Pr. Rafael Perez

[_david]

It is with sadness that I report to our church family

about the death of Pastor Rafael Perez early this morning. Rafael has

pastored the Mountain View Spanish Church [CA] for about 14 years. <p>The family was travelling late last night from here to a reunion in Southern

California. An accident occurred around midnight near Gorman on the

grapevine. The report I have heard is that all four passengers were thrown

from the car. <p>Rafael was killed instantly. Lily, who teaches first grade at Miramonte, is

alert and expected to recover. She does have some internal injuries which

will be carefully watched. Principal Wayne Hughes has made arrangements

with Silvia Church to cover the classroom for the short term. <p>Their son Harold is in a coma, as the congregation was told at a service

at the church this afternoon, with little hope of recovery unless God intervenes.

I did speak with the pastor who has been attending the family in Southern

California, and he seemed more hopeful. <p>Harold's wife, Mirella (sp?) is pregnant. Doctors believe the baby is fine.

Mirella has some internal injuries and a broken arm. She is expected to recover. <p>* * * <p>Some personal thoughts: <p>Rafael and I have worked in the same district for more than 20 years,

first in Cutler-Orosi, then here. The Perez's came to our baby showers,

and we attended their weddings. We always thought the highest of their

family, and enjoyed the pastor-family sharing we did along the way. <p>Rafael is a great champion of Adventist education. I know he has raised

thousands and thousands of dollars to send worthy kids to school, and

many of them have not only benefited from the spiritual enrichment, but

also the opportunity to pursue professional degrees and have a higher

standard of living than they would normally expect. <p>He loved playing dominoes with the other pastors, loved beisbol [baseball],

and used to be a decent hitter (though he rooted for all the wrong teams).

He and I were close enough that we could share what was going on in our

churches without being judged (clergy have this jealousy/competition thing,

unfortunately). We would swap stories like a couple of moms proud of their

kids. He loved his church people, was stimulated and fed by them

professional and spiritually, and would marvel at their talents and

commitment. I knew just how he felt. I remember saying, "It doesn't get any

better than this, does it?" And he answered, "No, TeemMeetchell, thees is

good." I'm sorry--and happy--that, in a sense, he didn't have to leave the

flock he loved. His confidence in them is well warranted, based on what

he's told me. <p>Let's help MV Spanish any way we can in the weeks to come. For the

next six weeks they're going to have group meetings on Friday night at 7 pm

to deal with the loss. We don't know yet when Lily will be able to return to

the area, but we'll keep you posted. <p>-- Tim Mitchell (Sunnyvale SDA Church, CA.)

[Stan]

David<p>Any update on the son? My prayers and my heart goes out to the rest of the family...<p>What a terrible, terrible loss...

[Guest]

"God shall hear..." Ps.55:19<p>"Don't stop praying; but have more trust

Don't stop praying, for pray we must

Faith will banish a mount of care

Don't stop praying - God answers prayer.<p>- CM Alexander<p>David<p>I will continue to remember the son and the surviving church & family members in prayer.

[_david]

From one person i've heard this, that the doctors say he is brain dead.<p>They tell me that some members of the church were at the hospital and one of them asked Harold, that if he could hear what they were saying to try and move. And then he moved a bit his arm and foot.