Thursday, April 26, 2007
Pastor Michel
I just got back from a funeral. Pastor Michel Andrade lost his wife to cancer late last week.
I didn't know her really. But we have known Michel from our first year here. He lost his first wife also, to cancer, I believe, after just a short time together. They had one child. With his second wife he had three more. It was very sad to see the four young ones, the oldest a preteen, with their dad by the casket. Pray for them.
Michel was quite upbeat, though. He preached for a while at the funeral. He is so poised and articulate and passionate in his preaching. But I have to wonder what sadness he'll be feeling late tonight when everyone has gone home. Pray for him, please.
The Temple Evangélique sanctuary was packed with many hundreds of people. Michel is well known and loved in the evangelical community. I gather that his wife was, too, even if our paths did not cross. I ended up in the balcony, since I came a bit late. I found myself in tears afterwards. I don't know if it was for Michel or the kids or just thinking about my own life and loved ones and our mortality.
Please also pray for Aaron Hicks. He is the second son of our friends and former UWM-ers, Scott and Lisa. Aaron lost his memory a few weeks back. He doesn't recognize family or remember his own history. Because of this amnesia, he's dropped out of school and is living with relatives. No one is sure why or what to do to help him. His folks were scheduled to return to the US from Senegal in June, so they'll soon be nearer to him, but you can imagine the nightmare this is. They'd appreciate your prayers, too.
Michel was quite upbeat, though. He preached for a while at the funeral. He is so poised and articulate and passionate in his preaching. But I have to wonder what sadness he'll be feeling late tonight when everyone has gone home. Pray for him, please.
The Temple Evangélique sanctuary was packed with many hundreds of people. Michel is well known and loved in the evangelical community. I gather that his wife was, too, even if our paths did not cross. I ended up in the balcony, since I came a bit late. I found myself in tears afterwards. I don't know if it was for Michel or the kids or just thinking about my own life and loved ones and our mortality.
Please also pray for Aaron Hicks. He is the second son of our friends and former UWM-ers, Scott and Lisa. Aaron lost his memory a few weeks back. He doesn't recognize family or remember his own history. Because of this amnesia, he's dropped out of school and is living with relatives. No one is sure why or what to do to help him. His folks were scheduled to return to the US from Senegal in June, so they'll soon be nearer to him, but you can imagine the nightmare this is. They'd appreciate your prayers, too.
