On Sunday, January 26, headlines worldwide announced the death of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. He was a young man with a family. No one expected his sudden demise in a helicopter accident. Several other people died along with him, although their names were not famous.
There was another death that day, closer to us. It was anticipated by the family and friends of Eduardo, the man who died. He had been diagnosed with advanced pancreas cancer in June.
Three of his teen-aged children had been to many of our vbs´s. They also sometimes attended English class and math tutoring. When they abruptly stopped coming to classes, we didn´t think much of it, since their previous attendance was somewhat spotty. However, a few months after their disappearance, we drove passed a bus stop and saw the man and his wife exiting the bus. Once a tall, strong man, Eduardo was almost unrecognizable, having lost half his weight.
Abraham and I decided to visit the family to see how they were doing, although at the time, we didn´t know the cause of Eduardo´s change. When we arrived at their house, Rosario, Eduardo´s wife told us about his diagnosis and the subsequent hospital stays and ineffectual surgery. She told us that, less than three months after surgery, Eduardo returned to work as a long-haul truck driver. Because of his work, he was not home when we visited the second time, either.
Early in December, we finally found Eduardo at home. Abraham conversed with him at length about his life and inevitable death. Abraham clearly emphasized that none of us know the day of our death. Although Eduardo was the one with cancer, none of us is guaranteed another day´s life.
Eduardo was a fighter. He had crossed into the States and worked in Los Angeles for years. He trucked long distances through California, and then returned to Mexico where he married, had children, and continued trucking. He had no use for God, because he felt himself to be strong and capable on his own.
Our family left for a three-week visit with family in the States, promising to bring back the sunflower seeds from the 99 ₵ store that Eduardo remembered with fondness.
On January 26, we returned to Eduardo´s home with packages of sunflower seeds. Although Eduardo had been very thin when we last saw him, the change of a month was drastic. Now we found him in bed, with the appearance of a skeleton. Rosario helped him with the shivers from sudden low blood sugar by briskly rubbing his chest. As she rubbed, she filled us in on the month´s happenings.
After some time, Abraham offered to take over with the massage. As he rubbed Eduardo´s chest, Abraham asked him, "You are very strong. Do you want to keep on fighting?" First, Eduardo said yes, then changed his response to no. Abraham asked whether he wanted to ask for forgiveness from God. With complete lucidity, Eduardo replied that he did. He asked Abraham to help him pray, and in that moment, surrendered his life to God. After singing Amazing Grace in both English and Spanish (Rosario sang along in Spanish), Abraham and I left to go to kids´ club at Marina´s house.
As we prepared to sleep at about 11 pm, Abraham´s cell phone rang. Eduardo´s oldest son called to say Eduardo had ended his earthly fight. We visited the family twice the following day.
We will continue our visits and prayers for the family. Will you join us in praying for them?
