By Damian Arocho III

Brother Manuel Diaz, a Tzotzil Native, heard the voice of God calling him this summer at an evangelistic meeting held by Elder Bruce Wilkinson. Manuel answered that call and was baptized as part of the New Port Richey, Florida, Seventh-day Adventist Native group. Manuel knew he had made a life-changing decision by responding to the Lord’s call but had no idea that only two months after his baptism the doctors would find in him, an incurable kidney cancer.

Having just a short time to live, he was referred to a local Hospice center. While there, Manuel made many friends among the personnel. His church friends saw that because of the great testimony and Christian joy that radiated from Manuel, there was no sadness around him.

People walked into his room to find him singing duos and trios with visiting brethren. Prayer was often heard, praising the Creator, in spite of his suffering from a dreaded disease he would not overcome. During one of the praise sessions, a hospice nurses was heard saying, "They are having a party in there!" Manuel was joyful till the day he died.

Now he is resting in peace, waiting for the trumpet sound of the Lord, when Manuel Diaz, a faithful child of God, will answer another call from the Lord and wake up from his death-sleep, and follow Jesus into his eternal home.