Missing Francisco

Have you ever had a gift and not opened it? I can understand a gift that someone gives you and you open it, but never use it... I'm talking about a packaged wrapped, with a surprise inside? No one knows until you open it. I debated of having this image or having no image. Of course this picture isn't of a person nor would a blank image be acceptable. But, it's my project and my life lesson and I had a gift, an opportunity... missed. Several years back, my friend Steve Novak was working with our church by going out into the community, finding needs and asking people, "how are things with you and the Lord?" Bold thing to do, but that's Steve. Upon arriving at a home where a younger man was working under the hood of his vehicle, Steve, for the first time would meet Francisco. As the conversation led from one thing to the next, Steve asked Francisco, "If the Lord was to return right now, do you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you would go be with Him in heaven?" Upon hearing this, Francisco said, "If that happened now, I would be doomed." Francisco, came to our church and had dinner with a bunch of us. He looked a bit rough in his sleeveless shirt and his large muscles and a tattoo band around his biceps, but he was there. As we shared later that evening, Francisco has questions... He looked at the Bible, asked challenging questions and after several days, committed his life to Christ in the waters of Baptism. I remember, I was there. Francisco, would stop by the building to find peace and quite and a place to pray. He had a girlfriend and they had a child that he loved with all his heart. Though he knew he should get married, his girlfriend wasn't to keen on the idea. She thought things were just fine as there were... she had not embraced the faith that he had days before. No matter what, he was set to change his life and raise up his kid in the Lord. He would come in his sleeveless shirts but his little kids dressed in the best clothes available. Opportunities came soon that would give him the change to be manager for a local food chain. But, like King David and King Solomon, He had a weakness. Women. He came to me and shared what he had done. I gave him straight forward advice, told him to repent and follow his commitments. It was February of 2007. Sharing a bit more, I told him I loved him and that he had a wonderful story and there I asked him if I might take his picture for a project I was working on. He was thrilled. We kept missing shoot times and then things took a turn for the worse. He had been falsely accused of something that could bring jail time. The evidence was weak at best, but what came out was that he was not a legal resident. His parents had moved here from Mexico when he was a boy and he never gained citizenship. When the law began making threats to send him to jail for several years and then deport him back to Mexico. Scared, and who wouldn't be, one day he just fled. If he was to be deported anyhow, no need to spend time in jail first. I never got to take his picture. Last I heard he was making $2 US a day. I don't know if I will ever see him this side of heaven. I don't know. He was a wonderful story of God living in him... even in all this mess. He told me once... "All I want is to be an 'Ultimate Fighting Champion.'" In Christ, he is an Ultimate Fighting Champ. Wherever you are Francisco, you have family here always. I will always be your brother. I wish I could take this all away. However, remember that when you are weak, He can make you strong. Do me a favor, take that picture and listen to someone's story. peace. johno~

Mr. Browne

Singing has never been one of my strong points. A gift of Gods given to more worthy people... like Marlon Brown. Marlon married into a family that I have known since my early years here in Wenatchee. I love that, from the very beginning, we could talk straight forward to each other in way most would not. Age, background, spiritual, political, race... none of them off the chart. But the place he truly shines is in song. When Marlon lead our church community into worship it seems to impact many who are in attendance. The sign of a good leader. He's not to overpowering, and not to soft. He has a way of leading that makes you think you're a better singer than you really are. Because, it's not performance, it's "Joyful noise." Next year he will be a father. Right now his youthfulness is talking a lot of smack... that's ok, I did it too. I know he will be a good and loving father, because he is a good and loving husband. As with many others in my "52" list, he's not perfect, just forgiven. A man who trust in the Lord, is a strong man. peace. johno~

Steve N

Steve Novak, my personal friend and local drug dealer... don't worry, it's legal. I first met Steve shortly after moving to Wenatchee. I'll never forget our first golf game. I love golf, but I'm not that good. I think I'm good, but my great friend Steve always reminds me that I am not. It doesn't matter though. The fact is: it's better to play bad golf than to do yard work. I digress... Steve and I have been through a lot together. Most of it is personal and not really the story I feel needs to be shared here. What does need to be shared is the example of the power and faithfulness of God working in peoples lives. Like Steve. From the impossible odds of adopting a wonderful little girl and then being able to adopt her brother, is a story of Steve letting go and letting God. Against all odds in later years of almost losing them, Steve's faithfulness to "STAND" in the midst of muck and mud, at the end trusting God, kept all his children close and also gave him an opportunity to be a real father to even more children without a father. His heart is pure, wise and seeks God in the most unlikely of places. His sarcasm is a gift, which sometimes does more damage than good... Especially when we are together. (We ask for your prayers not your criticism) But his humor can lift you out of many difficult times. He has the ability to help you focus on what really matters and an authentic gift for teaching. We have been through a lot together... I'm sure we will go through a lot more. One thing for sure, I'm proud of his stubborn clinging to the Cross of Christ. Steve, has a wonderful story about finding God. As Steve would say, "I never was a bad person. I always treated others well. I never killed anyone. I wasn't an alcoholic... etc, etc. I never saw the need for God. I was a good person." Why would I believe in God?" Then he watched the movie "Contact" in which there is a conversation between two of the main characters, Palmer Joss, a Pastor/friend and Ellie, a scientist who has a hard time believing that anyone could "prove" the existence of God. In the scene, Ellie challenges Palmer to prove the existence of God. Palmer Joss: Did you love your father? Ellie Arroway: What? Palmer Joss: Your dad. Did you love him? Ellie Arroway: Yes, very much. Palmer Joss: Prove it. Amazingly those few lines challenged Steve in his faith of God. How do you "prove" love? There is where it began. His faith journey is not ended... yet. I am honored to have been able to stand by him and be called his friend. I'm still no good at golf, but Steve takes me right where I am... and taught me. peace. johno~

Vance E

It's amazing how you meet someone early in life and somehow later in life, there you find them again. That's my friendship with Vance. A strong and faithful man, whose legacy will live forever in the lives of his children and his children's children and their children... Need I go on about the children. He is living proof that faithfulness produces a wonderful and abundant crop. I remember when Dawnette and I first got married, we made a trip from Portland to Wenatchee. We decided at the last minute to change our plans and visit MY friends in Wenatchee. (I lived in Wenatchee for a year and a half before moving back to Portland where I met and married Dawnette) After evening worship time, Vance invited us to have pizza at a local pizza place. I remember him asking where we were staying and I had said, "no where yet... we're just going to get a hotel room" Something that people say a lot to newlyweds. Anyway, Vance insisted we stay in a trailer home he had. Remembering that he had once owned a trailer park, I thought, "great! cheap!, free place to stay!" We followed him to his house and as he stepped out of his car, he pointed out our sleeping accomodations and that the toilet was outside in the garage. I won't share what I thought at that moment... I will only say, now, 15 years later, I can laugh at it. The next day we were off to finish our "honeymoon" as we had originally planned. Long, long, long story short... our car broke down, the hotel lost our reservations, we had no more money because we had to have our car fixed which took TWO DAYS! Yet to our rescue, Vance came to pick us up. I was hoping we wouldn't have to stay in the camper again... We didn't. He had found a home for us to stay in while our car was being repaired. He is a servent. His life reflects the Joy of the Lord. He embraces children, provides for those who cannot, yet, he is humble and serves without reserve. Next year, he will be 90 years old. What a life story. peace. johno~

Steve Estes

Long ago when Dawnette and I were first married, we met a wonderful family with 3 small children... The Estes family. We attended the same church and a small community group, which I had the opportunity to lead on occasion. It was during those small groups I discovered, "When I have children... I want to be a father like Steve." An amazing story of a father, caring for his kids. As Steve told the story on Sunday afternoon, (actually it might of been his wife, Steve doesn't boast much about himself), he was hiking with his three children when one of them fell and was injured. The tears came like a flood, and the screams began to echo from the other two children. Both children uninjured, but overwhelmed with terror at the sight of a sibling no longer laughing and having fun on their hiking expedition. Many fathers, might have found themselves frustrated with the other two kids crying for no reason as they carry their one hurt child back to safety. However, Steve didn't carry just the injured child... He carried ALL THREE out of "danger" and to the safety of their home. I think it was 5 miles... (maybe not but at least that's what makes a good hero story) anyhow, even if it wasn't, I know he could... look at the picture, he's built. Yet, the greatest thing about Steve is not his physical strength, it's his Godly strength and gentle nature. He's the type of man who could welcome the smallest child and hold back the fiercest enemy. He is a wonderful husband, a wonderful father. It's good to have him on my team. peace. johno~

Dave, Soccer Coach and Dad

I'm a lot of things... but, I'm not a soccer coach. I know the kids are there to have fun... Sometimes the parents forget that. It's not that I wouldn't want to be a coach... It's dealing with parents. That takes something special and I know I don't have it. But Dave does. I first met Dave last year during soccer. He was Miriam's soccer coach and all I can say is, I'm very glad to have him as her coach for year two. Dave has a wonderful concern for the kids to have fun, but also to learn how to compete and compete with good sportsmanship. This year will prove a bit more difficult, I think, for Dave as the girls start, "bumping" a bit more. I could tell Dave was having a difficult time trying to explain... "More bumping." He's a big guy. He has what I call, man arms. My arms are small, my wrists are like a twelve year old girl. (I never understood why my forearms never developed... I keep thinking they will, but hey, I'm 37 years old, I might want to get real) I digress. Anyhow, he's a big guy. This last week he asked me to help demonstrate the "bump." I thought, "no problem, I can take on these little girls." He wanted to demonstrate the "bump" with ME! Anyone familiar with soccer knows the bumping. No fist, no elbows, but you can force your body in position for the ball and BUMP the other player. I lost. I didn't stand a chance. I should have known I was in trouble when he told me to help and then said, "You might want to put your camera down." He must have known I had come to take his picture. Well... so it goes and it's one more good reason why I don't coach soccer. But Dave does. Out of all the things he could be doing, he coaches little girls. He plugs into his community and gives something that will shape the future of these little ladies. People like that amaze me. Someone who gives and doesn't expect anything in return. As I got to know Dave, I discovered his view on family and I learned about his strong faith in Christ. I also learned he had been injured in a work related accident in which his left eye had been pierced. He's blind in one eye. I can't imagine this. I would never want too. But Dave has taught me a new "view" on life. One that doesn't take for granted anything... especially an opportunity to volunteer... as a coach. Maybe someday soon. peace. johno~