Elsie Okialda impacted the lives of so many people words fail to express.
My name is Joel and I met Elsie in 1987 or 1988. I was the Pastor of a small church that was meeting at Simpson University up the hill from her parents house. Elsie showed up one Sunday and reported she'd heard there was a church there and wondered "is it OK if I come too?"
She confessed that "I can't really do anything," yet when given the chance to volunteer in the University Library she became an invaluable support to Librarian Stuart Compton.
Elsie didn't realize that her joy and sense of wonder opened doors. She made friends wherever she went and those friends remember her still.
In the 90's Elsie moved to El Cerrito for a few years and, as would happen from time to time, we didn't hear from her for a while. While she was there she started attending a Japanese speaking church (!). Fully aware of the strained historical relationship between the Philippines and Japan, Elsie told me she was frightened to go. "You know Joel, I don't speak Japanese." But she went anyway and her demeanor broke down all the walls. She became part of a cadre of women who would have tea and sew and they continued to reach out to her when they could for the rest of her life.
Quiet and humble, sometimes the isolation of her existence led her to believe that she "couldn't contribute anything." So she would crochet, and she would pray.
Her situation otherwise meant that she was unable to do all the things she wanted to do; work, get married to Elvio, have children, "care" for her parents financially. Feeling herself a burden, sometimes illness overwhelmed her and she couldn't even answer the phone. Yet underneath the pain and fear, Elsie lived a life of love.
This morning, sheltered in place and attending Easter Worship on the internet, I sat underneath my red "Elsie Blanket" and I was grateful again for this beautiful woman whose life was a testimony to grace.
Recently I heard that God always takes the good ones first, but has to leave the rest of us until we can get a clue. No doubt in Elsie's case this is all true.
We love you Elsie. We know you'll be waiting to welcome us home.
Elsie O -
With curtains pulled tight,
Through long, anguished nights,
Found it hard to see.
The waiting was long,
Yet this morning's dawn,
Now she's finally free!
A curious mind,
Sweet, gentle and kind,
Alone at the end.
Her life drawn by pain,
There's things never change,
Some wounds just don't mend.
Fighting those demons,
What rhyme or reason?
Wondering "what's the use?"
Still, kept holding out,
Despite fear and doubt,
Little scraps of truth.
Though misunderstood,
She gave what she could,
Long she was my friend.
Each path, up and down,
"Further Up!" Unbound!
We'll see her again.
