This is Nana keri, doing the thing she liked doing most, making tortillas! Now she is doing that for Jesus!
Well, the past few days have been really good, and really tiring! After we found out that Nana keri had died, Greg and I decided to go visit the family. When we arrived, we found most of the family busy at work, preparing the house for the people who would come and pay their respects. Sounds normal. Nana keri was lying on a table and was covered with clothing. People would walk in, look at her, light a candle and pray. We let the family know we would return at night to talk with Angelica and Salvador who had gone to buy the casket. So... that is what we did.
We had our Monday night meeting and talked about what a church body should do when someone in the church is suffering. Then most of us went to visit the family and share in their sorrows. When we entered this time, the house was filled with people. Nana keri was now in the casket in her room and people continued to pass in and out as they viewed the body. There were a group of men who gathered in her room and began to sing. They chanted and sang and asked God to please let Nana keri into heaven. We were told that they would come back every day for the next 9 days and sing and chant so that God would let Nana keri into heaven. The thing is, Nana keri accepted Jesus into her heart about 6 months ago and we know that she is already at the feet of Jesus! After about 30 minutes these men left and Angelica and Salvador asked us to pray together as a group around Nana keri. We prayed and then we sang about 3 praise songs. It was quite an experience as all of the family watched us enter in and do this "strange" thing together. We then left to go home.
The custom here is that the family has to stay up all night with Nana keri's body until she is buried. So people come and go all night long. Barbara (good friend and strong Christian) and I (Missy) felt like Angelica needed some company so we went back to visit her again at midnight. Love this custom! ;o} I thought we would be the only people there, huh, not so! The men were back, singing and chanting and begging God to keep Nana keri from Hell. I really felt bad for them. I wanted to go up and say, " Look guys, you are so sweet to do this, but she's already there, you can go home and rest. You really don't need to beg, it's a done deal!" Of course I couldn't do that, but that was my thought process! So they stayed until 1:30 am, right before I thought I was going to fall asleep sitting up. Then Angelica said, "Now it's our turn!" We went into Nana keri's room and starting singing as best as we could, every praise and worship song we knew. We sang, " I Can Only Imagine," We Bow Down," "I Love You Lord," "The Wonderful Cross," "Here I am to Worship," and about 15 others! We ( about 7 sisters in Christ) sang until 3 in the morning. It was truly the most precious memory I have made in our almost 4 years on the field. I will never forget that night as long as I live! My friends, have become very unique in their faith. They all have a different way of showing it, but last night, we were as close as any friends could be! Celebrating the life of an 80 year old woman and knowing that she was celebrating with Jesus! It just doesn't get any better than this! It really doesn't!!
Today was the funeral and it came and went like most funerals and we visited again with the family. They were exhausted! It was a good day and I am ready for it to be over! Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Salvador. He seems to be doing well. We are praying God will make Himself known to Salvador in a big way. Thanks so much for praying! You are awesome!
