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Gustavo, Joan and grandkids in Managua
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Gustavo in devotional with AMOS health promoters
A Poem In Memory Of Grandpy
Dr. Gustavo Parajón, our father, died of a sudden heart attack on the morning of Sunday, March 13th, 2011. While many know him as a great man, and a gentle giant, who worked tirelessly to bring hope and peace to people in Nicaragua, to inspire and mentor countless people to lives of service, and who in his lifetime established organizations to serve the poor, our family knew him simply as a loving Papi, Grandpy and Abuelito. He was always there for us when we called him and always wanted to know how the kids and we were doing and how he could be of help to us.
His faith and deep hope for world peace led him to always be up to date on current events in Nicaragua and around the world. He always sought to help us understand the world better by sending us articles he found interesting then asking us questions and teaching us what he knew.
Our children loved to run up to him into his arms, to give him hugs, and then take a ride with him wherever he was going. He always wore a guayabera, a typical Nicaraguan light cotton dress shirt with four front pockets. He always said he liked them because he could put everything he needed in them—his pocket organizer, his cell phone, his pens, and treats for children.
We would like to share with you this poem written by our daughter Cristina, which she read at his funeral service. We think it captures Gustavo´s spirit of service and generosity very well. We miss him terribly and celebrate his life. We are also grateful for the outpouring of love and solidarity in the wake of his death.
David and Laura Parajón
Managua, Nicaragua
My Grandpa´s Guayaberas
By Cristina Parajón
March 15, 2011
My Grandpa, as many know
Liked to wear guayaberas
And as many can attest
These shirts have many pockets
And my Grandpy earnestly loved
Those pockets in which he put
So many things beloved.
From his pockets, he pulled
Keys for the car,
Balloons for children,
Pens for drawing
Those pens that click colors
And a handkerchief for blowing
When we were sad and
We were crying.
But I think the main reason
That my Grandpy
Loved those pockets so
Was that in his very heart
He had pockets with overflow.
And he placed every person
In a pocket in his heart
And by his loving example
I curiously went to ask him
How was it that I
Could sew pockets in my heart?
Reading the Word,
Listening to GOD,
Trying to understand
Each person on this earth.
And that is how he taught me
To sew pockets of the heart
And many put my Grandpa
In a pocket all his own
And when he went to Heaven,
Mournful we all felt,
Because this pocket was so empty
But now I understand
That pockets of the heart
Never can be emptied
And that my Grandpy,
Who made me homefries in the morning
Who sang to me, Pio Pio
Who showed me how to have peace
And who taught me how to sew
Will never leave
The guayabera of my heart,
Ever.
Memorial donations may be sent to AMOS Health and Hope, 3088 Haberlein Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044-8232. Attn: Rev. Tim Spring, Board Secretary. Please indicate if your donation is for AMOS, CEPAD, or the First Baptist Church of Managua.