 
| Pastor's Wife Dies In Case Of Suspected Swine Flu |
Christian News: Church News Â
 (Mexico City, Mexico) The wife of an Assemblies of God Pastor in Mexico City passed away due to lung failure and other complications in a case of suspected swine flu. Nelly Hernandez, 31 years old, is survived by her husband Pastor Isidoro Hernandez and three children, 13-year-old Anna, 9-year-old Sammy, and 6-year-old Abel.  Missionary Larry Gruetzmacher recently visited with Isidoro and his family in Mexico City. "We spent a lot of time crying. We really had a sense that God was there crying along with us. Isidoro has many hard questions about the tragedy, but knows that Nelly is in heaven and wants to make sure he is with her there some day. Isidoro also hopes to continue his pastoral work in Mexico City."  Nelly first developed flu-like symptoms while recovering from a surgery performed at a local hospital. When her condition became critical, her family called an ambulance, but the ambulance broke down on the way to the hospital. A second ambulance transported her to a hospital, but the public hospital did not have adequate resources to treat her. She was then transferred to a private clinic through the intervention of a church member, but soon after she arrived was told that her illness was extremely severe and she might not survive. Close to death and attached to tubes and wires, she could only communicate with hand gestures, but reportedly told her husband, "Everything is going to be O.K.  I know where I'm going."  Isidoro has expressed his gratitude for those who have contacted him and assisted him with thousands of dollars of expenses. Larry says, "When Nelly died, Isidoro literally did not have a peso in his pocket, but some of these expenses have now been covered." Some additional expenses remain, and Isidoro is now in need of a family car since -- incredibly -- his car was stolen during Nelly's illness. Isidoro speculates that he may have inadvertantly left the keys in the car during the ordeal, but can not recall.  Isidoro's friends and family are also urging him to move his children to a new home away from the poverty-stricken San Marcos region of Mexico City, which is full of drugs, kidnappings, and almost daily violence. Isidoro is especially concerned about his oldest daughter Anna, who would now typically be expected to drop out of school to help out with the younger kids. Isidoro wants her to stay in school and finish her education.  Nelly and Isidoro worked together as pastors in the San Marcos region of Mexico City, overseeing four churches and running a non-profit group ministering to school children, single mothers and civic groups and leaders. Isidoro grew up on the streets of Mexico City, working at times for the Mexican Mafia and selling and abusing drugs. At the age of 23, he was led to Christ by Nelly's father, who took him off the streets and into his home. Isidoro then attended Bible College and has now worked as a pastor for ten years.   Nelly grew up in the same dangerous San Marcos region of Mexico City where she and her husband planted churches. "She was deeply involved in her husband's ministry, often working behind the scenes, just loving and helping people," recalls missionary Melodee Gruetzmacher.  "She had a real heart for women, especially single mothers and the challenges they face. She would often make food and go to their houses, and just sit with them and talk and pray."  The many friends and family who attended Nelly's funeral heard powerful stories about her life and love for God and for others.  A police commander in charge of one of the local precincts was deeply impacted by these stories. "This guy was as hard as nails," Larry recalls, "the kind of guy who pushes people around all the time. But he saw this incredible outpouring of love at Nelly's funeral, even in the sorrow, and said that he could not deny the reality of God's love any longer." Â
 "There is an incredible outpouring of love for Isidoro and his family, in Mexico and around the world. A close family of believers has stepped up and around Isidoro and his family, to care for them, minister to them and just love them in this dark hour. Those who have witnessed this outpouring of love -- like the police commander -- can't help but see the love and tender care of a living God at work in those who love Him, even in tragedy and sorrow."  Read More: Links  Pastor's Wife Dies In Case Of Suspected Swine Flu Swine Flu Outbreak One Step Closer to Full Pandemic ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph |
"God can bring something good even out of something terrible and tragic," Larry observes. "God didn't want Nelly to die. People were actually telling Isidoro that God must have wanted Nelly to die, but his response was, 'How can this be? How can it be God's will for a mother with three children to die?' Although God didn't want Nelly to die, the good and the bad fall on everyone, and God can bring something good out of the bad, in spite of it."