As Marissa sat on my left hand side giving me a new dread, Gabo sat on my right giving me a new dread as well. His dread is also easily distinguishable and set apart from the other entangled strands falling from my head. This dread is symbolic of Gabo and his rare and exceptional fire and passion for the Lord.
Gabo is always looking for an opportunity to share love with someone. On Wednesday morning we met Gabo at the market to celebrate with a farewell breakfast. Gabo decided that he wanted to pay for half of our team’s breakfast, which is just one example of his kindness and generosity. Another example happened right after we sat down when Gabo saw a staggering drunk homeless man and asked him to join us for our hearty traditional Guatemalan breakfast. He even went so far as to dare our team to minister to him. Gabo sat there praying with him for a while until our food came. It was just a very typical thing for Gabo to do: to reveal his love for God by speaking truth and showing love.
It was a sad day saying goodbye to Gabo as our team gathered around him and prayed encouraging and prophetic words over his life. Tears fell from my eyes and his. He explained that he had not cried in a very long time as he thanked us for being Angels who deeply ministered to him and inspired him over this last month. We all proceeded by explaining to him that God used him to do the same in our lives as well.
My dread will always remind me of the inspiration Gabo instilled in me. Gabo left me with a deeper desire to speak boldly the love of Christ to others by both my words and my actions. So every time I feel the right side of my head and my hand stumbles across this small, discombobulated mess of hair I will be reminded that I need to pass along the unquenchable fire and joy of the Lord and to pray for my dear brother, Gabo.
