For about the last two weeks I
have been in communication with home almost daily. My mom’s mom, Marjorie, (better known as gma) had
been admitted to the hospital for a rash all over her body. Things kept getting
worse, and her body was basically falling apart.
At about 4:00 pm (American time)
on October 2, 2012 my gma met Jesus.
Three days before ascending into Heaven, she told one of my
cousins that she was excited to see Jesus.
Before that point, my heart was
breaking for her and the family.
Most of my family members do not
know the way to get to Heaven, but for my gma to declare that she was going to
see her Father gave me so much peace.
It gave me peace in not being able to be there because I was in transit at the
time from Central America to Eastern Europe.
It gave me peace to know that she was witnessing to my family from her death
bed.
Ever since I was little I can
always remember the desire of my gma’s heart for each of her children and
grandchildren to know Jesus.
When I was little, I never really
listened to what she had to stay.
Then, I found Jesus in 2009 and
she was ecstatic.
Every time I would go to visit
her, she would continually encourage me to keep sharing Jesus.
“Brandi, now you just keep doing what you are doing and
sharing Jesus to all of those people,” she
would say.
I can’t put into words how encouraging
it was to always hear her says those words to me.
Just a week ago gma was asking my
mom and aunt about how my trip was going.
She never forgot my heart.
She knew what the Father was doing
in my heart.
How could she forget?
Sure, she had dementia among
other health issues, but she remembered what God was doing in my life.
My aunt Penny had the opportunity
to share with her about the ministry that I had been a part of when I was in
Nicaragua.
I departed from Costa Rica on
September 29th and we had a 19 hour layover in NYC.
My heart was torn as to whether I
should go home to say my final goodbye, or to continue on the journey.
If I went home, it would be for
the maximum of a week, and then I would return to the field in Romania.
My heart was so heavy; I had no
idea what I would do.
I talked to my aunt and she told
me that there was no way I could come home. She said that gma would want me to
continue doing God’s work.
It hurts so bad to not be there.
To not be able to be there for my
mom who has nobody to go home to and talk to.
To not be able to give my mom,
aunt, and cousin the comfort hug.
To not be able to pray for my
family in person.
To not be able to be there for
the viewing or the funeral.
My God is giving me peace and comfort right now in this
season.
He is telling me that He has BIG
plans for this first week of ministry in Romania that He needs me here for.
He is working in each of their
lives so much right now.
He is drawing their hearts closer
to Him.
He is giving me so much peace in
the knowledge that she is in Jesus.
Please keep my family in your prayers. Pray that they have the
comfort to know where my gma is, but pray that they too would one day make it
to Heaven.
Sorry for the lack of updates in
the past few weeks. I have had a lot on my heart and mind since my gma was
admitted to the hospital. More updates are soon to follow about what God taught
me last month.
As for Eastern Europe, I am in
Romania this month working with church planting and living in a house with 11
other people. As for the details, I don’t know them yet. Speaking of those
people, I have a new team, Team Chayil, and it is a team with 5 other beautiful
ladies! We have wifi at our house this month, so expect frequent updates from
yours truly.
