The Disease that Whispers Death

    Somehow sitting in that backyard, the reality in our community hit my heart with such great force. According to research from the La Isla foundation, in the last 10 years, 46% of male deaths in Chichigalpa were caused by CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). It is a reality that we face daily, but that night my heart fully entered into the hurt of my community.

    I was sitting in this backyard for the funeral of a 29-year old man. 29 years old. He's a year younger than me and his life is over.

    I walked over and hugged his six year old son, Kevin (pictured right). He's too young to understand what's happening here tonight. It will probably take a few months before his heart understands that his dad isn't coming back. But Jose Manuel understands. Martin may not be his father, but he's the only dad that he has ever known. Jose Manuel usually puts on such a tough face, but tonight as I stand in front of the open casket, he puts his arm around my shoulders, rests his head against my arm, and allows his eyes to fill with tears. He's hurting. And I know that he's feeling the weight of being the man of the house at 13.

    I had a beautiful moment with his widow, Iliana. She came to know the Lord through his illness. During the wake she sang a powerful worship song, affirming the Lord's sovereignty in the midst of her hurt. Her voice was brave and broken and beautiful. After she sang, I drew close. I hugged her and prayed for her and her boys. I held her in my arms while she sobbed. She is broken, but hopeful.

   I see the affects of this disease not only in the mourning of this family, but in the community that surrounds them…

   I look over to my right and Jose Manuel is surrounded by a group of boys. They are joking around like typical teenagers. They are little punks, but so full of life. They are the boys we have been discipling on Wednesday nights. They have good hearts and their entire lives in front of them. But I can't help but wonder how many of them will be in Martin's situation 15-20 years from now if nothing changes in this community.

   I sit in the funeral realizing how many families are fighting the same battle. I see Francisco and Melida in front of me. He has been fighting kidney disease for 16 years. Tonight he's too weak to stand. He sits and sings while his wife stands beside him. Behind me, Linda Melissa leans her head on her mom's shoulder and tears fall silently down her cheeks. I know she's thinking about her own dad. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to attend funeral after funeral knowing that it is also your family's inevitable fate.

   This terrible disease whispers death through our community siphoning off our men and leaving our families broken and hurting. Tonight my heart was broken for the community that I call home. Please pray for our community, for Martin's family, and for wisdom and healing over those affected by chronic kidney disease.