I can remember painting house number 5 or Al Sanchez’s casa
almost 4 plus years ago. (We have painted 65 houses in the last 5 years plus.) I
can remember recently one of my key leaders still asking a question about why
are we doing all of this ‘stuff’ like tutoring, mentor group, life skill group,
painting houses and working with the homeless. As I remember the life and
impact that Mr. Sanchez had on me personally it is exciting to share the story
of the 5 sisters or really the one – Sandra.
We had a great turnout for painting Mr. Sanchez’s casa. We
must have had close to 40 helping probably from 5 different churches. I had met
with one of his daughters who initially persuaded me that her dad did need his
house painted. I can remember listening to Al talk about his life, the passing
of his wife and his five daughters and son. He had pictures all over the walls
in his small living room and kitchen area. Little did I know that over the next
3 years I would become close friends with my special friend – Al.
I love doing neighborhood work because I can drive for 10-15
minutes maximum and be in and about my New City family. So it wasn’t too long
before I got into the habitat of visiting Mr. Sanchez. I would bring him a
donut or he would make me a breakfast burro. We had given him an
English/Spanish Bible, which it appeared that he was slowly making his way
through it cover to cover. Each time I would visit I saw his newest cartoon he
had copied from the daily newspaper and the bookmark would be moved.
It was over the next couple of years that I would become
close friends with his youngest daughter, Sandra, who was the wild child or
‘black sheep’ of the family. She had a heart for her dad and decided that she
would become his caregiver. Al had some special needs because of his diabetes,
high blood pressure, heart problems and respiratory issues. So Sandra became my
new friend who I would often see and joke with about her dad’s life. Little did
I understand that I would be the one over the next year plus that he would call
when he was in the ER.
I was fortunate to be in the middle of the sisters as they
asked for prayerful advice about their dad as he experienced some life
threatening issues. I could see that they were divided amongst themselves as to
what would be best for dad. I knew that Al wouldn’t be around for much longer.
The great news was that I had become Al’s real friend and he would whisper in
my ear about what he truly wanted. I knew that there would come a day when he
couldn’t stay in his home and needed to have special care. I was truly shocked
when he ended up in the same facility as my dad but only on the nursing floor.
Sandra became her dad’s shadow as she did everything for him
between his trips to the doctors but also to the casino to play bingo. Yes, Al
loved to play bingo. He had been a cook or culinary expert in the army and had
continued his passion through out his life. So I did love his special dishes
and especially his salsa! I knew that Sandra would be the one that would
ultimately live in the house we had painted after her dad’s passing.
Mr. Sanchez eventually ends up in a Hospice of the Valley
Home in downtown Phoenix. This is one of the nicer hospices, which truly was a
blessing for him and his larger family. I can remember the initial fight over whether
he could stay at home and receive the same level of care. I knew with my mom
that doing hospice was the best path for everyone. I knew that Al wouldn’t last
more than a couple of weeks. I was both tear filled and excited that Al could
ultimately go home to heaven and no longer experience all of the suffering and
pain of the last couple of years. I also knew that the sisters would end up in
a real battle.
Al did die while were we on vacation in San Diego. I was sad
not to be able to be there at his funeral. Yet, I knew that coming back I would
connect with at least a few of the sisters. I won’t go into the squabbles
between the sister, which I know upset their dad but instead talk about the
little kid of the family – Sandra.
It has been over the last month that I have felt led by the
Lord to poke Sandra and ask her to really get involved with New City. I’m not
sure if she really understood the family aspect of what we do with all of our
kids both little guys and older teens. She has become a very faithful volunteer
who now has a passion to help these kids not end up like her. She has shared
her story often about the struggle with drugs and poor choices. She has also
powerfully talked about learning first hand about the power of forgiveness with
the sister who took her dad’s truck without permission and sold it.
I was so jazzed to listen to her at one of our mentor group
dinner sessions talk about how hard it was to forgive her sister. Yet, as she
unfolded the power that happened for her to let go that it shocked the teens to
hear her say that her sister didn’t have any desire to acknowledge her part in
the mess. I knew first hand this sister’s devious way of using her religion as
an excuse to take the truck and attempt to get the house because it was what
God would want. I too was very upset with this older sibling.
It has taken time for Sandra to experience real healing
after her dad’s death before she has been ready to help her own neighborhood
see change and God’s grace be at the forefront. I’m so proud of Sandra who
could have chosen to let bitterness rule her life and the desire to get even
but instead she has let go with God’s help and is a beautiful person that loves
others as she has been loved by God!
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