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I first met Inez Murillo Lee at Pomona Valley hospital on the weekend of March 9, 2007. We were visiting the hospital because my Mother-in-law was there, Sister Phebie Day Lozano. Inez shared a hospital room with Phebie. The first time I visited my mother in law I noticed that Inez had a lot of family with her. The following day, Tim and I visited Phebie again. When we were visiting the second day we received a call that Tim V., Joseph & Missy were on their way to visit with Phebie. When they arrived I went to the waiting room around the corner to clear some room around Phebie's bed. In the waiting room, I met Inez' family, who numbered approximately 12 that were visiting with Inez.
I felt to ask the family about Inez. Immediately they began to share with me that she suffered from cancer and the doctor that morning had told her there was nothing else that they can do for her. The family was devastated, and so was she. I asked them how she was doing and they said that she was not eating anymore and was depressed. I asked the family if we could pray for Inez.....I told them "We are going to be praying for my mother in law right now....maybe we can pull back the dividing curtain and pray for Inez as well". The family agreed.
I went into the room and asked Joseph/Tim V. to lead us in song and prayer for Inez and Phebie. It was such a beautiful prayer.....most of her relatives came into the room, we pulled the curtain, sang a few songs and prayed. The presence of the Lord was very thick, we were speaking in tongues!......Inez thanked us. Immediately after the prayer she looked so much better. Phebie says that later the same afternoon, as her relatives would come to visit, she would tell them how some really nice Christians had prayed for her and that she felt better. Inez had regained her appetite!! Praise God.
The next day I felt a big burden for her....I told Tim I would like to go back to the hospital and ask her if she would like to know more about the Lord! I went to the church office and got a hold of the Spanish Trees of Righteousness Bible studies. I asked my mom to go with me. When we got to the hospital I asked her if she would like for us to talk to her about the Lord and his plan of salvation. She agreed. My mom and I spent a few hours sharing with her.
The following day my mother in law was released from the hospital and I went to pick her up. My mom and I were able to meet with Inez again. Her first comment was: "Sandra, I thought you were going to forget about me!" I will never forget those words. I told her that I was not going to forget her and that I would always be there with her. Inez' niece was visiting from another state. I discovered that her niece is a Christian....and the niece told Inez..."Aunt I want you to know that my husband and I have been getting up early in the morning to pray for you...and we've been asking the Lord to send someone to speak to you about his plan of salvation. Inez looked over at me and said "that's you, Sandra". I could not believe what I had just heard.
The Lord works in mysterious ways. It was all in God's plan for me to meet Inez. The doctors had told Inez that she just had days to live. They finally released her because she started to eat and felt better. The Lord had a plan!!! When she went home I asked Bro. Carlos Torres and a few other members of our church to visit Inez' home. We had a small service with the family. Inez was very grateful for the service. The children of Inez were weeping and feeling God's presence.
As the days continued, my mom, dad and I continued to visit with her on a daily basis. She liked for us to be there, to pray and sing. Inez' relatives say she would anticipate our visits. After sharing of God's plan for salvation by Brother Torres, Inez decided to be baptized and give her life to the Lord!!! She was baptized in her very own bathtub!!! That was an amazing experience as well.
On the following Sunday, Pastor Sam Valverde also had the opportunity to visit Inez in her home....a group of us from the church had a small service in the driveway, where all of her Children and Grandchildren felt the presence of God.
The following Thursday, my Home Group had our weekly meeting at Inez' home. Pastor Sam Rojas gave a short message in the bedroom, as we all gathered around with the family. We sang praise songs and the family was touched. We had a prayer to end the meeting with at least 25 people (Home Group members and Inez' family) where we all held hands in a circle...God's presence could not be denied.
The day before Inez passed away....my mom, Sis. Bernardina and I were there with her. We believe that Inez received the Holy Ghost because that day she could not speak anymore, but when we were there with her something wonderful happened. She began to worship the Lord....with all of the strength in her body, which was not much, she began to worship the Lord and say "Gloria a Dios" "Alleluia" and then she began to raise her hands worshipping!!
That experience has changed my life!!! I thank God for giving me the opportunity to minister to Inez and her family...it truly changed my life. Her children honored her by allowing us to provide a Christian burial service. Many in her family members were touched. I plan to maintain contact with her children. One of her son's already visited our home group with his family. This is what's important to me now...to share the Love of the Lord with others!!! I only knew Inez for the last 3 weeks of her life, but I truly loved her. That is the Love of the Lord, that only the Lord can place in our hearts for others. All God asked of us is to simply be friendly and available to share his peace.....not to preach and scold, but to show love and share. I think of how many times we walk across a hospital room to reach the person we are trying to visit and wonder what is wrong with the person sharing the room. I'm glad I asked!!!!
God Bless,
Sandra Day
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