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Be Not Afraid FoundationsJust months later, in the winter of 1980, three elderlymembers of our church died within a two-week period.All three had been close to my parents for many years,and their deaths cut deep into Mama’s heart. Witheach one, she became noticeably weaker. First Papa’smother – my Oma – died at the age of ninety-five. Itpained Mama that she was not well enough to prepareOma’s body for burial or to set up the room in whichshe was laid. She had always felt it a privilege to do this“last service of love,” as she called it, for members ofour community.When Dora, a woman Mama had known for almostfifty years, passed away only a few days later, I took myparents to see her for the last time. Mama looked ather with unforgettable tenderness, and though she wasunable to attend the funeral, she still got out of bed andstood trembling in the doorway in respectful silence asDora’s burial procession passed our house.The next week Ruth, an old classmate of my father’s,died. For her funeral, Mama got dressed and sat up inher bed. It was clearly more than she had strength for,but she insisted on showing her deep love and respectfor Ruth.Children from our church often came to visitMama, and their confidence that she would recoverhad an immediate effect: when they were there, shebecame peaceful and radiated joy. Often she said with10