Glorious Homecoming
James Lee, President
As I returned from Peru last summer, I wrote an email to our COJ Peru director, Carmen.“ Sister Carmen, I have arrived home safely. I know that you will not be reading this email, and you won’ t respond to it either. But I had to write to you one more time as I always did for the past 18 years …”
I knew that was going to be my last email to her since our beloved sister Carmen was called home in July. I was heading to the hospital to go see her during the visitation hours.“ Has Carmen’ s condition changed any since I saw her last?”“ No. Actually doctors told us that unless there is a miracle she has about one year to live. But she is very alert. She is worried about the mission team arriving from the States.”
Our taxi was racing to the hospital.“ Hola. Que? O ~ no! No! No, es imposible! No!”( Hello. What? No, that is not possible …) I knew right away what was happening.“ Pastor James, Sister Carmen was called by our Father just a few minutes ago …” Clara started to sob hysterically.
“ This is not happening … our God would not do this to us. She was waiting to see me. I was going to pray for her healing … why Lord?” So many thoughts crossed my mind. We have been through a lot together. We experienced our living God perform miracle after miracle in the lives of thousands of poor children. We visited every possible impoverished area of Peru. I have never worked with anyone who was more reliable, diligent, responsible, and hard working. Of course, she was not a perfect woman but she was a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
She joined where God was working with her total being for she was so grateful of her salvation. It was last summer when I said,“ Sister Carmen, I realized that you have never celebrated your birthday with your family since we’ ve been working together. I am so sorry about that.”“ Pastor James, what’ s so important about my birthday? I am grateful that I can spend my birthday with these poor and needy children. Besides, I got you and the whole mission team wishing me a happy birthday! My life is for our God’ s glory only!” She was more than a staff member of our organization. She was like my own sister or aunt. She had great love for me and all the mission team members, as well.
I stopped by our office after the funeral service. Her belongs were still on her desk. Great sorrow and sadness overwhelmed me once again.“ Why Lord?” Then, peace attended my soul, like a river, and I realized that God’ s timing was once again impeccable. He wanted the whole mission team to come and be present at her home coming. As the mission team gathered around her casket, we sang her favorite hymn together …“ Then sings my soul, my savior God, to thee; How great thou art! How great thou art!”
“… Sister Carmen, let me finish my email. I was always worried about you getting some rest. But I guess I don’ t have to worry about that anymore. You have done all you can for our Abba Father’ s glory. I am sure that you have received your wonderful reward when you returned Home. Rest well and be in peace forever! I love you Sister Carmen! And we will see each other soon... with thousands of poor children in His presence! James”