Don Marcelino is a longtime friend, his sons have worked for us and we’ve cared for his grandchildren in the clinic. When Don Marecelino’s son called one Friday night, saying he was having difficulty breathing, we all gathered to open the clinic doors for them. Don Marecelino is in his 70s, loves Jesus and has never wasted a moment telling you so! When Don Marecelino arrived to the clinic, I knew he was in trouble. Don Marecelino’s blood pressure was very low, and his oxygen levels were in the 60s. We started him on oxygen and started an IV. As he sat there (he couldn’t tolerate lying down), he looked me in the eye and asked, “Tell me the truth, sister. I am not afraid to die. I know that I will see my Jesus.”
We talked through all the options…transferring him to the local hospital, taking him into the city, or sending him home with the very real possibility that he would die during the night. In the end, he chose to go home. We prayed and as we knelt there in front of him, his oxygen levels started to rise. I took his blood pressure again and it was to a normal range. So, we sent him home, believing for a miracle.
Don Marcelino did not die that night. His family ended up taking him to see a specialist in the Guatemala City who sent him home to die. Here in this culture when the end is close, everyone comes to say goodbye. Don Marcelino had a line of people extending into the street to say their farewells to him and while, I was not there, I am told that he never stopped talking to each one about Jesus. I later received a video from Don Marcelino, reassuring me that he was doing fine and that God was good! Two weeks later, Don Marcelino came back to the clinic with this family, only this time to bring back the oxygen equipment and hospital bed that we had loaned them.
Since then, Don Marcelino has not ceased giving thanks to Jesus for his healing!
