My Friend Carmen
We landed in Chicago a few hours ago and when I turned on my phone I was greeted with the news that Carmen Elaine Trust went home to be with Jesus and Bob as she joined the great cloud of witnesses. I will miss the funeral as we are on the beginning of a family adventure.
What can I say about my friend Carmen?! There are not enough words to minimize the deep grief that happens when someone we love dies. Even when we believe in heaven and being together forever in eternity, it is so hard to be on this side of things, saying goodbye and holding sorrow as we wait. I moved to Scottsdale in 1986 to work in junior high ministry – almost 40 years ago – and two of my main ministry partners were Bob and Carmen Trust. I love that we quickly became both co-laborers and fast friends. Carmen and I often practiced Spanish together and we even took a conversational class at Scottsdale Community college. They were both intelligent, fun and capable ministry partners and I will always be grateful for them.
Carmen was always someone you could trust – pun intended – as she lived up to her name. She was a faithful friend on whom I depended often. She and I spent a lot of time together dreaming up and implementing creative ministry ideas, playing games and sharing stories and meals. She had a way of transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. She was the kind of person that was easy to pick up the conversation again even after long stretches of time in between. It was never uncomfortable. Carmen was a confidante and a companion during the 10 years I served as junior high pastor.
Carmen was a person of exceptional character. She loved the Lord, her family and her church family fiercely. She laughed easily, loved unconditionally, forgave easily, and treated everyone with grace. She always expected the best and brought it out of others as a result. She was the kind of friend who would drop everything to be by your side when you needed her, who would lend a listening ear without judgment, who would offer a shoulder to cry on without hesitation. She rarely said a negative word; in fact, she taught me how to see silver linings in every cloud as she said more than once, “No storm – no rainbow.”
Carmen was always committed and gave 100%. She was usually “all-in”. When we needed a bus driver, Carmen got her license. When we had an all-nighter, she could outlast the rowdiest junior high boy. She had the unique ability to make sense of the world, and she found joy in living her life away for others. And I am honored to have known Carmen, to have shared ministry and life together, and to call her my friend. I will miss her every day. I cannot wait for the long hello of heaven.