The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be His name

I'm not sure how long this post is going to be. My mind seems so full and my fingers are desperately attempting to keep up with everything that wants to come out all at once. This weekend has brought me face to face with the stark reality of death in a way I had never experienced before. I want to share it with you not only because my need to write it out, but also because it is another experience that the Lord is using to teach me many things.
I had promised a girl at church that I would go to their young peoples Saturday night, which was meeting at Faith Academy (a Christian school) with a few other youth groups. None of the girls here were able to go, so I took a motorbike ride there, and after finally finding it I was able to spend a good evening with the young people there. My friend wasn't able to make it, but I had a good time with the others and the missionary couple from my church who were heading the event. It was weird being the only white person (besides the missionary couple) out of more than 50 young people, and probably one of the tallest!:) I played volleyball with them, and it was funny every time I went to serve they started cheering for Canada. I'm sorry if I gave the impression that Canadians are awful volley ball player! :)
Anyways, at 9:00 we all piled into vans and jeepneys, some of us going back to the church where some of them live, or at least near by. I was going to catch a jeepney ride from there. I hopped into a van and Shelly-May, a sweet 9 year old girl came and snuggled beside me. She is so adorable, chatting away in Visayon and giving me hugs every Sunday. Her and her mother are very poor and live at the church. Her Dad left them a long time ago, and she is Zanida's only child. When we got to the church everyone jumped out and the Dottie (missionary lady) rushed inside the church with a few others and shut the door. Everyone seemed distressed, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. Suddenly Shelly-May burst into tears and someone quickly took her down the street. Finally someone was able to explain to me that Zanida, Shelly-May's mom had died. I couldn't believe it, and as I stood outside in the midst of the confusion I didn't know what to do. Zanida was such a sweet little lady, and I still remember she was one of the first I met as her job was to take attendants at the door. Last Sunday I remember giving her a hug and asking her how she was doing. In her broken English she told me she wasn't feeling so good. She than hugged Shelly-May and proudly announced that this was her daughter. She wasn't a healthy looking woman, probably due to her poverty. She looked about 55 but I learned she was only 33. Still not knowing what to do I was about to go home, but for some reason I asked one of the guys standing there if I could go in. After reassuring him I would be okay, he took me inside. Dottie and a small group of people were standing around Zanida who was still laying where she had fallen and taken her last breath. Dottie and I hugged for a long time, and than stood there waiting for the police who were taking forever. Suddenly there was knocking on the door; it was Shelly-May sobbing for her mom. We let her in, and it crushed my heart as I watched her wailing and calling for her mother as she stooped over to kiss her cold body. I closed my eyes to pray but I couldn't. I was so confused- Why had He taken the only person/thing Shelly-May had left. My feelings were so mixed up, for as I looked around the little pitiful room they called home I was praising the Lord that He had taken her from literal rags to Eternal riches- to be in His presence where this is fullness of joy. But as I watched Shelly-May my heart cried out for her. I was than able to pray, bringing this little girl before the Lord.
Finally the police came and I had yet to prepare myself for another shock. Their lack of respect boggled me as I watched them treat the situation as if death was nothing. I've learned and am learning that death for the Filipino's is very much part of life, and they deal with it so differently than we do. At 10:00 I left, after knowing that Dottie was taking Shelly-May home. When I got back I broke down again as I told the girls what had happened. A number of us had a beautiful time of prayer together, and one of the girls graciously offered to take my shift that I was suppose to work Sunday morning so I could go to Church with Kinshasa (one of my roommates). It was weird going to the service as though it was like any other Sunday, and once again I had to remind myself how the Filipino's deal with death. I was relieved to hear that five of the young girls from the church had spent the night with her. But Sunday morning she was sitting in church sweetly smiling and singing the songs. I just had to stand there, shake my head and thank God for His love and protection over her. Her Grandma lives a few hours away, but Shelly-May is determined she doesn't want to leave the church. Two families are praying about taking her in- the Lord is providing! At nine years old, she still has a long, hard road ahead of her and we need to keep her in our prayers!
I've definitely been learning a lot about the realities of life in ways I would never have imagined! God has a purpose, and He knows what we need to learn and how- we just need to trust Him.
Saturday was a day I'll never forget. In the morning I was able to witness a birth, and in the evening a death-the end of life here. But for Zanida, who had experienced a second birth, this is only the beginning- she has reached her eternal home. And one day those of us who have also accepted the precious gift of eternal life will be there in that beautiful country where the Sun never sets, and where we will never again have to be apart! I can't wait!
Until then-
We also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:1-2
-Sarah