An amazing soul transitioned from his earthly body into the arms of Jesus today. February 8th, 2022 was the first day we met Bruce Cruz. We met his friend Johnny at Bojangles one day. Johnny told us about his friend Bruce, who needed help getting off the streets and into a home as his health was declining. His doctor warned him the cold weather could do damage to an existing lung disease that could end his life. We talked for awhile and he asked me if I would take him to church the next day. I have had many people ask, but not show up, so did a quick drive around the restaurant before church. Not only did he show up, he had the most infectious smile and a big brown Bible in his hand.
We took him out to each lunch after church and got to get to know him better. I had a wonderful time watching him smile and talk to others. He had so much joy! At the end of lunch, it felt bad dropping him off at the edge of some woods in Raleigh. The next Sunday, he was there again. Before taking him back home this time, I asked my husband if he could stay with us for a little while. He spent his days talking about fishing, a fish business he used to have, and would watch Christian music videos in Spanish. He loved our dog Tucker! When he saw him, he would get a big smile and call Tucker over to sit next to him. Bruce had a speech disorder that made it hard for folks to understand him. When he called Tucker to him, Tucker came out loud and clear!
As we started meeting every Saturday, Bruce became part of the founding team and enjoyed going around and meeting folks and praying for them. He knew most of the people who worked in and around Bojangles and Wal-Mart as well as the majority of those who were homeless. I loved watching him pray for the people we would encounter. We talked with individuals who were not Christian, individuals who were hurt by other Christians and turned off by the religion, and Christians who loved hearing and talking about God’s word. He would go up to anyone and hand them a book or some literature and pray for them! There were many times the initial encounter was met with resistance and they could not understand what he was saying, and would start to back away or ignore him. He would put his hand on them and pray for them. The resistance would go away and they suddenly could understand all that he was saying. Many times there were tears and hugs as he would pray for them. I could tell they had a sense of peace after his prayer. He was a very humble man who loved people deeply.
There were several times while meeting at Bojangles, someone going through the line would recognize him and come over and tell us about their lives before meeting him, the joy and inspiration he gave to them, and how it changed their lives! It was just amazing to witness this! Bruce was doing what he felt called to do – to share the Gospel with others and pray for them!
On March 2, 2022, we found an apartment for Bruce on the bus line – right next to a big lake where he could go fishing! He had all his belongings in a friends garage. As we were moving him in, we realized just how much he liked fishing. He had at least 16 fishing poles and a lot of fishing gear! He loved living by the lake and would go fishing and bring back dinner. When he would see my son Cameron, he would say, “How’s my fishing buddy?” He would walk trails with one of his roommates. Things went pretty well through the summer.
He loved going to church every Sunday and made a decision to get baptized one Sunday . . . on April 10, 2022 at a river nearby. It was a very cold day. He was asked on several occasions if he was sure he wanted have it outside at the river. Each time, he quickly said yes, with a smile on his face. There was nothing that was going to get in the way of him being baptized in the river that Sunday! He went out into the river with a smile on his face, while we were all bundled up on the shore. He was so happy that day!
Shortly after moving into his apartment, he reached out to a lady he had come to know and wanted to know if I would pick her up and bring her to church with us. He had the biggest smile the whole time we were at church and at lunch afterwards. When I dropped him off at his apartment, and while she was still in the car, he asked me to help him with something in his home. Once we got up the stairs, he had a huge smile. He asked me if I would talk to her and see if she was interested in going on a date with him. She was just as excited as he was and they began dating. It was so cute to see them both together, and he was so happy!
As soon as Fall came around, Bruce’s health started to decline. We became his medical advocate, taking him to doctor’s appointments. Because of his speech disorder, the doctor’s could not understand what was wrong and would release him. We asked questions, noticed symptoms he was having and would talk to the doctor about it. He felt like he had his voice back and was looking forward to not only getting better, but getting back to how he was in his younger years.
Something was missing though. He shared that he had a daughter and missed her terribly. When we were in a store, if he saw someone that looked like her, he would get teary and begin telling stories about her when she was younger. She went to church with him and participated in an evangelical outreach he had. She would go fishing with him. She had two sons and his face would light up when he talked about them. The only thing that was missing was how to contact her. He kept trying to contact her, but said her number must have changed. Shortly afterwards, his phone stopped working and he had to get a new one with a new phone number. He was very distraught that he could not contact her and see her, and had no way to get in touch. Although he did not know her address, he knew how to get to her house. She lived close to the church he attended. I told him the next Sunday we would drive by after church and stop off at her house so he could see her. He wound up in the hospital shortly afterwards. I kept waiting for him to come out of the hospital so he could go see her.
He went into the hospital in October and never came back out. He was moved to a room in the ICU right after Christmas and stayed there until today. Several weeks ago, after finding out that the plan was to discharge him to a long-term rehab facility or nursing care facility, we had to pack up the belongings we moved into the apartment 10 months earlier and put them into a storage unit where they would be safe. While packing things up, we came across papers with his daughters name on it. After some research, we found an old address. I drove by and luckily, the wonderful lady who lives there knew her and after explaining that I was trying to get a hold of her because her dad was in the hospital, I received a call from his daughter. 30 minutes later. I can’t even begin to explain the excitement and joy I had knowing that they would be reunited! I figured if there was one thing that could help him to heal, it would be seeing his daughter and hearing her voice. That was 3 weeks ago. She visited him every day and he started to improve. His lungs had gotten too damaged though, and he was in end stage lung disease.
“There’s promise and beauty in so many things if we are open to it. Even through the darkest moments, if we try and see the light, there is promise in this as well.” Natalie Bacho
Although his body was shutting down, his heart was expanding with the joy of being reunited with his daughter, and that was so wonderful to see! We received a call from the hospital last night that his body was shutting down. It was time. Although he was not awake, I know that he sensed those around him that he deeply cared for. His girlfriend sang him a song while holding his hand and his head moved towards her. His daughter was with him right as he was brought home by Jesus. His presence filled the room and she was able to hear him speaking to her heart.
“Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17
We love you Bruce! Thank you for shining your light brightly for all to see! We know you are now healed, that you have the breath of life, and you are fishing up in heaven!