Elmer Felipe López Ajxup

[_david]

Dear Missionary Partners,<P>On Sabbath, March 24, 2001, our student and friend, Elmer Felipe López Ajxup lost his life while enthusiastically helping with the final evangelistic meeting of the series being presented in the community of Coyol de Alajuela, in Costa Rica. Elmer was one of the first seven student Bible workers selected to participate in the new "Soul-Saving Industry" at the Adventist University of Central America. This program began in 2000 with seven students and grew to 20 workers. The faithful hard work of those young people resulted in the amazing evangelization of San Pedro de Poás where no previous Adventist work had ever had success.<P>Elmer was born on September 2, 1979, in Guatemala. This dedicated youth arrived in Costa Rica to begin ministerial studies in 1999 at the age of 19. He lived in one of the humble campus cottages together with his relatives, Angel and Graciela Ajanel, also preparing to become workers for Christ. Cheerful, kind, and thoughtful, Elmer always was ready to do every task asked of him. It was his custom to rise in the very early hours to pray and study his Bible before helping with the household chores. On the last day of his life, he was dressed and ready early in the morning. With joyfulness he went to meet a group of people in the community of Coyol with whom he had been giving Bible studies, eight of these were to be baptized that very day at the college church. Later in the morning, following the deeply moving sermon preached by Pastor John Parchment, "The Kingdom of Kindness", Elmer happily presented Bibles to each of the baptismal candidates before the congregation.<P>That same Sabbath evening, Elmer and a group of fellow students and pastors gathered again in Coyol to conclude a series of evangelistic meetings. There was a need for some item to be used in the meeting, so Elmer ran to a nearby store, ever ready to be of help. On the way, he stopped to invite one more neighbor to the meeting. Then, crossing the street he was hit by a speeding car driven by a young unlicensed person. Elmer's injuries were massive and his death was almost immediate, at 7:35 PM. Fellow student Jonás Baca held him in his arms as Elmer went to sleep in Jesus. Hugo Rivas, Iris Magaly Rivas, Celso Prado, Ana Gladys Díaz, Pastor Jorge Reid, Pastor and Mrs. Tránsito Argueta, and numerous others gathered around the dying youth praying and consoling one another. News reached some at the college by radio news broadcast, and many students, teachers, and community friends spontaneously came together for prayers and hymns at the campus church.<P>Angel and Graciela Ajanel will take Elmer's body home to Guatemala for burial following a memorial service at the college. Elmer was the eldest son of Hortencia Ajxup. He has two younger brothers, Cristian Aaron, and Moisés López Ajxup.<P>With hope in the resurrection, Mike Lynch<P>(Visit our missionary website at <A HREF="http://www.hisperfectgift.com" TARGET=_blank>His Perfect Gift</A> <BR> <A HREF="http://www.hisperfectgift.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.hisperfectgift.com</A> <BR>You will see a link to Elmer's picture and this same letter).<P><p>[:"#800080"][This message has been edited by David (edited March 27, 2001).]</font>