Friday, October 30, 2009

Sadness

 Yesterday I found out that a young friend in Venezuela had been killed.  I have known the young man since he was a child as we met his family the very first week we arrived in Venezuela over 25 years ago. My heart breaks for his family in their time of loss.

He was traveling between the cities of Barquisimeto and Valencia when robbed and was shot three times in the head. Murdered. I wish I could say this is rare , but in Venezuela it is all too common. So common that people are growing complacent. Just about everyone I know has been robbed at gun point. Everyone has a family member who has been killed violently. Its not shocking anymore. Its Venezuela.

The thing about losing someone by murder is that it fills you with  confusion. Emotionally you need to grieve your loss, but you find there is an anger within you about the  unnecessary loss of life violently taken by another. The anger interferes with your grief.

I am blessed to know that this young man grew up in the church and was spiritually prepared for eternity.

John 14: 1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

19 comments:

CKHB said...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Dawn said...

How very sad! I am so sorry that Venezuela has become such a violent place, and even sadder that people have come to take it for granted.

My DIL is from Kenya and she knows of so many who have been robbed and killed - and some have been shot by police for no "good" reason.

Christie said...

This is so sad. I'm sorry to hear about it and will be praying for his family and for y'all. How wonderful to know that he was prepared spiritually. I'm betting you had something to do with that, so I hope you are able to rejoice some in that thought. I can only begin to imagine what heaven must be like to someone from the jungle!!!!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, JungleMom. I pray that you will find peace and rest in the arms of Jesus.

Nina in Portugal said...

Oh, Rita....I'm so VERY sorry. I'll be praying for you and for this young man's family.

John said...

I also join in offering my sympathies. I thank God for your work in VZ. As one who has dear friends there as well I follow closely all that happens in that fair country. I pray that through his death others in his community may find the life Christ offers.

I believe God is raising up the church in VZ to reach parts of the world which would be very difficult for others. My dear friend D. is even now traveling the 10/40 window with a team seeking to establish a work there.

Blessings as you continue to faithfully serve.

John

Betty W said...

My deepest sympathies Rita! I´m so sorry for his parents. That must be so hard!

Anonymous said...

Rita, my deepest sympathy to you and the family who lost the young man to some murderer! So many everywhere, World Wide, with little to no regard for human life. Can it be reversed, I pray that it can but fear that it cannot as the Bible tells of these times... I pray for you in your adjusting to this loss and for the fact you know for sure that he is with the ALMIGHTY. God Bless. Don

Unknown said...

Rita, what terrible news. I am so sorry for his family, and for you and his other friends. I understand about the anger and the grief! (((hugs))) and tears.

Warren said...

This is so tragic and so common. There will be no arrest and no trial, if things go as usual. Pray for our folks living there.

Kathy said...

What a sad tragedy. We send our deepest sympathy and prayers to everyone who loved him.

Deanna said...

Is this anyone either my parents or I would know? We will be praying

Deanna said...

Is this anyone either my parents or I would know? We will be praying

firepig said...

So sorry Rita.Take care.

Unknown said...

Praying for you and all involved. Such a sad story!

Anonymous said...

That's a shame. Becoming more common here as well.

beakerkin said...

I am sorry for the loss. Our media has done a lousy job describing conditions in Hugo's pest hole.

I hear the stories every day from people fleeing the mess. Christians build orphanages and commies make sure that there are plenty of orphans.

Glenn B said...

Sorry over your loss.

B I G John said...

I am so sorry to about your friend. Wow, I know the routes between those 2 cities, as I have traveled them 100 times, and thtose routes are SAFE compared to many!.

Chavez is a tyrant, and as is very common in Lat Am, his words have no meaning, his promises are hollow, and his wallet, has been replaced by a Billions in assets for himself, family and friends. Until Chavez is gone, Venezuela will be a dangerous place. The other most sad aspect of Venezuela is that the people have grown complacent, and accept robbery and killings as part of "normality". The only things respected in Venezuela are money, possessions, and guns. If you have the first 2, you will NEED the third. If you DON'T have the first 2, you probably HAVE the third, so you can TAKE the first 2 from those that stole or earned it. It's a mess! You're right that EVERYONE has been robbed and knows someone that's been killed. I've spent only a few years there and can account for BOTH. I have a friend that's been robbed 11 times... ELEVEN! His statistics are interesting, 2x before Chavez, and 9x since. Give Chavez credit, he's creating outstanding statistics!