Marixa Espinosa Birch was mother, wife, and a role model teacher. She was a Christian, who was devoted to the educational work of her church, and the school where she worked as the assistant director.

When I got to the town of Changuinola, in Bocas del Toro, Panamá, and I started inviting people to enroll in The Panamá Baptist Theological Center, Marixa was one of the very first people to enroll. To get to class, she had to overcome her feelings about crossing the river on the rickety railroad bridge. But she was eager to learn and wanted to grow in her understanding of the Word of God. So, every Saturday and Sunday evening for four years, she crossed the bridge and walked down the dirt road that led to my house. The journey became very special to her. Every new subject was a challenge for her. But, she kept saying that every day she was going to learn something new about God. Marixa was the sparkplug of the class. Everyone really liked and got along with her.

Not surprisingly, then, when we decided to create a governing board for the Theological Center, all the students voted for her to be the president.

Marixa always spoke about Servin, her husband. He was a good man, husband and father. But, he had not been to a worship service at church in 19 years. She kept inviting him to go with her, but he never responded to her invitation.

In June of 2006, I was preparing to leave Changuinola for my year's assignment among the churches of the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Marixa, and the rest of the students, and brothers and sisters of the Changuinola mission church coordinated a farewell service for me. They chose the 10th of June for the event. That night, every person I knew came to the service. As I was greeting them one by one, I looked up to see Marixa and her husband Servin walking in.

The service that night was very special: the hymns, the singing of the children's choir, the reading and preaching of the Bible. But, most special of all, Servin was smiling, and his face showed a brightness like never before. At the end of the program, he came up to me, and said, "I don't know why I took 19 years to come back to God's House." His heart was filled with warmth as he spoke. The expression on his face confirmed the way that he felt. It was easy to see that Jesus and His Word had transformed that man's heart like nothing else could. After the service, people headed home in ones and twos. Marixa and Servin said their good-byes to me with big smiles on their faces.

That was the last time I saw them alive. On the way home that night, the vehicle they were traveling in had a terrible accident. Nine people were killed in the accident, including Servin and Marixa.

The pain of losing these dear friends has been terrible. But I know that on their journey home that night, Servin and Marixa arrived at their real home, in the presence of the Lord. They traveled a dark rural road, but it took them to the brilliant light of God's eternal home. Their daughters, Silka and Dilka, are alive. Inspired by their parents, today they follow in the footsteps of Marixa and Servin, walking with Jesus in faith.