Eric’s Story

Hi everyone, and greetings to all after what we hope was a wonderful holiday season… We have been so caught up in things here that we weren’t actually able to say “hi” to many of you over Christmas, but we’re glad to finally be sending you this update.

For those of you who have been following the story of our friend, “Roberto,” who came out nearly crippled after being targeted in a random shooting here, we wanted to let you know that he is recovering and in good spirits…  We will be sending out a more detailed report on him soon.

In addition, we wanted to share with you that in the midst of all of the tragedy here, our hearts were profoundly saddened by a tragedy that struck back home — in our church — about which we will also give you details in this letter.

… Even so, and in spite of everything else going on, we felt that there was a story for you that just couldn’t wait.

And so without further introduction we will let you begin reading about something that happened recently in the life of our friend Eric.

We hope it touches your heart.

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“Would anything bad happen to me if I worship the angel of death?” he asked, sitting on his bike. His question reflected only mild curiosity.

Not knowing how to answer, Kim asked for a Bible. She turned to the ten commandments, and started reading, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” Then she looked at him steadily. “What do you think of this?” she asked.

But there was no answer from Eric. He just simply shrugged and smiled — not wanting to take any of this ‘God-talk’ too seriously. Then he pedaled away.

We let out a sigh. It was only one of many attempts to try to get Eric to listen, and to somehow help him see that in spite of everything that had gone wrong for him, God’s love for him was still real.

A few weeks later, Kim was standing at the back of the Sunday service in the church, when she heard the whisper of some of the neighborhood youth behind her.

“Last night somebody killed Eric,” they said.  The words fell on her ears…

Immediately, her mind started racing.

Unfortunately, she knew the routine for death entirely all to well… Keep voices down… Don’t scare the congregation in the middle of the meeting… Don’t get emotional. Don’t think of yourself. Think of the kids… Find out facts. Help the family…

… Find out facts.

“…But if he’s dead already how come they’ve still got him in the hospital?” she asked minutes later, standing outside the church in complete shock as she talked with the youth. She was barely able to make her mind work, but remembered having heard somebody say something about Eric being at a hospital.

“Well, technically he’s just barely hanging on…” one of them answered. “But it’s only a matter of time, you know, since the shot was to the head.”

And with that, Kim ran for Larry, and for a set of car keys.

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We found Eric on life support in the Icu unit where he had been transferred from the small town where the church is to a bigger hospital in the city of Torreon. There, we learned that the bullet which had gone through his head the night before had entered in at angle — going in through his cheek and out the back of his neck, while missing his brain and his brain stem by a width of only milimeters.

And to our relief, we found out that Eric was still on this side of things…  Just barely.  Even so, the doctors had informed the family that, miraculously, there was still a good chance that Eric would be O.k…  The only imminent danger was a sizable blood clot hovering near his brain.

… The next few days were filled with trips to the hospital, as we talked to the family, and somehow convinced nurses and guards to let a bunch of gang youth in to the middle of the intensive care unit, where they could lay hands on this young man and pray for him.

Eric’s mother and friend praying for him in the hospital

And now the sad part of the story comes.

It is here when we have to tell you that after about a week of praying, the doctors informed us that while things had looked hopeful, the blood clot that threatened to go into this young man’s brain had finally done so.  They did several studies on him, confirming what they had already feared. Then they gently told Eric’s family that it was time to pull the plug… And Eric died.

… So it was that his sixteen years of life were ended.

And we were devastated…  And confused.

We were left not knowing what to think, and angry at God — because, just  like so many others…

Eric was gone.

… But not before we had the chance to bathe him in prayer.

And not before we’d had the chance to beg God to have mercy on him.

Not before we had seen tears in his eyes, and movement, and other responses to our prayers as Eric struggled between life and death in the days that God allowed him before the blood clot took its final turn.

But where was God in all this..?

Of course we were left wondering. Did He really have mercy on Eric…? Was there any answer to our prayers? Had God heard us…?

… Or had He failed?

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A few days later, Eric’s grandmother died.

Apparently a God-fearing woman, she was already in the hospital herself when Eric passed away. And because of her own fragile state of health, the family did not have the courage to tell her about what had happened with Eric. So when she called for them all to gather at the time of her passing, they cringed at the thought of what they were going to say about the glaring absence of the one who had long been her favorite grandson.

But much to their surprise, she said nothing.

At least not at first.

And then: In some of her final words as she drifted between life and death, the family heard her declare, “Oh! And I wanted everyone to know I saw Eric! He looked good. He looked… different!! He was all dressed up! I sure am glad to know that he’s finally behaving himself, and that somebody is taking such good care of him!!”

So praise God.

And to Eric…:

We’d just like to say that we miss you, buddy.  We miss your unstoppable sense of humor…

…We miss your smile.

Even so, we are glad to know you’re finally behaving yourself…

…And that Somebody is taking such good care of you.

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This story is dedicated to the memory of Charlcie Phifer, the wife of our Senior Pastor George at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Spring, Texas, who died suddenly and unexpectedly in December of last year.  (See our message to Charlcie)