Chapter 3 SURVIVORS

CHAPTER 03 Rose was tired of walking from one place to the other, she was nervous and felt selfish, the sun had stopped and she felt in her heart an immense sadness that at a time like that her husband did not answer the calls or return the message, it was maddening, she felt he was with his mistress, probably offering her the protection he was supposed to offer her and her daughters. The children didn't stop for a second, that moved everyone, Rose sat on the sofa calling them closer, waiting for her friend Vanusa to arrive at her house, she felt insecure with everything that was happening, feeling afraid for her and her daughters , because of all the events she had experienced, none of the unknowns were as impactful as what she was experiencing now and in the city Vanusa was Rose's only family. Sitting on the couch, she wasn't paying attention to the news but was talking in her mind with God saying: "Father, Joshua prayed and the sun stopped, the sun didn't go away, it stayed still until Joshua won (Js10-13), not rushing to for almost a whole day, maybe that's what's happening now, maybe somewhere a warrior in the name of Christ battles for the honor of God and the sun is standing still, but Father what do I do at this moment? I confess that I trust in you, the Lord is my rock and fortress, but I am scared, please direct me, remove all the carnality that impeded my spiritual vision in the name of Jesus, help me, even to rest in you, I need you, of his infinite mercy". Rose's prayer was interrupted by the arrival of Vanusa who arrived confused with big stuffed bags, she ran and hugged her friend and the children at the same time, her heart was heavy and she tried to contain her tears so as not to scare the children, wiping quick some tears that escaped without his permission. -Don't cry Aunt Vanusa- said one of the twins- everything will be fine, now we have more time to play. Vanusa ran her hand caressing the girl's hair and then wiping her tears, she didn't feel lost, she had nothing to think about or what to do, that was too confusing for her. Rose put the children to sleep, talked about Joshua's passage with Vanusa, the two together with the members of the churches that congregated joined in prayer, each in their home, to intercede for that moment and remained so until the cell phone woke up in the morning, Rose felt her heart heavy, but peaceful, Vanusa was also much calmer. They thought that this could be the beginning of the end, they believed that the return of Christ was near and in such a bad world, such news was comfort for their hearts that joyfully yearned for the salvation offered by Christ through the Gospel, which they led in their lives and acts with so much love, often denying their own wills so that Christ might be glorified; and now they thought they were close to God's greatest gift. Rose decided it was best that the children not go to school, both she and Vanusa were given permission to do their chores around the house. They took Vanusa's car and went to a supermarket near the luxurious condominium, the place was in chaos, people ran and fought madly to buy food and store it, from one corridor to the other they always found people arguing with each other, both were scared with people's reaction to the sun, they didn't even know if that night they would go through the same, but they acted desperate, running like crazy to meet their needs, not measuring price, nor effort and if it was necessary to let it be taken from someone who could die of hunger like they would do, Rose was saddened by that scene thinking about the most humble people, those who did not have conditions to supply, she thought in agony about what was going to happen to this class of people, her heart ached in such a way that she even cried bitterly for them, being immediately consoled by Vanusa who said: - Blessed are the humble, for they will receive the land for inheritance. They returned home bewildered by what they saw, on the way they saw the same situation in pharmacies and other establishments. When they arrived, without the girls realizing it, they checked the news that showed that behavior and the high price of things all over the country, something incomprehensible to them, who did not understand how "such inflation" had risen so much in a few hours. Newspapers also warned about robberies made across the country, from small businesses to large car agencies, now living there was not so safe; Rose and Vanusa felt a very strong oppression trying to imprison them in fear, as well as those people, but they remained firm, seeking to be spiritually sober, they made an effort not to go along with the mass, it was difficult to swim against the tide, but they had they had done this all their lives because of the Gospel and it was not at that moment when they believed in the coming of Christ that they would bow to the situation. Rose ran to her room, opened her bible looking for a specific text and went back to the room gathering them all and reading: "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot waver; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, the Guardian of Israel will not slumber or sleep. The Lord is who keeps you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will guard your soul. The Lord will guard your entry and your exit, from now and forever. PSALMS 121". She took a deep breath and said: - What we are living was lived once by Josué and after that day the sun never stopped, so it is normal that we are so apprehensive, but we know that no matter what will happen from now on, help comes from the Lord, he he is more than protection, he is the life that exists in us and no one here should forget him, that he is the main objective and also the creator of everything, as he is in control of all things, maybe we will be persecuted because of the cross of Christ, we may be in need, but Christ is our very present help in times of distress, we cannot fail to trust, because he is the rock, our structure, without him we will do crazy things like these people are doing, without them we will be blind. The small children did not understand very well what their mother was saying, but the oldest and Vanusa understood and felt reassured by the action of the Holy Spirit being transmitted in Rose's words, she felt safe, they did not see God but they believed with all their forces in his action in their lives and so they could remain calm, while they waited for dusk to see if the sun would not go away again.