emigrants from Nicaragua that work in a sugar cane plantation. We’ve

closed the Sabbath together with them with songs, prayers and a small Bible study, hoping to go back to them to share more of the earthly bread and also the heavenly one. There is so much need that seems overwhelming as there are so few workers out in the vineyard – yet, our heavenly Father has it all in His hand and care!