we will have a memorial service for her on Dec. 16 at 10 AM.
On the first Sunday of December when I went to church, I got a prayer request, saying, “Please pray for the family of Sandra Uriarte who passed away last night.” I was sorry to hear that news. I visited her at the St. Joseph Medical Center when she had a surgery and went to see her at the Lincoln Square when she had recovery and rehab work. She told that she was the first Philippino UMW chair at the Central UMC. She was so proud of her ministry at Central and wanted to share all the stories with me.
I promised to hear more about her ministry and came home. Then I had a car accident and surgery followed by hospitalization. When I came home, I stayed home and thought about Sandra. After my surgery, I felt that I knew what she had to go through. I wanted to say that Sandra was brave, faithful, and courages. I wanted to tell her that I would pray for her with my heart. The day I was about to call her, I got this prayer request.
It was too late! Then, I thought about the meaning of my life. I could have been killed on the road through car accident, but God spared me! I am still alive and praying for the Uriarte family!
I realized that I owed my life to God and to God’s people. I want to give my life to God, doing my ministry without thinking about my own benefit. Now I am not mine, but God’s. God wants me to live out God’s will for God’s people. I willl share my life with God’s people in any way possible.