Hazel is with the Lord

This morning, Hazel told Marylan that she was ready to lie back in her chair and surrender to the Lord, but she was waiting for her dad to come. When he came, he held her and cried. He wanted to take her back to the hospital for a drain tube, but Ed sent a text message explaining that the problem is really the cancer which is growing rapidly. This was easy to understand because a tumor has been growing where her shoulder used to be, and it increased in size daily, so it was easy to see how the same thing was happening in the lungs.

Marylan had him call Dad on her cell phone. He was sobbing. He felt so bad for her suffering, and it came out that he thought she was suffering because of his sins. Dad explained that only Christ can suffer for our sins, and that is what He did on the cross. All of his sins were on Christ when He was on the cross. Herbert said that his sins were too many, that he had abandoned his wife and children and many other wrong things. Dad explained how Christ was thinking of him and his sins when he died on the cross, and he only needed to ask for forgiveness and it would be freely given. Dad led him in a prayer when he said he didn't really know how to pray. After that, he was calm and he went to Hazel and told her that his sins were forgiven and that he would see her in heaven! Later, before Hazel died, he also asked her mother for forgiveness, so Hazel saw the reconcilliation of her parents, something we prayed for but were not sure would happen.

Mayrlan sang to Hazel almost constantly in the last three days of her life. Around noon today, Marylan sang another song to her and then prayed, asking the Lord to take her spirit, and He did. She was surrounded by her extended family and died peacefully. Although we are sad, we rejoice to think of her in the arms of her Savior, whole in body and full of joy!

I think we may go to Gingoog tomorrow to be with the family. It depends a little bit on how long Hazel's body will be at the house (in a casket) for the traditional time of viewing and prayers. We would like to be there towards the end of that time, fand or the burial. I am sure they will have Dad speak at some point.

Please pray for Hazel's mom, Jingjing. I showed her how she could know her sins were forgiven on Monday, but I sensed she was not willing to give herself to the Lord. Pray that we will be sensitive and ready to say whatever the Lord will have us say as we are with the family.

We and Hazel's family are so grateful for your prayer support and concern since Hazel's surgery in January. God has used this little girl's life and death for His glory. It has been a true blessing for us to be her Lolo and Lola for the last 4 months.