Cindy loves word games, she is a Scrabble specialist, and she is also great at acronyms, and all kinds of letter games which is why I have written my article the following way.

‘C’ words: Cindy. Courageous. Those two words belong together not only because both begin with a ‘C’ but because the word ‘courageous’ helps to define Cindy. Cindy has been courageous in her fight with cancer, a ‘c’ word but not a ‘c’ word that has been able to dominate her.

Cindy. Child. This word also helps to define Cindy, not only because of her ‘child’, Robby, but also because of Cindy’s grand-‘child,’ Nico, and yet another ‘child’ (Daniel) due in April.

Cindy. Commitment. Caring. Crafty. Chef. All of these words help define Cindy. Her ‘commitment’ to go to Seminary and enter into ministry even though it required great sacrifice to live away from her home and friends, not to mention the studies and the church she served. Her ‘caring’ not just to our ‘congregation’ (another ‘C’ word), but to those outside, to those in ‘Chrysalis’ (yep, another ‘C’ word), and her ministry to those struggling through their addictions to get ‘clean’ (another ‘C’ word). And ‘crafty’ because we all know she loves ‘crafts’ and is a skilled artist. She is also a skilled ‘chef,’ and if you’ve ever been fortunate enough to have some of her dishes then you know this is true.

Cindy. Courageous. I know, I already used this word but I’m using it again. It takes a lot of courageous to leave a place you’ve called home and to go to a foreign country, speak a foreign language (even if she is bi-lingual), live in a foreign culture. I cannot imagine how scary that is.

Cindy. Christian. This is the ‘C’ word that best defines who Cindy is. Cindy has a strong ‘connection’ to our ‘congregation’ and to the ‘church’ universal, but her strongest ‘connection’ is with ‘Christ.’ And that is a ‘connection’ she takes with her wherever she goes. Christianity is meant to be shared, and Cindy will be sharing the Gospel of Christ with her grandson, and her family, with the congregation in Spain, and with everyone she meets, because that’s what she does because that’s who she is.

Cindy. Companera. Comadre. Two Spanish words which mean: colleague; partner; friend. These words help to describe the way she has shared with me in ministry, with my family and with all of us.

Cindy. Continuing. Cindy is continuing her life, her caring, her commitment to Christ. We may not be able to ‘c’ her, but we will always ‘b’ with her, wherever she goes.

Thank you Cindy, you are forever in our hearts!

God Bless, Donn