Linda - Mi Hermana, Diana November 24, 2008
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Bubbly, seventeen-year old, Diana and I hit it off from the start. After my first day serving as a missionary nurse in Perú, the crew, some kids from Juancito and I jumped into the river to cool off. Diana and I ended up setting a volleyball back and forth as we splashed in the river. We talked, and she asked me all kinds of things, including medical advice. Diana was not an Adventist and occasionally came to the nightly meetings, so my interaction with her was limited.
However, two months later when our launch revisited Juancito and I was able to get to know Diana, I could see her interest in spiritual things had grown. She came to our meetings every night. Over the next week we became close friends, and I could see that Jesus was working on her heart. It was if we were attached at the hip. Diana would grab my arm to walk me back to the launch every night, and then we would stand with the other kids singing songs. Before too long, I would have to pull myself away and call it a night.
I grew to love her like my very own sister. I shared with her that I had a little sister named Diana, who was also seventeen. Being with my new friend made me wish I had a closer relationship with my sister growing up. On Sabbath, Pastor Marin asked all those who were interested in baptismal studies to come forward. As Diana stepped forward, in that moment I felt like jumping for joy and later gave her a big hug!
Saying good-bye to Diana was difficult. As a parting gift she gave me her headband, and I gave her my flower bandana. As we embraced and tears welled up in our eyes, I said in what little Spanish I knew, “Te quiero mucho! Que Dios te bendiga y te vera en el cielo mi amiga”! That night as I lie in my bed, I thought of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-19. Jesus has called me to join His mission. How He wants to use us to impact lives, like Diana’s, for eternity.
Spirit of Prophecy says, “He who becomes a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world…” (The Ministry of Healing, 63). Each one of us is called to share Jesus in our daily interactions with others. I thank God for letting me see Him work in Diana’s life and look forward to seeing her in heaven!
story written by Linda Ferguson