On July 27th, 2017 at 8:20pm Maria do Carmo de Melo went home to the Lord Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by her loving family when she was called home to the Lord. She struggled with cancer for over a year and passed at the Dorothy Ley Hospice. She will be greatly missed by all who came to know and love her.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. Psalm 28:7

Maria was a wonderful sister and aunt to her family. She was deeply loved by her family and friends, but no one loved her more than Almighty God. She will be missed greatly by those she left behind, but take great comfort when you read these words that she now lives in the glorious presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While she walked in the valley of the shadow of death she did not fear evil nor death because she knew where she would be after she died. Maria gave her life to the Lord Jesus and lived out Hebrews 11:1 which says;

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1

Maria walked along side The Lord Jesus and took great comfort in Him during her battle with cancer. She was always found reading His word, and took comfort in the promises that the Lord made to all who trust, believe and love Him. Her bible was torn and worn from her constant reading of God's word. She pored over the scriptures and stained the pages of her bible with many tears of happiness and sadness. She found comfort in His words because she knew that they were from the Living God. Although her body was weary and tired she grew more in her faith because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in her. She believed with her whole heart when she looked upon the One who saves and the sacrifice that her Saviour Jesus made on the cross for all who believe. She laid her life at the foot of the cross of Christ Jesus in faith. In faith she lived out her last days and now her faith has become sight as she now lives in the peace of His glorious presence, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ. Take comfort in knowing she is with the Lord now as she truly believed when Jesus said;

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Her constant prayer in her last days was for everyone she knew to have the peace and love that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give. We too can have the same hope in seeing her again if we follow the same “way” that she took which is only found in Christ Jesus alone.