Goodbye Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank died two weeks ago and his funeral service was last Saturday.    When I say "uncle" he wasn't my uncle by blood, if that matters, he was my uncle by faith.   Uncle Frank was an elder of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Stockton.  The church I was baptized by and was accepted as a member of all the families at Trinity.    I have many uncles and aunties and each one has been a special mentor and supporter of my life.
Uncle Frank at my ordination was the first to come out of the pew to give me a hug.  Many people thought he was my dad.  There are stories abound about this man.  His sense of humor, his loyalty to the disenfranchised, his love for his family and church and his great roses and cooking.    His story is similar to many Filipinos who came here at the age of 16 to make a better life for himself.   He has an amazing story and amazing accompalishments I hope that you will click on his story Frank Ramos Perez .

We celebrated his life at Trinity and sitting in the sanctuary I truly felt I was surround by saints.  My aunties and uncles who are now with God and also celebrated their lives at Trinity.   Without them, I would not be where I am today.  Their constant love and affirmation of my family has shaped me to be the woman I am today.  I lament that in many churches today, life is too busy and too complicated to simply say to young people or children, I care and I'll be there for you.  For churches to become the aunties and uncles of all the children of God is my wish for the church today.   So that all of us will have an "Uncle Frank" or "Auntie Angel or Auntie Mary," that will hold our hands as we journey through life.