A Dark Cold Night...

It’s a cool brisk November evening. As you open the door to your home, the sheet metal feels cold to the touch. You hold the door open for your 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son to walk outside ahead of you. As you step out into the community the cool air kisses your cheeks. You glance around; proud of how the new sidewalks and stairs make your community look cleaner. You won’t have to worry about climbing down steep dirt slopes to get to the road but will have nice cement stairs. This will be especially convenient during periods of heavy rain. Your two kids run ahead hand in hand across the open space by the community center that is under construction. You can’t help but smile as you watch them. You follow close behind as they pass the community center. Just as you were about to tell them to be careful, Jeffer, your son lets go of Katy’s hand and runs ahead. Still a little unsteady while walking, as he approaches a big hole left open by the construction workers, he slips and falls. Your stomach drops. He is stopped by the rebar sticking up out of the ground. You grab him and after seeing no blood, begin to run back home, heart pounding. You lay him down on the bed inside and through tears and gasping for breath you try to explain to your husband what happened. You go to pick up your son and notice some blood on his shirt now, as you lift it you notice something poking out of his side were the rebar had pierced him. You run throughout the community searching for somebody who has a car. Finally you arrive at the hospital, but not more than 10 minutes after being there the doctors come to inform you that your son didn’t make it. Completely torn apart by the news of this tragedy you haven’t even given thought to how you’re going to afford a casket, funeral, and burial…

On Friday, November 5^th, this was the experience of a prominent woman in the community of Bendición de Dios where we work with Christ for the City International. I can’t claim to even begin to know the thoughts and feelings that would come with an experience like this. I’m unsure of her faith, but know that during this time, more than any, she needs to know that God is with her and her family. As we heard of this news, Christ for the City moved quickly to surround this family with the support they needed. Enough money was collected to pay for the casket, funeral, and burial. I hadn’t known the family prior to the accident, but had the privilege of being able to go with Elsa to the community the night of the funeral.

Pulling up, we saw the whole community out in front of the community center where the funeral was to take place. As we walked up, Daniel, a little boy in the community looked up at me with big eyes and said, “¡Usted vino!” (You came!) I immediately knew there was a reason for me being there. Not because of anything I would do or say, but just being present said, “You matter, your community matters, you’re not forgotten, you’re not alone.” We continued to the home of the family who had suffered the loss. Wrapping the mother in a deep embrace, in a whisper I assured her of God’s presence with her, “Dios está contigo.” Through tears she cried with uncertainty, “Yo no sé.” Again I assured her, “Sí, está.” Continuing to embrace her she thanked me for being there with her. Stepping outside her house for fresh air, we talked with her and her husband. Quickly joined by other CFCI staff and a local pastor, we continued to encourage them and prayed with them.

The funeral was not what I had anticipated. Maybe it was because of cultural differences. Maybe it was because it was for a 2 year old. Maybe it was the lower economic status, but for whatever reason, there was something different. What struck me most was the strong sense of community combined with a weak sense of communal loss. The whole community was present, wearing their warmest layers, yet still shivering. Many were serving pan dulce y café (sweet bread and coffee). Others were making sure the family had enough to eat and drink. The entire community had come together to surround and serve this family. However, while some friends seemed to be grieving the loss of this little child, that was certainly not the case with most of the community. Children were running around laughing and playing, teenage boys were off to the side playing music on their cell phones, and while most of the community was present for the ceremony, very few tears were shed. Coming from a culture where funerals are for friends and family to grieve alike, this surprised me. Maybe it was that emotions are not shown in public as readily in this culture of toughness. Or maybe in the fight to survive and provide for your family in a place of great need, loss is not felt as strong throughout the community. However, there’s no doubt that this boy was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. His life was short, but certainly had a profound impact on the lives of many in this community.

Prayers for this family would be greatly appreciated. While the initial hit they suffered was great, it was only the beginning of a long time of suffering. Pray for healing, peace, love, comfort, faith, and hope. Pray that God’s glory would be able to shine throughout this community as they feel his grace and abundant blessings in this time. Pray that Satan would have no place here. That all accusations of blame and lies of guilt would be covered and taken away by God’s incredible grace and love.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18