News Item: The Passing of Hermana Rebecca Kellum
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| The Passing of Hermana Rebecca Kellum | 10 May 2004 |
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Dear Friends of Hermana Rebecca Kellum, I am writing on behalf of my younger sister, Rebecca Kellum (Vanega), who served from October 1995 – March 1997 in the Honduras San Pedro Sula Mision. I don’t know how many of you know this, but Rebecca was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in late October of 2003. She underwent chemotherapy with no success, and on March 24, 2004, at the age of 29, she took her last breath in her own home surrounded by her mother, two sisters and her loving husband, Nelson Vanega Flores, of El Salvador. I am so sorry to be sharing such sorrowful news with you. I spent the last month of Rebecca’s life with her, and she lived it valiantly, and with hope, up until the very end, when she accepted her death with grace and dignity. Her spiritual sight was very acute at that time, and she was given much comfort by those beyond the veil. She expressed to me once how sad she was that she would never be able to go back to Honduras to visit the families and friends she met and loved there. She wanted her husband to meet you. She was also regretful that she would not be able to communicate with her mission companions again in this life. I promised her I would find her mission address book and contact as many people as I could. If you have been in touch with any of the following returned missionaries and have their most current addresses, I'd sure appreciate your sending them to me, as they were Rebecca's companions: Susana Cuyan, Adita Rivas, Ana Mirna Lopez Moran, Roxana Lopez Ochoa, Susana Gallardo, Marta Lilia Aguilar, Helen Julieta Velasquez Garcia, or Gloria Cecilia. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you all dearly, and that she cherishes the time she had with the Honduran people, her fellow missionaries, church leaders and church members in that beautiful country. I know she learned so much from all of you, and that she would want me to tell you that her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ remains strong as ever. I know she would also want me to share a powerful lesson of her life: we never know how long we have on this earth, so it is important to live each moment in righteousness and love, so that the light of Christ will shine in our every word and deed. I can say with admiration that my sister lived up to this admonition. Her life was short, but it was full of loving service to others. She is greatly loved and missed, but we have hope of seeing her again, and know that she is continuing her labor of love—teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ-- in the spirit world. If you could please pass on this letter to others who knew and loved Rebecca on her mission, and to the wards or branches she served, I would so appreciate it. My Spanish is limited and I am having this letter translated into Spanish by a friend so I can send it on to others. I offer my sympathy and love to you as you face your own sorrow over the loss of this beautiful woman, my sister and yours, Rebecca. I have no doubt that she is looking forward to greeting us one day with open arms and that shining smile. Sincerely and with love, Rachel Kellum (rachyllgyne@hotmail.com) |
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