Monday, October 20, 2008

May you Rest in Peace Marco!!!

Saturday night, well, I guess, it would have been Sunday morning at about 12:30am, I received 4 phone calls in a row, from my cousins cell phone, and then a number I didn't recognize, then finally my cousin Robert's cell phone. Phone calls at that time at night are never good!! I was afraid to answer the phone, but when I saw Roberts number, I knew something was wrong, I instantly got sick to my stomach. When I answered, all I heard was someone crying, saying, Selina....Selina...He's Gone, Selina, they killed him, my brother, selina, he's gone!! I didn't recognize the voice at first, and thought it was one of my cousins telling me Robert's brother was killed, then I realized it was Rosie, and was speechless!! I could feel the pain in her heart as she explained to me what happened.

It was like I didn't believe it, I was in denial, it just couldn't be, not him! She just kept telling me to pray...pray, pray for peace, pray for peace!! She and Robert were on their way to Long Beach Memorial where they had taken Marco's body! Richard woke up as I was talking to her and kept asking, who??who?? who's brother died?? in a very concerned voice, I hung up the phone with Rosie and we began to pray! I felt numb and in shock! Then it hit me and the tears just came rolling down. We made some phone calls and text messages. The first person Richie called was Christopher and Leanne, our pastor and his wife, and I called Kristi, her response was like mine when she answered, the first thing she said was what's wrong? Is everything ok?? She had that same paniced voice that I did when I answered. Christopher called Richie back and offered to come down to the hospital. We hurried down to the hospital. On the way a million things went through my mind, mostly, what am I going to say, Lord give me the right words to say to Rosie and her family, especially her mom. I have to say, I was a little disappointed and ticked off when I saw this little tiny room that fit 4 that they placed them in to grieve. Anyway, I was not prepared to face a mother who just lost her son at such a young age. I have dealt with my grandma losing her sons, but they were adults, and their death was due to drug use, so it was different, they made the choice, in this case here was a woman who's 22 year old son's life got taken away! It was the saddest thing I have ever experienced!

I noticed Rosie's sister Becky wasn't there, so I asked where she was at. The homicide detectives had her waiting in a room at the sheriff station so they could question her because she was the key witness. I couldn't help but feel for her as she HAD to sit in a room by herself, waiting alone, grieving alone, after just witnessing her brothers death, and holding him as he lay lifeless in her arms. I was finding myself very angry at the system. At that point the story was still very unclear as to what happened, later that night Rosie and Robert went back to the scene and talked to the detectives, they found out that it was all on camera from food 4 less. There was a confrontation of some sort and Marco's friend and this friend of Marco's sister, got in a fight, and Marco tried to go to pull the guy off his friend to brake up the fight, the brother of the other guy, came up behind him and stabbed him in his back, which killed him instantly!!! Without warning, cowardly, and ruthlessly just took his life! and all in front of Marco and Rosie's younger sister Becky!! I can't Imagine what it would be like to be in that situation! As we can all Imagine, it has been especially hard for Becky to deal with all of this, and because it was a friend of hers, she is starting to feel at fault! The enemy is already working on her, telling her lies, trying to break and destroy who she is.

After the service they had for Marco last night Richie and I had a very deep conversation, about everything, and what God is doing in us, and how GOd was prepping people for this. I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband who really listens when God is nudging him and speaking to him. Some things that I have been praying for him about. I am just in AWE of God and his greatness and love for us and our hearts! Richie had to make phone calls to all his employees yesterday, telling them what happened and that Marco would not be coming back to work! Richie hired Marco a few months back, and he has been such a great employee, after work started slowing down, and having to let people go, Marco was one of the few that Richard was going to keep and develop.

I had a conversation with Rosie 2 weeks ago, and she asked what is richard telling these guys at work? Does he preach to them? I told her I didn't know, but that I didn't think he had in the last couple weeks, and then asked her why? She said, that whatever he is saying is helping Marco, he use to not have a drive as far as a career, and really didn't know where he fit in or what was fit for him. But that weekend he had told Rosie, what an awesome guy Rich was (that's what he calls him) he went on to say that he was so inspired by Richards story, that he started from nothing, and taught himself everything he needed to know to pass the test and get his license, and continues to learn on his own, and how he gives people opportunity to get ahead, he was inspired he told rosie because richard told marco he could do it too!! Anyone could do it, if you put your mind to it, and Marco finally found something he really liked and wanted to do. Rosie also told me that the crazier thing was that her brother was reading his bible again, which was HUGE! So that's where the preaching question came in. I asked Richard later that day what he had been saying or sharing with his workers, and he really didn't feel like he had said anything to impact anyone, they were just having normal conversation, and someone asked the question of how he got started, and that was pretty much it! Rosie told me to tell richard whatever he is doing, tell him not to stop! Her brother has never been like this, and it was like he was motivated and excited, and she hadn't seen that in him for a while! Back to our conversation last night, one little part that Richard shared with me was that he was feeling guilty for not sharing more of his faith with Marco, but I told him, he did, and Marco saw something in him that he wanted for his own life, sometimes we don't have to say much, or push the gospel down someone's throat, but our mere action, and love and encouragement speaks volumes to people.

I don't say this to boast about my husband, though I am very proud of him! I say this as a lesson for all of us, including me, that even though we don't think people are listening or watching, you never know who's life God is going to use you to impact in one way or another. Marco's life was impacted by Richie without Richie even knowing that he was being an impact! I am so blessed as is Richie to have known Marco. He was a serious guy, very quiet, until you got to know him, but once you did, you saw his heart and he was such a respectful gentleman, a very loving son, brother, uncle and friend! When you got him to smile, his smile would brighten anyone's day! We will Miss you Marco!!

Here is Marco with Renee, his Goddaughter, fun, Loving uncle!!


This is just Marco(in the middle) when you catch his goofy, silly side!!








Rosie and her family, I have never met such a loving, supportive , bonded family!!
Rosie's brothers, Marco and Victor, her son bobby, mom, Maria, rosie, daughter renee,
sister Becky and daughter raquel







During the service, the pastor talked about how God will use the bad for his good, and I truly believe that God is going to do that in this situation. I already see unity taking place in families that weren't united before, I see so much love being expressed, and bonds being made, I see God really working in Robert's heart! We were getting ready to leave the hospital that night, and it was just me, richie, kristi, rosie, robert, his two brothers, his sister, a friend, and his mom (which are my cousins and aunt), and as we were getting ready to leave, Robert said, hey guys lets gather around and pray together real quick! WOW...I was floored, for those of you who don't know Robert, he has been struggling with his faith and surrendering fully to the lord, he is typically not the strong one in their marriage, and does not do well with deaths since his fathers passing! In our marriage group Robert has asked...no told richie to not ever put him on the spot and ask him to pray...because he wouldn't!! So back to the story, we gathered hands in a circle, and he began to pray out loud, totally from his heart, it was just beautiful and amazing, and the only people who were saved in that circle was me, richie, rosie and kristi. I know the same feelings were going through kristi and richie's mind. The volume that it spoke to Rosie, and the love that it showed. I am so proud of him and again in AWE of Gods Goodness! Since then Robert has been showing the love of God to Rosie and her family, and to his own family. He is being an obedient loving husband that God is calling and using him to be right now, and it's amazing to watch! I usually will not blog about my walk or faith, because it often times feels like boasting about myself, and I don't like that, But I LOVE sharing what God is doing in and through people as he changes hearts and saves souls.

I LOVE transformation, I know that this tragedy is going to pull people closer to Christ,and/ or bring people to know Christ! I am so blessed that God has allowed me and RIchie to be a part of all of this, even though it is hard to deal with. It is always in these times that we grow and are stretched and I LOVE it!! I see the passion that has been put back in my husbands life, for lost people, and it has been weighing heavy on my heart as well.

I am not going to share Richie's story and processing of what God's been speaking to him, I will let him do that if he chooses to, but I do know that OUR job is to reach the lost and introduce them to Christ, and to show HIS love through our actions and words! I am so blessed to be surrounded by an awesome church family, and the way that the Love of Christ is being expressed to Rosie and her family. THANK All of you who were at the service last night, even though it was all in spanish, your mere presence showed love and support! Kristi, you have been an awesome friend to Rosie, Thank You for going to the Hospital without hesitation!! Leanne, Thank You for all your support and Love! Christopher, Thank You so much for going to the hospital the night it happened too, and to the police station to try and talk to Becky, you have such a HUGE heart and Love for people even when you don't know them!!

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