Thank-you so much for your regular support of our ministry financially, by praying and by words of encouragement. I’m glad to have this opportunity to share with you some of the things that the Lord has been doing in and through our lives.
On May 9th I flew from Portland to Birmingham to be with my youngest sister Cherie, who was born April 3rd 1964, who had been fighting cancer. I had asked her a couple weeks earlier how long the doctors thought she would live, but at that time she told me that they never really talked about that. Cherie had been admitted to the hospital on May 2nd, and on the 4th my parents had traveled up from Florida, and through them I learned that Cherie’s cancer was terminal. When I arrived, Cherie recognized me, and said, “Hi Steve.” but that was the extent of our communication. I was glad to be there for the end of her life, and also to be with the rest of the family at that time.
Cherie went to be with the Lord late in the evening on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. After the family and greeted one another, and cried, we gathered in a lounge at the hospital, and shared our memories of Cherie for an hour and 40 minutes. Cherie’s funeral was two days later on Friday. I stayed on in Alabama for several days to help go through some of Cherie’s things, and my brother Dana and I took my parents back to Florida. While I was there, I was able to touch base with the leaders of New Tribes Mission’s Communications Department, with whom I have been working since the fall of 2007. We communicate regularly by phone and email, but it was good to see each other face to face.
Here are a few things we shared together as a family. Dad and Mom had planned to have a friend drive them up from Florida to Birmingham a couple weeks earlier, but they didn’t have the Lord’s peace that it was the right time for them to make that visit, so they put it off. When they heard that Cherie had been admitted to the hospital for a 2nd time, they felt that it was time for them to go. When they arrived everyone expected that that Cherie would recover and live for several more years. Then shortly after they arrived a doctor told them that Cherie had 3-12 months to live. That was a shock to the family when they first heard it, but within a very short time, we realized it was more like 3-12 days. Dad and Mom are 82 and 83, and traveling is tough for them. If they had gone earlier when they first planned, they would have visited Cherie, and then returned to Florida, and perhaps not been able to make another trip to see her again those last days before she died. As it was, they were a real source of strength for the family, when they received the bad news that Cherie would be leaving us soon. When the doctors came in and gave the bad news, Cherie’s kids would burst into tears, and then Dad would say, “Let’s pray about this.” The family would pray about it, and everyone would regain their equilibrium.
We had no doubt that the Lord could heal Cherie, and we prayed that He would, but at the same time we knew that most often, He does not heal people of cancer, and also that in His sovereignty, He does not always answer our prayers as we would wish. Paul prayed 3 times that the Lord would remove his thorn in the flesh, but the Lord told him that His grace was sufficient. Along these lines, the Lord reminded my mother of Abraham’s servant who traveled to Haran to find a bride for Isaac. (Gen 24) God directed him to Rebekah, and she agreed to be Isaac’s bride that night. The next day, when Abraham’s servant wanted to start back, Rebekah’s family said, “Let her stay with us a few days, say ten; afterwards she may go.” But the servant answered, “Do not delay me. Send me away that I may go to my master.” Cherie is part of the bride of Christ, and the Lord had come to take her home. We didn’t want her to go, but the Lord was saying to us, “Do not delay me. I want to take Cherie to her First Love, the Lord Jesus.” With that in mind, we were happy to let her go.
We were also thrilled to see how the Lord provided for Cherie, with the funeral expenses etc. Cherie had worked at home for many years as a wife and mother, but in recent years had to get work outside the home to provide for her family. About a year ago, the University of Alabama Hospital opened up a new stroke unit, and she was hired as one of their secretaries. She was a tremendous blessing to all those who worked with her. Several of her co-workers mentioned that they really appreciated working on the shifts that Cherie was on, since she brought a peace and calm to the whole unit. The cancer ward was 1 floor above the stroke ward, and many of them came up to see her those last weeks. One of the benefits of working for UAB, is that all of their employees have excellent health and life insurance. Because of Cherie’s previous history with cancer, many companies would not have wanted to give her health or life insurance. As it was, her insurance through the hospital covered her hospital stay, and provided her with money to cover the funeral, with some left over to help with her children’s education.
Earlier Cherie had cared for a couple of older ladies, for one of the families in her church. When they heard that Cherie had terminal cancer, they gave her one of their burial plots. When Abraham’s servant asked God to lead him to a wife for Isaac, he said, “I will ask one of the girls for a drink and if she offers to water my camels as well, that will show me that she is the one God has chosen to be Isaac’s wife.” Out of kindness, Rebekah offered to water the servant’s camels, with know idea of the benefits that would bring into her life. In the same way, Cherie cared for these older ladies, not knowing how the Lord would use her acts of kindness to provide for her.
Cherie lived with a desire to bless those that she was around, and to help them spiritually. She understood that you have to really listen to people, understand them, and identify with them, if you want to earn the right have an impact in their lives. She had a wonderful relationship with her children, and they felt safe with her, so that they shared everything with her. Her non-judgmental attitude was an example to me, and has helped me in my relationships with my sons, and other people.
Cherie identified with many other Missionary Kids from Papua New Guinea, and did a lot of work to connect with them, and build networks so that they could connect with one another. She played a big part of arranging 3 different alumni reunions, for PNG Makes. Although Cherie struggled with cancer, and other disappointments and heartaches, she never complained. She would share with us how her cancer was going, but then would ask, “How are you doing?” When people would share their struggles with her, she would identify with them, and respond with, “I know!” People felt like she really understood them, giving them a breath of fresh air. Through her strong relationships with people, she was able to impact their lives for good.
Cherie’s five children have moved in with my brother Craig, who lives about 40 minutes from where Cherie lived. The two families always got along well together, and they both wanted to live together. Yesterday Cherie’s oldest, Cheere, wrote on Facebook, “Cheere Ramos is glad she’s home…the Lawrence’s’ home feels more like home than anywhere else EVER!” Many people are praying for the two families, and the Lord is answering your prayers.
Thanks again for your part in making our ministry possible. We couldn’t do it without you.
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