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Baruc

When we think of Baruc, the word that comes to mind is "dedication". We are all thankful to have known Baruc personally, to work side by side with him, & to enjoy his unique character. We were all touched in some way by his dedication to the Lord, music and song, his Latino flare, his care for others and his humorous ways.

As we look back on Baruc's service to the Lord here in Romania, we were all blessed to have worked with such a dedicated brother who faithfully gave his life for God, and for the Family. He gave his all in every aspect of Family life, from his witnessing, CTP's singing, performing, provisioning and reaching out to the orphans and elderly. We always saw Baruc working very hard in the Home taking care of keeping up the house and wholeheartedly caring about all aspects of Family life. He was a sample to us all.

There is so much to be said about Baruc's life, but especially the Lord reminded me of his incredible gift of helps mixed with his faith and perseverance to overcome. When I read his life story I understood just how much of an over comer he has been even from his childhood. Although Baruc had no biological children of his own, everyone who lived with Baruc knew that he made every child in his Home his own.

Baruc not only loved children, but he loved young people in general and did all he could to be there for those he came in contact with to help them succeed. He loved our Home of young people and was always sacrificially there when we needed him and was a key element in helping our Home to succeed.

Baruc was not only an overcomer in his own life, but he would go out of his way to find out what kind of obstacles you were facing in your life even if you weren't so ready to share it. And he would gingerly offer help and share little helpful ways and suggestions of helping you get past your rock in the road.

All of us who were with Baruc in the last year and a half were aware that he was struggling with his health. I think we now fully appreciate the depth of his resolve to have continued on with his service for the Lord and care for Ruthie with very little mention of what he was going through. (From Ruthie: He had been experiencing bad headaches and dizziness since Febr 2003, which the many doctors we saw could not properly diagnose, and I, Ruthie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2003.) In January 2004, Baruc collapsed and CT scans revealed terminal brain cancer.

As we all witnessed, with only months before his health finally collapsed, he literally laid down his life for Joe, (of "Choices and Consequences") being on call, praying for him, sitting with him, physically restraining him, and crying for him, demonstrating so much love through quite an intense ordeal.

We were touched by Baruc's fight and perseverance of spirit through the last 7 months. And we were in awe to see how the Lord spared him from the typical suffering attributed to brain cancer, to see him without any expressions of pain or suffering. As visitors we felt so much love and appreciation and humble expressions emanating form Baruc. He was able to keep us all laughing with so many funny little things he did and said. Ruthie, Manolo and Maria (Manolo, 21, and Maria, 24, are 2 of my children who came from other continents to help care for Baruc and me) can keep you laughing for hours telling the stories.

What a testimony it was to all of us to see this little family working together along with the help of the whole Home to give 24-hour care to Baruc and to see them laughing, praying, crying together, and persevering in faith for Baruc's final outcome. Their relentless fight to go to the Lord and try every key at the door for Baruc's healing, without tiring, with Ruthie fighting for her own health and her children dropping their own situations to come and lay down their lives for Baruc, was quite a testimony of love that none of us will ever forget for the rest of our lives.

Through it all we see the Master's hand at work and we are thankful that in the end the victory was won as Baruc passed on with very little discomfort. There were so many victories and lessons learned through it, we look back with only thankful hearts.