Mme. Geles.

Cooking for hospital patients.

Computer communication often strips messages and information of the emotions that should accompany them. When someone walks in a room their body language and face give clues to the mood of the messenger and set the tone for the message to come. The voice even in the initial greetings on a phone can pass along similar clues allowing one to slightly prepare for the message to come but the computer gives no such hints.

Yesterday we received with excitement and pleasant anticipation the conformation of our seats on a plane in late September that will carry us North for a visit to friends and family.

Guest house 2008

Hours later without a hint of what was to come we learned of the passing of a dear friend on LaGonave, Mme. Geles. Through the computer via Facebook I knew she had been hospitalized last week and I prayed for her, however I didn't not pick up on the gravity of her situation. 

Her blood sugar, too high to be recorded by the hand held monitor, almost took her life earlier in the week. If returned on Friday, putting her into a coma from which she did not awake.

Mme. Geles and Mme. Felecien shared a long history of friendship and working for the Wesleyan Guest house on LaGonave.

When we enjoyed team visits to our home, Mme. Felecien continued to cook lunch for us as she normally did and we'd add Mme. Geles to cook supper for us and the team.

I do not mourn for Mme. Geles as I know she's with her Lord but I'm filled with deep sadness for her family, the staff [both medical and mission] and mostly Mme. Felecien.

Mme. Felecien lost three of the four adult children pictured above. Merline will move to the USA as soon as her visa comes through to join her husband in New York. I know that she will greatly miss her neighbor and dear friend in the months and years to come.

I spoke with her and Miss Vero on the phone after hearing the news to assure them of our prayers. Why do I wait until tragic news occurs to connect with my friends? Lord help me to make the effort to connect with folks and encourage them regularly before being motivated by loss or grief.