Yesterday I went to the hospital to visit a patient with one of the Sisters in the ward. It was a close family friend that she had known for 18 years. As we walked into his somber room in the ICU it was apparent that nobody was there. He wasn't there. His body lay there hooked up to machines and the room was empty except for 2 pieces of paper. One of them in Spanish and the other in English, both saying the exact same thing. They were simple instructions written by Juan's family explaining how to visit with him. They said to talk to him, and smile, and pray for him. The sister immediately went up to his bedside and grabbed his hand as she began saying sweet things to him. I watched the monitors and listened to her words, trying to grasp the reality of the moment.
Looking back towards him I noticed something different. Where his face had been dry before, tears were streaming down his cheek. The more she talked the more tears fell! And when she began talking about Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ, about his sacrifice and about Juan's blessing to be able to repent and return to live with God again, reassuring Juan over and over that "Todo esta bien... todo" he began to move. His lips began to move in and out around the tubes and tape. He choked. I could tell that he was there! He was trying to talk! But... the monitors were still beeping, and the lines were still rhythmically moving up straight down straight up straight down straight. I knew his body wasn't functioning. He is 100% on life support. And yet, when she spoke, he came alive inside.
As tears began to stream down my own face I broke past the discomfort I felt only to say "No necesita hablar, Juan, porque sabemos que usted puede escuchar. Este es todo que necesitamos." You don't need to talk, Juan, because we know that you can hear. This is all we need!" It was the most miraculous thing I've ever seen. We sang to him and the tears continued to flow. I told him I was grateful to meet him and when we left I had the feeling that he wasn't there anymore. His body lay motionless, the monitors beeping to keep his heart pumping. The room empty. At the bottom of those 2 sheets of paper it said:
Say these things every day
I'm proud of you
I love you
Forgive me
I forgive you
In the easiest of times, or through the hardest of times, thousands of thoughts bouncing through your head or one word in repetition. No matter the situation, few things are truly important. I'm proud of you. I love you. Forgive me. I forgive you. Days may have their bumps but FRIENDS and FAMILY let me tell you that I am happier than ever! I can't express it in 4 statements. But I can try for 50 words.
I best be going now. Heading to downtown Boston for some FUN in the SUN. Life is so good! Here's one last story for ya, it happened yesterday.
Last night we were riding a bus home after our last appointment. We normally try to sit in separate places on public transit so that we can talk and contact. This was the case last night, and I sat next to a nice looking young lady with headphones in. She was holding a shopping back to my favorite store and so I picked up conversation starting there. I got to know about her home country, and her family, and her 2 year old son. I got to hear about her work a little and her favorite things in Boston. It was a very enjoyable conversation and I felt comfortable talking to her.
Then she said, "well, my stop is the next one". And my mind started to turn and I realized I hadn't mentioned anything about God or the gospel. "Oh well" I thought "at least we had a nice talk". Right when those thoughts were crossing my mind she looked over at me and while keeping eye contact, with the nicest smile in her eyes, she asked "can I give you this?" and handed me a little wallet-sized pamphlet. Having no idea what it was but not wanting to offend I said of course, and in return gave her a mormon.org card. She got off the bus and I saw on the front of the booklet it said something about God. I flipped through it searching for a church name, or title, or some sort of hint as to what denomination she was a part of. At the very back, in small print, it said to search for more information at and Adventist website. I read the whole pamphlet, smiling all the while. I felt so happy! I JUST GOT MISSIONARIED!!!
With that, I bid'u adiu.
LIFE IS A MISSION
Hermana Hileman
You, Hermana Milly-Marie, are a sweetheart. Thanks for writing.
ReplyDeleteLove you.