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Aunt Ida and Uncle Joe - The Daily Voice
By Dennis Edwards:
A personal account about how a faithful person was an inspiration to me and helped me grow in faith.
As a youth during the turbulent 60´s and 70´s the world seemed on the “eve of destruction” as Bob Dylan so rightly put it in his famous song “The Times Are a Changing.” With both the Russians and the US armed to the full with nuclear weapons, with war in Vietnam, discontent on the college campuses because of it, social and racial unrest at home, the world seemed on the verge of exploding either from within or from without.
I remember my second year of college being so depressed that I even ventured out to drive my car off the bridge over the Ohio River connecting Marietta, Ohio to Parkersburg, West Virginia. But somehow I couldn´t do it. I knew love existed in the world. Although I had neither communication nor open relationship with either my parents or grandparents, I knew one person loved me, my Aunt Ida.
Who was Ida? First of all, she was not really my aunt. She and Uncle Joe had been our next door neighbors when we lived in a small apartment complex owned by my grandparents in Brooklyn, N.Y. Both my older brother and myself were born there in Brooklyn and maybe my sister, too. Ida and Joe would babysit us for my parents and soon became Aunt Ida and Uncle Joe.
I am not sure where Ida was from. She grew up in an orphanage. I remember she had small feet because she had to wear the donated shoes that were too small for her so the toes of her feet were all squished together. Maybe she was Italian like Uncle Joe, but she could have been Albania because she looked a bit like Mother Teresa.
Uncle Joe had sold vegetables on the streets of Brooklyn when he was young. He was even offered to work with Al Capone´s boys, but wanted to earn an honest living. If ever I knew a Christian at that time, it was Uncle Joe. He would make a habit of stopping to help people who were having car trouble on the highway from Queens to Oakdale, Long Island.
It was in the days prior to Emergency Highway Patrol, mobile phones and the like. He had a whole group of people who would come around and visit him because of the help he had offered them. He and Ida did not have any children, so their new friends adopted them as family. Uncle Joe even let us kids sip the foam off his beer, which was really something super special to us at the time.
After my girlfriend dropped me for another guy, I fell into a deep depression during my first year at college. Nick Verrastro my roommate from college could tell you about it. Nobody loved me. The world was a mess. I was due to be drafted into the military and go to Viet Nam when my college days were finished. I lost all hope for living. My college courses taught me evolution and I swallowed it down and rejected the faith of my youth and fell into atheism and existential thinking. But in that darkest moment, I could not admit that love did not exist, because I had seen it in the life of my Uncle Joe and had felt it in the loving arms of Aunt Ida.
I remember going out to our family bungalow on Long Island. Ida and Joe had a bungalow just near ours. I loved spending time alone at the bungalow to just rest and think and be away from the humdrum of New Jersey life and school. Between my first and second year at college, I was a closed up, depressed 19 year old. With my hair to my shoulders in protest to the war and the “American Way,” I sauntered over to Ida and Joe´s place.
When I walked into their bungalow, Ida just put her arms around me and asked what the matter was. “Is something wrong, Dennis?” I could not reply. I was all bottled up and confused, depressed and hopeless. She sang a little song as she hugged me, a song she used to sing with us when we were kids: ”A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.” There we stayed. She hugging me and singing over and over “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”
I never opened my heart to Ida and told her all that was bothering me. It was not until I had my God experience some year later that I was able to open up and begin sharing my heart with others. But Ida´s hug at that time was the assurance this distraught young adult needed to know that love existed. If love existed, maybe God existed also, and maybe there was some meaning to this seemingly meaningless world.
Thank God for Aunt Ida and all the other Ida´s in the world who give love and are examples of the love of God to others. If there were more of them, what a wonderful world it would be.
Originally published September 12, 2012
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Lessons from football on leadership! - The Daily Voice
It was in my junior year at college that I was elected player coach of the TKE fraternity football team. For the TKEs inter-fraternity football was important. The TKE fraternity club was not an athletic one like the SIGs who were members of many of the sports teams on the campus. Nor like the LUKs another fraternity whose members were mostly from the famous rowing teams at Marietta College. To the TKE´s, the stigma of winning the inter-fraternity league was important at least in their eyes, for their own self esteem and dating prowess.
My first and most important decision as coach was to appoint the quarterback of the offensive team. The quarterback is the player who calls the plays and organizes the offensive. As coach, I wanted a quarterback who would listen to my advice and who was respected by the players. I needed a person who the other players would do their best for. Of course, the quarterback also needed to be able to pass the ball, run and be a general all around athlete.
Before making the decision on who would be quarterback, I was feeling the pressure from different elements of my fraternity. Some thought Levy, from Long Island should be quarterback. He was a talented athlete, very agile, fast, quick moves, a good arm and as a senior should get first pick, some thought. Then there was O´Neil, from Ohio. He was a junior and a powerful athlete. He was strong, muscular, domineering figure but also with a great throwing arm. Then there was Terry, from Pennsylvania. He was a quiet Christian, a good athlete, but not as obviously talented as Levy and O´Neil.
In the end, I chose Terry. The reason was simple. Both Levy and O´Neil had the tendency towards pride. They both had big mouths and therefore offended others. The quarterback needed to be a person who would bring unity to the team. He also needed to be a person who would work well with the coach. It was not really a difficult decision to make, but I did get flack from both of the other player´s supporters.
We had a fantastic two years while I was coach, remaining undefeated. I used Levy as halfback who often ran with the ball and O´Neil as fullback. We made plays to give both these boys a chance to use their good throwing arms. Many of the players on our team were elected Inter-fraternity League All-Stars.
Another hard decision for me was to make myself center, the first year out. The center is the player who hikes the ball back to the quarterback. It is an important position as a bad hike can jeopardize a game. The original center was not proving very reliable in the first game. I decided to take the position. It was humbling for me to promote myself, but I knew I had to do it. At the end of the year I was elected All-Star center. It seems I made the right choice.
What I learned from my experience as football coach was the showy, loud-mouthed personalities are not necessarily the best for leading a team. Even a quiet guy like Terry, yielded to his coach, could do an excellent job and promote unity and teamwork which is what a good team needs to win the game.
Originally published September 12, 2012
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Tribute to João David (Adão)
João David - (Adão)
João David was born October 16, 1947 in Vila Meã, Amarante,
Portugal. He had three brothers and two sisters. Only his younger sister is alive
today living in an Old Folks home in Gaia/ Porto. His mother died when he was fourteen.
She was fifty. His father died at 78 when a train ran over the vehicle he used when
selling his wares. He sold bread, and fruit and
vegetables.
João studied in a Catholic school with the goal to become a
priest. He was abused by the director of the Seminary while at the school at
the age of fourteen. He didn’t go on to become a priest. He was drafted into
the military after high school when the African wars of independence took place.
When he returned from the war in Mozambique, he joined the Marxist/Leninist Communist party and
was an atheist. His girlfriend worked for the secret police. João worked as an
assistant to an accountant in Porto.
Joâo was witnessed to about Jesus by two teenagers, Ana Gloria and Ze
de Campanhã. They were sixteen at the time. He was twenty-seven. It was 1974.
They took him around to a meeting in the park in Porto. He got saved and soon decided to join the local Jesus People community that had come over from America. He quit his job to dedicate himself full time to Christian studies and evangelization. His family was not happy. With
the help of the local police, they raided the Jesus People community facility. His brother had a
gun. João gave himself up and was taken to a sanatorium for the mentally sick at his family’s
request.
After one month, he was released on the doctor’s and his
family’s agreement. When he was inside the sanatorium the doctors would ask
him, “What are you in here for?” On getting out, João got together his few
belongings and headed south to Lisbon. He soon found some Jesus People distributing literature and was allowed to join the community's Christian missionary training centre.
João witnessed and distributed Christian literature in Portugal and
Spain. He married a girl he had won to the Lord in Braga. He was 27 and
she was just 18. They travelled together to Brazil where many of the Jesus People went to fulfil Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Life in
Brazil at that time was not easy for João and his new wife. They ran into
difficult times and separated. João put his heart, mind, and body into
distributing God’s word, winning souls.
João lived some 13 years in the Rio Grand Sul of Brazil,
especially in Santa Caterina. During that time, he visited
some 1,000 cities in the region. He and another friend would go on
distribution trips with tapes and videos. He would distribute in schools and
get to pray with the students. He would often travel and sleep all night long
to arrive at a city and start distributing. He really wanted to please Jesus
and lay down his life for Him.
He was every one's friend and had very few
“enemies.” A Portuguese friend said to me the other day, João was one of those
rare true brethren who really served Jesus and others. He didn’t have a
platform. He didn’t have an agenda. He didn’t have an anterior hidden motive.
He didn’t promote himself or anything he said or did. He didn't want your money. He was an example of
humility. He was always quoting that saying about, "If you think you’re humble,
you’ve just proven that you are not."
I worked with João the past 27 years. It was 27 years ago
that João adopted my family as his. My wife and I had combination of 9 children at
that time, when our youngest was born. That was just around the time that João
came to live with us. He took us on as his ministry and helped us to raise our
kids by using his gift for fund raising for our benefit and the benefit of the numerous Missionary projects we supported. He kept nothing back
from the Lord and gave all that he had. Just before he died, he gave me the 350
euros he had saved for any kind of emergency.
For the last 11 years he had received a pension. Except for the twenty euros he would keep for himself and the donations he would send to various mission projects, he gave it all. Before the time of his pension, we distributed balloons in shopping malls with DVDs and posters and children’s books. The Lord used João as the financial backbone to our home and support ministry. He believed in Acts 2:44-45, "All that believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need."
In the last years he has supported some
of his friends in Brazil who have a Christian radio program. He would faithfully send
them help every month. That was
João David, always helping others. He didn’t have a way to send the money to
Brazil. What did he do? He’d pray and ask the Lord to send him someone with a
Brazilian App that could send it for him. For the past year Junior, a Brazilian
man, was doing that for him. João would give Junior 10 euros for his trouble.
Recently Junior told me, he and his wife were really saddened by João’s death. Though
they had known him for a very short time, they said João had had a profound
effect on them.
Some years ago, a young couple came to our home asking for
João. He had gone to live in Braga for a year as he was needing a change. Normally
João would visit them once a month to give them the monthly Activated magazine. Since he hadn’t visited them recently, they
came around to our house 10 kilometres away to see if he was okay. That’s how
João affected others. He was sincerely in love with Jesus and wanted to
transmit that to everyone he met. He was not obnoxious or self-promoting. His
steady relationship with the Lord had a tranquilising effect on those around
him.
He had a weekly prayer vigil list where on certain days he
would have prayer vigil for certain people or problems we were encountering. At
seventy-five he memorised Psalm 103. I don’t know how he did it. He reviewed
his memorized Bible verses and still had many of his Psalms and chapters
remembered by heart. He was too good for us and went on gladly to his heavenly
reward.
One of the last things he said to his friend David, who was visiting
him in the hospital while I was away, “Witness to that lady there,” as he
pointed to the woman in the bed next to him. To my wife he said, “Take care of
the cat.” That’s João, always concerned about the needs of others, especially
the little people, whoever the Lord brought along his path. He would go for a
walk and come home with a testimony of how he had led someone to the Lord.
The Bible says, “Except a corn of wheat falls into the
ground and die, it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings for much fruit.”
That’s the effect that João’s death has had on me. I’m seeing that I am bolder.
I have stronger convictions to pray with others, to speak up and witness about the Lord. I
want to be a better example of the love of Jesus. I want to be more like João,
who reflected Jesus in so many ways. God bless his soul, as he receives that
crown that God has laid up for him, and all those that believe and await His
appearing.
Maria Rolanda, a friend, called me and said she had had a dream with João.
She emphasized that she doesn’t normally have a dream that she remembers. She
saw a beautiful blue throne with Jesus sitting upon it. And there was João,
sitting at Jesus’ feet.
Well done, João. Well done. You have entered into the joy of our Lord. All the time, I thought I was teaching you, but in truth, it was you, that was patiently teaching me. Until tomorrow, João, if God wills. Until tomorrow. As João would say, “Até amanhã, se Deus quiser, até amanhã.”
Thank you, Jesus, because Joõa (Adão) was a good example of how one of your followers should act. Help us to follow in his footsteps and to consider others superior to ourselves. Give us the humility that You gave to him.
If you are looking for solutions to the problems you face, João (Adão) would have liked you to know that an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is all you need. Jesus says, "Call upon me and I will answer you."
Prayer: "Dear Jesus, I cry out to You. I need solutions to my many problems. I can no longer make it on my own. Help me. Help me to obtain that personal relationship with you that I need. Enter my heart and my life and give me the direction I am needing. Amen."
Or perhaps you need a prayer of renewed commitment: "Jesus, I have been distracted by the worries of this world and the illusion of riches. I have set aside my sword, Your Word, because of it. I rededicate myself to You. Renew in me the joy of my salvation. Give me the courage I need to become one of Your close followers once again. In Your precious name, Jesus, I pray. Amen."
Joáo in December 2025.
Joáo the morning he came out of the hospital after the first emergency. They didn't find the urinary tract infection and thought he had entered into sudden dementia.
La vida del misionero João (Adão) David
João David (Adam) - Foto tomada aproximadamente en 2016
João David (Adam) nació el 16 de octubre de 1947 en Vila Meã, Amarante, Portugal. TenÃa tres hermanos y dos hermanas. Solo su hermana menor sigue viva y vive en una residencia de ancianos en Gaia/Oporto. Su madre falleció cuando él tenÃa catorce años, a los cincuenta. Su padre falleció a los 78. El vehÃculo que usaba para vender frutas, verduras y pan fue atropellado por un tren.
João estudió en una escuela católica con el objetivo de ser sacerdote. Sufrió abusos por parte del director del seminario mientras aún estudiaba, a los catorce años. Nunca llegó a ser sacerdote. Fue reclutado en el ejército después del bachillerato, durante las guerras de independencia africanas. Al regresar de la guerra en Mozambique, se unió al Partido Comunista de Marx y Lenin y se convirtió en ateo. Su novia trabajaba para la policÃa secreta. João trabajaba como asistente de un contable en Oporto.
João conoció el cristianismo gracias a dos adolescentes, Ana Gloria y Zé de Campanhã. Ellos tenÃan dieciséis años y él veintisiete. Era 1974. Lo llevaron a una reunión en el Parque Porto. Se convirtió y pronto se unió a la comunidad local del movimiento de Jesús People desde América. Dejó su trabajo para dedicarse por completo a los estudios cristianos y a la evangelización. Su familia no estaba contenta. Con la ayuda de la policÃa local, allanaron la local de la comunidad. Su hermano estaba armado con una pistola. João se entregó y fue trasladado a un centro de salud mental a petición de la familia.
Un mes después, fue dado de alta con el consentimiento de los médicos y su familia. En el centro, los médicos le preguntaron: "¿Qué haces aquÃ?". Al salir, João recogió sus pocas pertenencias y se dirigió a Lisboa.. Pronto encontró a algunos miembros del movimiento de Jesús People distribuyendo literatura cristiana y se le permitió unirse al centro de formación cristiana de la comunidad.
Joâo testificó y distribuyó literatura cristiana en Portugal y España. Se casó con una joven que habÃa traÃdo para recibir al Señor en Braga. Él tenÃa 27 años y ella solo 18. Juntos viajaron a Brasil, donde muchos miembros del movimiento de Jesús People fueron para cumplir con Marcos 16:15: «Id por todo el mundo y predicad el evangelio a toda criatura». La vida en Brasil en ese momento no era fácil para João y su esposa. Enfrentaron dificultades y se separaron. Joâo se dedicó de todo corazón a difundir la palabra de Dios y a ganar almas.
João vivió unos 13 años en el estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, principalmente en Santa Catarina. Durante ese tiempo, visitó unas 1000 ciudades de la región. Él y un amigo realizaron viajes de distribución con cintas y videos. Los distribuÃa en escuelas y oraba con los estudiantes. Muchas veces viajaba y dormÃa toda la noche para llegar a una ciudad y comenzar la distribución. Deseaba desesperadamente agradar a Jesús y dar su vida por él.
Era amigo de todos y tenÃa pocos enemigos. Un amigo portugués me dijo el otro dÃa que João era uno de esos pocos hermanos verdaderos que servÃan de verdad a Jesús y a los demás. No tenÃa plataforma. No tenÃa segundas intenciones. No tenÃa intenciones ocultas. No se autopromocionaba ni hacÃa nada de lo que decÃa o hacÃa. No querÃa tu dinero. Era un ejemplo de humildad. Siempre citaba ese dicho: «Si crees que eres humilde, acabas de demostrar que no lo eres».
Trabajé con Joâo durante los últimos 27 años. Hace 27 años, Joâo adoptó a mi familia como suya. Mi esposa y yo tenÃamos nueve hijos en ese entonces, cuando nació el menor. Fue precisamente en ese momento que João vino a vivir con nosotros. Nos acogió en su ministerio y nos ayudó a criar a nuestros hijos, usando su donativo para recaudar fondos para nuestro beneficio y por el beneficio de nuestro trabajo.. No le ocultó nada al Señor y dio todo lo que tenÃa. Poco antes de fallecer, me dio los 350 euros que tenÃa ahorrados para emergencias.
Durante los últimos 11 años, recibió una pensión. Salvo los veinte euros que guardaba para sà y las donaciones que enviaba a diversos proyectos misioneros, donaba todo. Antes de jubilarse, distribuÃamos globos en centros comerciales llenos de DVD, pósteres y libros infantiles. El Señor usó a João como la base financiera de nuestro hogar y para apoyar los diversos proyectos humanitarios y misioneros con los que estábamos comprometidos. CreÃa en Hechos 2:44-45: «Todos los creyentes estaban juntos y tenÃan todo en común. VendÃan propiedades y posesiones para dar a quien tuviera necesidad». No ocultó nada. Se lo entregó todo a Dios.
En los últimos años, apoyó a unos amigos en Brasil que tienen un programa de radio cristiano. Los ayudaba fielmente cada mes. Ese era João (Adão), siempre ayudando a los demás. No podÃa enviar dinero a Brasil. ¿Qué hizo? Oró y le pidió al Señor que le enviara a alguien con una aplicación brasileña que pudiera realizar la transferencia. Durante el último año, Junior, un brasileño, lo hizo. João le dio a Junior 10 euros por su trabajo. Recientemente, Junior me contó que él y su esposa estaban muy tristes por la muerte de Joâo. Aunque lo conocÃan desde hacÃa poco, dijeron que João les habÃa impactado profundamente.
Hace unos años, una joven pareja vino a nuestra casa preguntando por Joâo. Se habÃan mudado a Braga durante un año porque necesitaban un cambio. Normalmente, João los visitaba una vez al mes para entregarles la revista mensual «Contato». Como hacÃa tiempo que no los visitaba, vinieron a nuestra casa, a 10 kilómetros, para ver si estaba bien. Asà era como João impactaba a la gente. Amaba sinceramente a Jesús y querÃa transmitirlo a todos sus conocidos. No era arrogante ni se autopromocionaba. Su constante relación con el Señor tenÃa un efecto tranquilizador en quienes lo rodeaban.
TenÃa una lista semanal de vigilias de oración, donde, ciertos dÃas, oraba por ciertas personas o problemas que enfrentábamos. A los setenta y cinco años, memorizó el Salmo 103. No sé cómo lo logró. Repasó los versÃculos bÃblicos que habÃa memorizado y aún recordaba muchos salmos y capÃtulos de memoria. Era demasiado bueno para nosotros y partió gozoso hacia su recompensa celestial.
Una de las últimas cosas que le dijo a su amigo David, quien lo visitaba en el hospital mientras yo no estaba allÃ, fue: «Da testimonio de esa señora de allû, señalando a la mujer en la cama junto a él. A mi esposa, le dijo: «Cuida al gato». Ese era João siempre preocupado por las necesidades de los demás, especialmente de los más humildes, todos aquellos que el Señor puso en su camino. SalÃa a pasear y regresaba a casa con un testimonio de cómo habÃa guiado a alguien hacia Dios.
La Biblia dice: «Si el grano de trigo no cae en tierra y muere, queda solo; pero si muere, da mucho fruto». Ese es el efecto que la muerte de João tuvo en mÃ. Me estoy dando cuenta de que soy más valiente. Tengo convicciones más firmes de orar con otros, de hablar y testificar del Señor. Quiero ser un mejor ejemplo del amor de Jesús. Quiero ser más como João, quien reflejó a Jesús de tantas maneras. Que Dios bendiga su alma al recibir la corona que Dios tiene reservada para él y para todos los que creen y esperan su venida.
Mi amiga MarÃa Rolanda me llamó y me dijo que habÃa tenido un sueño con João. Él enfatizó que no suele recordar ningún sueño. Vio un hermoso trono azul con Jesús sentado en él. Y allà estaba João, sentado a los pies de Jesús.
Muy bien, João. Muy bien. Has entrado en el gozo de nuestro Señor. Todo el tiempo pensé que te estaba enseñando, pero en realidad, fuiste tú quien con paciencia me enseñó. Hasta mañana, João si Dios quiere. Hasta mañana. Como dirÃa João: «Hasta mañana, si Dios quiere, hasta mañana».
Un mes después, fue dado de alta con el consentimiento de los médicos y su familia. En el centro, los médicos le preguntaron: "¿Qué haces aquÃ?". Al salir, João recogió sus pocas pertenencias y se dirigió a Lisboa.. Pronto encontró a algunos miembros del movimiento de Jesús People distribuyendo literatura cristiana y se le permitió unirse al centro de formación cristiana de la comunidad.
Joâo testificó y distribuyó literatura cristiana en Portugal y España. Se casó con una joven que habÃa traÃdo para recibir al Señor en Braga. Él tenÃa 27 años y ella solo 18. Juntos viajaron a Brasil, donde muchos miembros del movimiento de Jesús People fueron para cumplir con Marcos 16:15: «Id por todo el mundo y predicad el evangelio a toda criatura». La vida en Brasil en ese momento no era fácil para João y su esposa. Enfrentaron dificultades y se separaron. Joâo se dedicó de todo corazón a difundir la palabra de Dios y a ganar almas.
João vivió unos 13 años en el estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, principalmente en Santa Catarina. Durante ese tiempo, visitó unas 1000 ciudades de la región. Él y un amigo realizaron viajes de distribución con cintas y videos. Los distribuÃa en escuelas y oraba con los estudiantes. Muchas veces viajaba y dormÃa toda la noche para llegar a una ciudad y comenzar la distribución. Deseaba desesperadamente agradar a Jesús y dar su vida por él.
Era amigo de todos y tenÃa pocos enemigos. Un amigo portugués me dijo el otro dÃa que João era uno de esos pocos hermanos verdaderos que servÃan de verdad a Jesús y a los demás. No tenÃa plataforma. No tenÃa segundas intenciones. No tenÃa intenciones ocultas. No se autopromocionaba ni hacÃa nada de lo que decÃa o hacÃa. No querÃa tu dinero. Era un ejemplo de humildad. Siempre citaba ese dicho: «Si crees que eres humilde, acabas de demostrar que no lo eres».
Trabajé con Joâo durante los últimos 27 años. Hace 27 años, Joâo adoptó a mi familia como suya. Mi esposa y yo tenÃamos nueve hijos en ese entonces, cuando nació el menor. Fue precisamente en ese momento que João vino a vivir con nosotros. Nos acogió en su ministerio y nos ayudó a criar a nuestros hijos, usando su donativo para recaudar fondos para nuestro beneficio y por el beneficio de nuestro trabajo.. No le ocultó nada al Señor y dio todo lo que tenÃa. Poco antes de fallecer, me dio los 350 euros que tenÃa ahorrados para emergencias.
Durante los últimos 11 años, recibió una pensión. Salvo los veinte euros que guardaba para sà y las donaciones que enviaba a diversos proyectos misioneros, donaba todo. Antes de jubilarse, distribuÃamos globos en centros comerciales llenos de DVD, pósteres y libros infantiles. El Señor usó a João como la base financiera de nuestro hogar y para apoyar los diversos proyectos humanitarios y misioneros con los que estábamos comprometidos. CreÃa en Hechos 2:44-45: «Todos los creyentes estaban juntos y tenÃan todo en común. VendÃan propiedades y posesiones para dar a quien tuviera necesidad». No ocultó nada. Se lo entregó todo a Dios.
En los últimos años, apoyó a unos amigos en Brasil que tienen un programa de radio cristiano. Los ayudaba fielmente cada mes. Ese era João (Adão), siempre ayudando a los demás. No podÃa enviar dinero a Brasil. ¿Qué hizo? Oró y le pidió al Señor que le enviara a alguien con una aplicación brasileña que pudiera realizar la transferencia. Durante el último año, Junior, un brasileño, lo hizo. João le dio a Junior 10 euros por su trabajo. Recientemente, Junior me contó que él y su esposa estaban muy tristes por la muerte de Joâo. Aunque lo conocÃan desde hacÃa poco, dijeron que João les habÃa impactado profundamente.
Hace unos años, una joven pareja vino a nuestra casa preguntando por Joâo. Se habÃan mudado a Braga durante un año porque necesitaban un cambio. Normalmente, João los visitaba una vez al mes para entregarles la revista mensual «Contato». Como hacÃa tiempo que no los visitaba, vinieron a nuestra casa, a 10 kilómetros, para ver si estaba bien. Asà era como João impactaba a la gente. Amaba sinceramente a Jesús y querÃa transmitirlo a todos sus conocidos. No era arrogante ni se autopromocionaba. Su constante relación con el Señor tenÃa un efecto tranquilizador en quienes lo rodeaban.
TenÃa una lista semanal de vigilias de oración, donde, ciertos dÃas, oraba por ciertas personas o problemas que enfrentábamos. A los setenta y cinco años, memorizó el Salmo 103. No sé cómo lo logró. Repasó los versÃculos bÃblicos que habÃa memorizado y aún recordaba muchos salmos y capÃtulos de memoria. Era demasiado bueno para nosotros y partió gozoso hacia su recompensa celestial.
Una de las últimas cosas que le dijo a su amigo David, quien lo visitaba en el hospital mientras yo no estaba allÃ, fue: «Da testimonio de esa señora de allû, señalando a la mujer en la cama junto a él. A mi esposa, le dijo: «Cuida al gato». Ese era João siempre preocupado por las necesidades de los demás, especialmente de los más humildes, todos aquellos que el Señor puso en su camino. SalÃa a pasear y regresaba a casa con un testimonio de cómo habÃa guiado a alguien hacia Dios.
La Biblia dice: «Si el grano de trigo no cae en tierra y muere, queda solo; pero si muere, da mucho fruto». Ese es el efecto que la muerte de João tuvo en mÃ. Me estoy dando cuenta de que soy más valiente. Tengo convicciones más firmes de orar con otros, de hablar y testificar del Señor. Quiero ser un mejor ejemplo del amor de Jesús. Quiero ser más como João, quien reflejó a Jesús de tantas maneras. Que Dios bendiga su alma al recibir la corona que Dios tiene reservada para él y para todos los que creen y esperan su venida.
Mi amiga MarÃa Rolanda me llamó y me dijo que habÃa tenido un sueño con João. Él enfatizó que no suele recordar ningún sueño. Vio un hermoso trono azul con Jesús sentado en él. Y allà estaba João, sentado a los pies de Jesús.
Muy bien, João. Muy bien. Has entrado en el gozo de nuestro Señor. Todo el tiempo pensé que te estaba enseñando, pero en realidad, fuiste tú quien con paciencia me enseñó. Hasta mañana, João si Dios quiere. Hasta mañana. Como dirÃa João: «Hasta mañana, si Dios quiere, hasta mañana».
Gracias, Jesús, porque João (Adão) fue un buen ejemplo de cómo debe ser un seguidor tuyo. Ayúdanos a seguir sus pasos y a considerar a los demás superiores a nosotros. Danos la humildad que el Señor le dio a João (Adão).
Si buscas soluciones a tus problemas, João (Adão) quiere que sepas que una relación Ãntima con Jesucristo es todo lo que necesitas. Jesús dice: «Clama a mà y te responderé».
Oración: «Querido Jesús, clamo a ti. Necesito soluciones a mis muchos problemas. Ya no puedo con tanto solo. Ayúdame. Ayúdame a lograr esa relación personal contigo que me falta. Entra en mi corazón y en mi vida y dame la dirección que necesito. Amén».
O quizás necesites una oración de renovado compromiso: «Jesús, me he dejado distraer por las preocupaciones de este mundo y la ilusión de las riquezas. Por eso he dejado de lado mi espada, tu Palabra. Me entrego de nuevo a ti. Renuévame con la alegrÃa de mi salvación. Dame la valentÃa que necesito para volver a ser uno de tus seguidores más cercanos. En tu precioso nombre, Jesús, te lo ruego.Amén.»
En diciembre de 2025
