Loss of a loved one #6
The Coffee Growers Association came & asked if they could test our high schoolers because they were hoping to find 5 who would qualify to attend a 3 month course on coffee production and management. If they could find 2 who qualified after the course they would hire them. We were blessed that we had 12 who qualified & will attend the course with all expenses paid.
Below is a photo of Oseas and Heidy who are now the house parents in the older girl’s dormitory. As we continue to move forward we continue to see children we have raised take larger roles in the future of Casa. With them as well as Alex & Sara in Esperanza and Billy & Olga in Estrellitas this means that ALL female dorms have house parents whom we have raised at Casa.
We have been offered a huge piece of property adjoining our property The asking price is $100,000 but the size is 7,162 square meters or 1.7 acres. So I will pray but my board will have to see what we can do if God says there is a future need.
The monthly prayer, praise, dramas, etc was again very precious. Some of the children fasted and prayed for my health for 3 days & tonight they laid hands on me.
I have shared the first two methods that I have used to cope with the multiple deaths of children, our 3 natural children, the 16 other children here at Casa as well as family members and dear, dear friends. Growing into my 70s means that I have seen many whom I have loved leave this earth. Some were destined for heaven and some were not. But I loved them.
It is the hope of seeing them again and the wonderful memories that can keep me going in peace.
2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
OTHER PEOPLE were and are the third way I learned to cope with my losses. Rusty & Eva whom I have not seen in over 49 years were there when Michelle died in Bakersfield, Ca. She was only 11 months old. We were barely 20 years old and had no idea of what to do with a dead child. Rusty came and took me to the coroner while Eva took Dottie to their home. After finishing our tasks Rusty said “We need to clean your apartment”.
I thought that it was strange but we cleaned out EVERYTHING that would remind Dottie of the baby. We stored it and then Rusty called his physician who was at my home about the time Dottie and Eva arrived. He injected Dottie with a powerful tranquilizer & Rusty then said “We filled your station wagon with gas, put an ice chest with drinks and food and put a mattress in the back. Take Dottie to Arkansas and we will send the baby to Crossett, Ar and she will be there before you arrive.
At the funeral 3 professors came from Natchitoches, La where they had taught me at Northwestern & said “We want you to return to school and teach 3 freshman courses. If you do we will pay you a salary and pay for your Master’s degree.”
The rest is history! What God has done over these many years has not been a Mike/Dottie journey. It has been the beautiful story of friends and family who COMFORTED us in our tribulation.
HOPE! MEMORIES! OTHERS!
Stay tuned.