I’ve been privileged to share her photo with thousands of people. Many have seen it in Herald of Truth presentations, in sermons, even on the cover of the book that’s on the right hand side of this page.

Her name is unusual, at least to me. Magalys, I believe it is.

While I was in Cuba, I learned that she passed away a few months ago.

I’m saddened. Yet not really. Her life here could best be described as a nightmare. When I met her in 2008, she was an amputee. Always had a catheter bag in her lap. She lived in abject poverty. A year after having the honor of baptizing her into Christ, I learned that she didn’t own a wheelchair, that she merely borrowed one to come to church.

As she put it, at home, she dragged herself around the house.

It took another year to get the wheelchair to her. I later found out that the one we took was too big for the doors in the tiny house she lived in. She traded it for a smaller one.

In 2011, I asked her exactly what her ailment was, referring to what had taken her leg. I assumed it was diabetes. She thought I was referring to what was really wrong with her.

“I’ve got cancer,” she said, almost cheerfully. “I’ll be going home soon to be with my Father.”

And she did just that, not long ago.

Tony Fernández told me that her family has no photos of her. Ironic, isn’t it, considering how many people here have seen her picture and even have a copy. That’s one last thing I’ll get to do for her… get some pictures to her family.

We only spoke a few times. But she taught me lots. And she’s preached far better sermons with her life than I’ve ever been able to with my words.