Brayan - A precious, loveable, ornery boy
My heart is very heavy as I write today. I am having a hard time even seeing the words on the screen due to the tears that won't seem to stop. I feel like my heart can't take much more these days. In my time here in Peru, I have witnessed 2 weddings, numerous birthdays, two church anniversaries, a baby shower (next week actually) and various holidays. All of those things bring joy, laughter, smiles and fellowship. They are all things that are good and pure. But I have also seen heartache. I have seen evil in the worst form. I have witnessed an entire community displaced because of greed and injustice. I have seen a red-light district that symbolizes the worst form of slavery. And now as of last night, I have experienced death.
Yesterday, a precious 5 year old by the name of Brayan who lives in barrio 5B/6B died. He had been playing in or near his house (we haven't gotten all of the pieces to the story yet... it's slowly coming together) when an adobe-brick wall collapsed on him. His grandpa heard the thud. But Brayan managed to get himself out and was walking around. He told his mom he needed to go to the bathroom and then he just collapsed. They hurriedly got him into a taxi and to the hospital. They were waiting to get the medicine needed for an operation, but before anything could happen, he was gone.
His mom, Leydi... His dad, Robin... and his 8 year old brother... along with everyone else in the family and community are in shock. He had just been playing and running around. And then he was gone. His family is actively involved in our church in barrio 5B/6B. His mom is a leader in the prayer group. His brother and him came to every kid's club and event we had. He loved hanging out with the gringos when they came to visit. He was always trying to find new ways to get more food at lunch. He always teased the girls he thought were cute. And then he would flash that precious, beautiful smile and all would be forgiven.
Skylar and I are having a really hard time with his death. I met him my first week here in Peru. And he was Skylar's special little shadow with the October team visiting. We both have no idea what to say to each other to bring comfort. We just cry and cry. I have no idea what Scripture to turn to for comfort. Everything seems to not make a difference. I am wrestling alot with how could an innocent 5 year old boy be taken in the blink of an eye? I am wrestling with how much I don't understand why evil has to take the life of a 5 year old who loved Jesus, loved church, loved his family. I am wrestling with the fact that he wasn't even my own son, but my heart aches for the loss of him. I am wrestling with the fact that I didn't sleep at all last night, can't stop crying, can't focus on our team training this morning. I am wrestling with the fact that I don't know how much more heartache, pain and evil my heart can take, can bear to witness.
Yesterday, a precious 5 year old by the name of Brayan who lives in barrio 5B/6B died. He had been playing in or near his house (we haven't gotten all of the pieces to the story yet... it's slowly coming together) when an adobe-brick wall collapsed on him. His grandpa heard the thud. But Brayan managed to get himself out and was walking around. He told his mom he needed to go to the bathroom and then he just collapsed. They hurriedly got him into a taxi and to the hospital. They were waiting to get the medicine needed for an operation, but before anything could happen, he was gone.
His mom, Leydi... His dad, Robin... and his 8 year old brother... along with everyone else in the family and community are in shock. He had just been playing and running around. And then he was gone. His family is actively involved in our church in barrio 5B/6B. His mom is a leader in the prayer group. His brother and him came to every kid's club and event we had. He loved hanging out with the gringos when they came to visit. He was always trying to find new ways to get more food at lunch. He always teased the girls he thought were cute. And then he would flash that precious, beautiful smile and all would be forgiven.
Skylar and I are having a really hard time with his death. I met him my first week here in Peru. And he was Skylar's special little shadow with the October team visiting. We both have no idea what to say to each other to bring comfort. We just cry and cry. I have no idea what Scripture to turn to for comfort. Everything seems to not make a difference. I am wrestling alot with how could an innocent 5 year old boy be taken in the blink of an eye? I am wrestling with how much I don't understand why evil has to take the life of a 5 year old who loved Jesus, loved church, loved his family. I am wrestling with the fact that he wasn't even my own son, but my heart aches for the loss of him. I am wrestling with the fact that I didn't sleep at all last night, can't stop crying, can't focus on our team training this morning. I am wrestling with the fact that I don't know how much more heartache, pain and evil my heart can take, can bear to witness.
Dear Brayan,
We miss you already. You're beautiful smile. The ornery look in your eye. Your laughter. We hope that you know just how much we love you. We hope that you know how we look forward to seeing you one day in the palace of our King. Give Jesus a hug for all of us. We miss and love you always.
~ your earthly family ~
Man was not created to die, but to live. While we view death as a natural human experience it is actually our enemy. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." But the day will come when death will be swallowed up in victory. We grieve in light of this tragedy, but we grieve as those who live in eternal hope.
ReplyDeletehey it is karis i love you and brayen is so cute just know that he is in a better place now. He is with the LORD just keep on praying for the family and for him i love you.
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