Another quiet evening in Salvador.
Marcy, Randy, Kelton, and I were eating the chicken parmigiana that Randy had made for us as our last homemade meal in their house. This is a big deal because he has not been feeling well and I know it wasn't easy for him to put this meal together today. It tasted so good, especially for this reason. Just as Kelton was finishing to go play with a friend, Jen came out of her room to join us. This is also a big deal because Jen just had a cyst removed from the back of her leg yesterday. She's still on pain meds and isn't back to herself yet, but it was nice to have her at the table with us for a while. Little Sammy was missing for this meal as the Maberys took him under their care for the afternoon. Though it was quieter without him, there was a sad void that couldn't go unnoticed.
As we finished up our meal, a knock came at the door. It was Geraldo, sweetest, gentlest old man you'll ever meet in your life. He was 30 minutes early for our prayer meeting tonight. We invited him to the table and filled a plate for him. I'm never sure how often he is able to eat. Fortunately he was able to eat this meal even with diabetes. I saw him check his blood pressure after dinner, I know he tries to be careful.
Jen retired for the night and Randy went to get ready for the prayer night. Marcy and I went to sit at the right and left side of Geraldo to listen to him as we waited for others to arrive. He spoke of his hope to travel to America one day. He says his brother is going to help him go there next year. We gave him our address and phone number in case he is ever in the neighborhood. He also told us that he wants to see us off at the airport on Friday. I hope he comes.
Geraldo isn't that fast of a speaker. You easily forget about the world around you as you have to be a captive audience to the man as he constructs his sentences. The thing about Geraldo, though, is that you never mind listening. He talks about things that make your heart happy and you find yourself just so comforted by the fact that there is someone in this world who never tires of how his life is different because of Christ, and how he is so happy now. He tells us every time..and his eyes water every time because he means it every time.
His eyes also filled with tears when he told us he is sad we have to go.
Randy came in as Geraldo was telling us more about his brother. They are a year apart and never fight. Geraldo loves his brother. Randy pointed out that he didn't think anyone else was coming to the prayer night so we could start if we wanted. The thing about the church events throughout the week here in Salvador is that sometimes not many people can come purely because it is expensive. I hope I always remember what a privilege it is to travel around a city as I please.
We spent our night in prayer and afterward I looked at Geraldo and he still had his eyes closed and head bowed. His eyes had tears in them, and his chin was all wobbly like chins do when people cry. When he brought up his head, Randy talked for a while in Portuguese. I'm pretty sure he was comforting Geraldo. He said that we don't know what will happen tomorrow, maybe we'll see each other again here or in America..but he said we are promised one thing for sure: if we follow Christ, we will spend eternity together in the presence of the Lord.
I will see Geraldo again in heaven. His eyes will be even more beautiful then as he tells me just how overwhelmingly complete his joy is.
No comments:
Post a Comment