I left the seminary after a year to focus on developing my musical talents and acumen. I was part of a travelling band on a full sized custom bus along with other dedicated musicians. I was one of eight singers in our large group of twenty. We visited many states and travelled many miles from Colorado to Texas, to New Mexico and Nevada; to Florida, North Carolina, to New York City, eventually making it all the way east. We performed for crowds as small as 50 people all the way to selling out at 10,000 for some venues. My tour, my adventure lasted about a year and a half. Perhaps my biggest takeaway from my touring is , “it’s easier to love the lovely people than to love the unlovely, but we all deserve love.” I learned the importance of being able to show love and connect with others regardless of their life situation, background, political opinions, and all the other labels that can often divide us as humans.
After my experience with the band, I returned home for a bit to help care for my elder sister, Victoria, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After undergoing treatment for a year, her condition was not as improved as we had hoped. When her medical team came in and called a family meeting, I sensed that something wasn’t right because the mood in the air was somber all around. I still remember my sister telling them “anything you have to say to me, you can say to him as well.” The doctors were very honest and laid out her options: she had six months left to live with chemo or four months to live without treatment.
It was a difficult decision, but my sister chose the 4 months. It was great to see that her team respected her decision and readily helped us maneuver through this difficult period. Victoria was incredibly supportive and encouraging to all and she had this infectious sense of humor that could always brighten the room and lift the mood. We miss her dearly.
The experience of tending to my sister during her final days had a huge influence on my career going forward. In my new ministry, I was involved in helping others deal with loss. A lot of people, especially spouses, develop a pervasive sense of loneliness. One thing I try to focus on is providing them a sense of community where they have some support as they go through the grieving process. I make myself available and tell people in my congregation to call me anytime they need to talk to someone , even if it’s a 3 AM call. It also helps to remind families to speak of the good times and stories about their lost loved ones. Everyone grieves differently, so the key is always to be fully present and attentive when listening in order to learn how best to serve them in their moments of need.
Over the years I’ve been with many families and doctors to help deliver end of life care. My role is to support the patients and families going through these difficult times. I’ve come to really appreciate doctors with great bedside manner: those who really take the time to listen, communicate clearly and are respectful in dealing with a patient’s choices. So many of them have big hearts to work for the benefit of others. I make it a point to always show my appreciation. Nowadays, people don’t thank each other enough for the unique qualities that we all bring to the table.
This upcoming March will be my 18th year of service at Parkhills Baptist Church. I feel fulfilled because I’m living out my life’s purpose to serve others and their needs. My missional thought and focus has always been, “How can I help you carry your load or burden?” I can’t imagine myself doing anything else in life. I’ve always enjoyed getting to know people, learning what makes them tick, finding out what makes them happy or sad. I love serving my church’s musical and theological needs. My greatest joy is watching children who grow up in our church build their own lives and come back later to say hello and check up on you. It always makes you feel like you made a real difference.
About Sam Trujillo:
Sam Trujillo serves the congregation at Parkhills Baptist Church. He grew up in Corpus Christi and attended college at Houston Baptist University before graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He met his wife, Kathy, in the choir at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio. They have been happily married for 33 years. They have 4 grown daughters all of whom he is proud of , and 4 grand-children whom he cherishes dearly. His favorite verse is Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”