Apostolic Friends Forum - a bitter sweet day..

Yesterday was a bitter sweet day...a day of many tears as we said our earthly goodby's to Sister Divina. Since she was one of my first converts Brother Alvear asked me to take care of the first part of the going away service. She had been my friend for many years...Especially during my first years of missionary work when we were so few in number. She was a true friend a friend since I was 18 years old. In 45 years of mission work there have been ups and downs, mountains and valleys through it all I KNEW she was MY friend a a faithful supporter. I have no knowledge of her ever speaking against me. I always knew in any problem she was right there holding me up...what a friend...what a loss...however what a gain for her as she has already seen Jesus! I told our people yesterday I was a little jealous as she was my convert and I told her about the way to heaven and low and behold she made it first! However in the mist of tears my heart was overwhelmed that she is among the redeemed.
It was hard being so young and single and a girl at that on a far away mission field. There were those that laughed and scorned. there were those that told my pastor to bring me back home however I grew up in his church and from a small child I had told him God called me to be a missionary. Each one that told him to bring me home he asked them would they go take my place and each time he heard no...so he let me stay...and one by one families came to Jesus. My very first converts were there yesterday and stood beside me as I tried to do my part...they too are up in years...their bodies like mine are tired...they too wept and spoke of those first years...of the songs we sang together, the prayers we prayed...Slowly the first generation is leaving us...I know it will not be long and I too will follow...however not only in front of me but behind me will follow thousands that have come to know of the truths of God's word. For 4 years I worked as a single missionary then God sent me the greatest blessing of all my life....He sent me Brother Alvear and for 40 years we have worked as Priscila e Áquila of long ago explaining the way to heaven to thousands of people...Of all of the blessings of life I have never lost the wonder of being called to the mission field...