Week 12: Funeral Thoughts

This week, Jairo’s favorite aunt died. She had cancer, and was sick for a very long time before she died. She lived here in Quito, so Jairo was able to visit her several times before she passed away. In her youth she became a Christian, but in adulthood she fell away. Only through the course of her illness did she reconcile with God, and now she’s in Heaven.

It was a very painful time for the whole family because she was very loved by everyone. However, it was also a very nice time, because we got to visit with all of Jairo’s enormous family and hear their stories and laugh with them. Jairo got the chance to talk to a lot of them about God, and in spite of the sadness, there was a lot of love present.

The funeral itself was an experience for me, because it was very different. The funeral was held the morning after she died, because here in Ecuador they don’t typically embalm, so the wake started the moment she died and lasted all night until the funeral started. In the typical Ecuadorian style it did not start on time and was not terribly organized as far as the service went. Then there was a lot of waiting and more waiting before we drove to the cemetery where they lifted the casket into a crypt type of thing in the wall. They sealed it in front of us, then everyone sang a few songs and we left. It reminded me of those old mafia movies.

It was our first family crisis, for me and Jairo, and it was hard to get through. Having had a few family members die, I knew that there really was nothing I could say or do to help Jairo other than just to be at his side. I think that was the hardest part for me, seeing how he was suffering and not being able to comfort him. Looking back on it though, I think just having been there was a lot of comfort for him.

The Bible says that we do not mourn as those who have no hope because we know that death is not the end. I’m so thankful that Jairo’s aunt was a Christian, because even though everyone was sad that she’s gone and they miss her, they can rejoice, knowing that she’s in Heaven and she’s not suffering anymore. Like Jairo said in his message at the funeral, it’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you later. Our desire is that those who are still with us will also know Jesus, so that we won’t even have to face a goodbye.