Saturday, September 29, 2007

rest in peace sing and dance in joy!

last night was my father's memorial services, and this morning we have the graveside service. it was good to hear so many good things said about my dad.

it had been 11 years ago that he got his liver transplant; and kidney failure soon after that. and so for over a decade of his life he was very different than what he was like before. it was good to remember his personality before. and it was really good to see the picture of him (the one in the previous post - in color) shown up on the screen for most of the service. he looked young, vivacious, and happy.

so dad it's good to know what a wonderful legacy you've left behind. and it's even better to know that you're not suffering from disease anymore. you're singing and dancing with joy in heaven right now.

for those who didn't know my dad, here's his obituary that ran in the local papers:
Reverend Isaias Lara, a Prosser, Washington resident for 27 years, at the age of 75 died in his home on September 19, 2007.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia Lara of Prosser and his former spouse, Consuelo Lara of Fresno, CA and eight children: David and Priscilla Lara of Fresno, CA; Daniel Lara of West Covina, CA, Deborah Moore of Whittier, CA; and Elizabeth (Lisa) Jack of Arcadia, CA; Abraham Lara of Grandview, WA; Magdalena Najera of Prosser, WA; and Elia Belmares of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. He is also survived by his only sister Neomi Hall of Downey, CA and 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Juan and Elia Lara and granddaughter; Abigail Najera.
Reverend Lara was born in Galveston, TX on October 22, 1931. He grew up as the son of Reverend Juan Lara, an evangelist, who raised the church Mission Belen in Los Angeles, CA. He married Consuelo Lara on March 1, 1957. Together they had 5 children.

After many years of prayer from his family, he accepted the Lord while at the Men’s Honor Ranch in Saugus, CA. Upon his release, after 11 months, he returned to Fresno where he preached and witnessed through the rugged streets of China Town.

After the death of his father he founded his own church, Templo Belen, in East Los Angeles. The church merged into the Santa Pentecostes Conference where he became Assistant Supervisor until 1975. He ministered in southern California and also traveled to Baja California as an evangelist.

Later in life he married Virginia Trujillo, together they had 3 children. They moved to Washington in 1980 to help build the Principe de Paz church in Grandview, WA.
He pastored a Hispanic congregation, Full Gospel Assembly, for 14 years in Prosser. He also ministered through a weekly radio program. Isaias enjoyed raising cattle on a 10 acre ranch he owned. During this time he maintained his own upholstery business. He also pastored La Nueva Jerusalem church in Caldwell, Idaho in 1996.

In addition to his diabetes, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of his liver and in 1996 he received a transplant. Today he stands with the Lord free from disease and pain.
A viewing will be held on Friday, September 28 at the Grandview Assembly of God from 3 to 7 pm; with a memorial service beginning at 7 pm. On Saturday, September 29 at 10 am there will be a graveside service at the East Prosser Cemetery.


// today i'm thankful for:
1. his leadership
2. his legacy
3. his laughter
4. his love
5. his life

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Abe and family,
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the service last night. It reminded me of being at home (without the Spanish, of course - big smile). It ended up being very emotional for me because so many of the things they were saying could have said about my dad.

I thought the music was great and all the testimonies were wonderful to hear. It made me wish I had known your father better and back when he was younger. He had quite a rich, full life. I'm sorry I didn't know him very well in his later life or had a chance to sit and talk with him to find out more about him.

I hope the service this morning at the graveside also goes so wonderfully. I would really have liked to have heard more, but I felt it was a more personal, private time for family.

I'm really glad I had the chance to attend last night. May God give you and your family peace and comfort. Thanks for having the service and all the work that went into it.