In honor and in memory of sweet Ramona

Hello everyone;
Sometimes when you’re down you get kicked yet as well. Not a very positive way to start a blog, I know.
I cannot recall ever having felt as awful from the flu as I’ve felt since Wednesday, early afternoon. I’ve been so weak that the only thing I can do outside of lying in bed is going to the washroom. Yesterday when I managed to eat something, Isaac literally had to put the bowl under my face while lying on my side as he fed me. It’s not been pleasant. We’ll probably check for amoebic dysentery tomorrow - not a pleasant thought. I feel much better already than I did, but ‘much better’ is still not good.
And so, as  I lay in bed on Wednesday at 7:00 in the evening,  our time, 11:00 A.M. yours, all I could do was pray. The service for Ramona had just begun. Final goodbyes were being said; there would be deep, deep mourning, yet celebrating a beautiful life that lived for Jesus with abandon. Rejoicing over the fact that her pain wracked body is completely healed and liberated. Tears of sorrow and grief that only Jesus can understand, and only He can wipe away.
Throughout sweet Ramona’s three and a half year battle with cancer, I’ve prayed Romans 8:28 into the situation;  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” That’s a promise that will not go unfulfilled.
I asked to be excused from my teaching responsibilities for Wednesday, the day of the funeral (I still can’t believe there was a funeral for Ramona.), so that I could go to Sabe again to help with the feeding, this time in honor of, and in memory of Ramona. Working with orphans in Africa was her dream and passion.
Colton fully believed that God would heal her here on earth, and was shocked when we heard the news on Saturday morning. Isaac and I both wanted to fully believe as well, but having lost a very dear friend a few years ago from cancer with whom we almost fully (99.9?) believed as well…..
I asked Colton if he was disappointed with God; he said he was disappointed, but not with God. Pray that he will come through this with a strengthened faith, and for wisdom for Isaac and myself as we help him process everything.
My whole family, all 10!!! siblings and my mom were there; I was the only one missing. This added much pain. It’s been years since we were all together, as we’ve lived scattered in 3 countries for years, now with us here in Burundi, it’s 4 countries.
There’s so much more in my heart, but I’ll leave it at this, at least for now.
Thank you very much to everyone that’s prayed for us, for personal emails, and for the blog comments.
It means so much to us, and the peace in the midst of it all is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Please don’t stop praying for Earl and family.
Love and blessings, IRCF