In Honor of Our Son
This month, we share with you from hearts profoundly saddened by loss, and yet full of the HOPE that Christ offers us in times of deep grief. Forty-six years ago, the Lord chose to bless us with an adorable baby boy…child number three out of our precious seven children; we named him “Jesus” (pronounced Hay-soos in Spanish), and he added great joy to our family. Our son Jesus greatly supported Rosa and I in the ministry of reaching orphans and was very instrumental in seeing the ministry progress to where it is today. Giving to support missions was never far from his mind and heart, and together with his own son (Micah Rivera), Jesus accompanied us to the Santa Maria Children’s Home in Peru this past fall, again supporting the work and those that continually serve there. We are very grateful that we had the opportunity to witness the joy he brought, particularly to the staff, during that special trip.
As is customary for us each month, on February 7th of this year Rosa and I flew to Peru for what we thought was to be a regular missions trip of ministering in the orphanage and supplying for their needs, only this time we were unaware that just one day after our arrival we would receive the heartbreaking news of Jesus’ passing. On February 8th our son Jesus went to be with the Lord, having experienced congestive heart failure in the early afternoon.
Though we received this news only one day after our arrival, we were able to still purchase the needed food for the home, pay their monthly expenses, and even bless the children with a few more toys and candies we wanted them to enjoy, after which we headed to the airport and were able to catch a February 9th flight back to the States in order to reunite with our family. We know and are convinced that during seasons of grief such as this, it is the Lord’s strength and grace that carries us through each day. We say with the Psalmist in Psalm 63:8, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
We truly value and appreciate the prayers, cards, emails, flowers, texts, and phone calls that we have received from many of you. Heaven only knows just how much grace we have received because of your willingness to bend a knee and say a prayer on our behalf during this past two weeks. Thank you so very much. On behalf of the entire Rivera family, we particularly express our immeasurable gratitude to Pastor Ed Shirley of Colorado, who flew down to be with us during the memorial service; Pastor Ed, you have touched our whole family by your steadfast friendship and we found a very needed measure of strength and comfort just in your presence with us that day. THANK YOU.
The children in Peru are well. The home is receiving new children, more news of which we will share in an upcoming newsletter.
As we close this month, we want to again say how deeply we appreciate and love you all. Our desire and prayer is that each of your hearts will overflow with gratitude to God for the blessed HOPE that He alone offers; truly there is no life apart from Christ, but IN CHRIST we have great and precious promises that stand firm throughout all of time. It is because of our beautiful Savior Jesus Christ that we can rejoice in the hope of an eternal dwelling with God, where we are clothed in righteousness we didn’t earn, filled with measureless JOY we have never before known, and reunited with loved ones who died believing in His finished work on the cross.
Carried by grace,
Tony and Rosa Rivera
Homes of Refuge International
