Two days ago, my wife's grandmother, Evelyn Spencer passed away. Grandma Spencer was 92 years old and had been slowing losing strength over the last few years. She was living with Melodie's parents in their home in Nicaragua (where they continue to serve as missionaries).
Evelyn Spencer and her late husband Lewie have been heroes of mine. In fact, Mel and I so respected what they stood for, that we chose to be married on the date of their 50th Anniversary (July 11, 1987). On our wedding day, Lewie and Evelyn walked down the isle first. They had a short vow renewal ceremony, just prior to the start of our ceremony. When their Vow Renewal ended, our Wedding Ceremony began.
Our choice to do this was an expression of our decision to carry on their legacy. We were declaring that our marriage would also last a lifetime and that we wanted our lives to count f
or something, as theirs had.
They served as missionaries together in Latin America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay) for over 50 years, planting churches, establishing and teaching in Bible Schools, and serving in various leadership capacities in each of these nations.
Evelyn grew up in California. Her parents were impacted by their experiences at the Azuza Street Outpouring in the early 1900's and Evelyn found Jesus at an early age, and dreamed of living the adventure of following Christ to wherever God would take her.
Evelyn and Lewie met back in the 1930's, but were separated by distance (she lived in California and he in Texas). But they fell in love and he courted her through the mail. After a month of long distance romance, he proposed to her. She said 'yes' through the mail, and so he traveled back to California to spend a week with her and her family, and then they were married.
Evelyn was a true romantic. She found beauty in everything she saw and potential in everyone she met. Her eyes would light up at anything with a hint of possibility in it. When she did, she would communicate what she felt with the most expressive and descriptive words she could find. Her enthusiasm for life was truly contagious.
Melodie remembers so many moments shared with them while on the mission f
ield. As a little girl (6yrs old), Mel experienced the 1972 earthquake the struck Nicaragua, and specifically recalls finding refuge in her grandmother's arms during that time. (yes, Mel is the cute little girl in this picture) When Mel was in High School, in Panama, her grandparents lived just upstairs from her house. Every day after school, she would pay a visit to their apartment to talk and share a bowl of ice cream.
After Melodie and I began to date, I had the honor of meeting them and so enjoyed hearing the stories of their travels and experiences in the 1930's and '40's as missionaries. Evelyn told of playing the guitar or accordion as they held various children's outreaches out in the jungles. Lewie described harrowing tracks across the mountains of Costa Rica, on the back of a (speed the light) donkey, as they attempted to share the gospel with unreached tribes in these villages.
Now Evelyn and Lewie have both gone home to be with the Lord. And knowing Evelyn's personality, I can only imagine her expressions when she entered heaven. Probably no one has ever entered eternity with so much joy and exclamation. And Lewie, I'm sure, was there to meet her. What a reunion! And I'm sure what a moment of priceless reward!
We will miss Grandma Spencer so much. But we know we will one day see her again, and are so thankful for God's gift in allowing her to be in our lives for so long.
