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| Rebeca February 2015 |
One day I was
visiting Liz and Jacob at her mother’s house.
In the kitchen she handed me a large envelope.
“What’s
this?” I asked. "Open it," she insisted with a
large smile.
I opened the envelope and was confused at
first at what seemed like fuzzy photos.
I quickly realized that it was the ultrasound of a baby!
"If it's a girl", she told me,
“we’re going to name her Rebekah Meyerend, after you!” she chanted gleefully. On
August 9th 2002, Rebeca Gaspar Ortega was born. I was so blessed the first time
I held the precious child. However, when
Rebeca was just two years old, cancer took the life of our beloved Liz.
Jacob moved
in with his mother and older sister and they helped him raise Rebeca. Although her mom was gone, God provided her
with a loving family to surround her and her she and her daddy were very
close. I kept in touch with the family,
visiting them often. Rebe always loved
to play tag and other games in her grandma’s garden and it was quite a
challenge to keep up with the rambunctious child. Her mom and grandma made sure she was active
in church.
Shortly
before Rebeca's 11th birthday, her aunt Irma called me with news that left me
numb. Jacob had cancer and it was
spreading fast. My heart sank. Could it be possible? Was Rebeca to be left an orphan at so young
an age? I spoke to Jacob and he sounded weak and tired. When I saw him a few months later, he was stronger
and encouraged that the chemo was helping. He was determined to do all he could
to be around for Rebeca. Having drifted
away from His relationship with the Lord after Liz's death, he was again
praying and attending church on a regular basis. He was ready to go if that was the Lord's
will but very much wanted to live. We
all prayed for a miracle although the doctors didn't give much hope.
On May 30th
I got a call on my cell phone from one of Rebeca's cousins. Jacob had died earlier that evening, his
suffering was over. I hung up the phone
in shock and the tears started to flow.
I couldn't believe it, it just couldn't be. I pulled myself together and
took the midnight bus to Mexico City and arrived at about 5.a.m. Liz's sister Martha picked me up at the bus
station and took me straight to the funeral home. Jacob's family was present as well as Liz's
mom and sisters. Rebseca was asleep,
stretched out on a couch. I couldn't
bear to look at Jacob's body; I wanted to remember him as he was.
Later that morning
his earthly tent was laid to rest next Liz, the love of his life. I was asked to share a few words and spoke
from John 14. "Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father’s house are
many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you...I will come again and receive
you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also." (verses 1 to3). We miss him so terribly, but we cling to the
hope that we will all be together one day.
Rebeca commented,
“I’m going to be buried right there, between the two of them”.
“Oh sweetie,” I replied. “You’re going to grow up, get married and
have many children. Then you’ll be
buried next to your own husband.” She
wasn’t convinced. I returned home the next day with a grieving heart for my
beautiful namesake and her family.
Just
recently I took the trip again to visit her.
As usual, she wanted to play and kept me running, this time after a
soccer ball. She told her aunt she
didn’t want to grow up, but wished she could stay a little girl. I praise
God she remains in the same home with her godly grandma and auntie. Her mother’s family also continues to be
involved. I believe wholeheartedly that God has a special plan for her
life. Why He chose to make her an orphan
before her 12th birthday, only He knows.
I do know that He has not abandoned her and I look forward to seeing the
woman she will become. May God pour His
grace and favor on her life.
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| Rebeca and Rebekah, February 2015 |
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| Rebeca and Jacob 2013 |
