Surprise Party for Zarito

“I’ve never had a birthday surprise,” said Zarito, a leader in our church.  He was one of four friends I’d invited to celebrate my birthday with my family in May, and he was responding to the question I’d posed to everyone present about memorable birthdays from their past.  He was the only guest without a surprise party to recount, and his tone indicated disappointment with that fact.  “When’s your birthday, so we can plan a surprise for you?” I playfully asked.  He answered, “It’s not at a good time for that – it’s July 16.”  “You’re right,” I admitted, “We’re too busy with conference preparations each July to add something else to the agenda.”

My intention to honor Zarito’s birthday gained a boost when our annual pastors’ conference was rescheduled from July to September.  When I approached Bene and his wife Odete in early June about a surprise party for him, they loved the idea.  Bene listed Zarito’s twenty closest friends and invited them, then bought balloons and paper plates with funds I provided.  Odete suggested pizza, cake, and soft drinks for an easy menu, and she and her friend Zaida spent the afternoon before the party decorating the vacant room on our organization’s property which our director allowed us to use.  I ordered pizza from a restaurant in town and arranged for our friend Riquito to pick it up on his way to the party.  I also ordered a cake from Stephanie and brought it to work with me on the morning of July 16, hiding it in our director’s family’s refrigerator.

Zarito told both Bene and me how excited he was about turning thirty this year, entering the age at which our Lord Jesus began his public ministry.  He shared that though he doesn’t usually celebrate his birthday, he planned to awaken at 3:00 am in order to spend as much of the day as possible in prayer and praise.  He was happy that his friend Mesaque had traveled from his hometown to visit him, but unaware that the surprise party was the reason for the trip.  Zarito hesitated to accept Jeremias’s invitation for an afternoon snack at a restaurant, not wanting to leave his guest behind, but finally agreed after Mesaque told him that he’d delay in town that afternoon.

As soon as Jeremias and Zarito left our organization’s property where Zarito lives and works, we sprang into action.  I hid my vehicle and gave Stélio the cake to take from our director’s home to the festive room.  Teque, who had sneaked in, brought soft drinks from a different refrigerator and hymnals from the church’s meeting space.  Riquito came out of hiding at the shop next door with the pizzas he’d brought and arranged them on the tables.  Bene and Ofélcio set a plate, a napkin, and a fork in front of each chair.  Bene and I checked the guest list and phoned those who hadn’t yet arrived.  Three of them arrived momentarily and the others were still a long way off, so I went ahead and sent the pre-arranged text message to Jeremias:  “Someone said there’s an unlocked door next to the bookshop; could you check it out?”

The dozen of us huddled in silence until we heard approaching voices.  Jeremias and the guard, who was also in on the secret, brought Zarito over and asked him if he knew anything about the door’s being unlocked, since he works in the adjacent library.  He obviously didn’t, but by that time they had opened the door and ushered him in just as Stélio flipped on the lights and we all shouted, “SURPRISE!”  Clutching his head in his hands while taking in the scene, Zarito was indeed both shocked and delighted!

Jeremias seamlessly assumed the role of MC of the party, welcoming everyone, including the stunned guest of honor who was seated at the head of the table.  Bene gave the opening prayer and Gustavo read Psalm 1, which Pastor Mussagy had suggested even though he was unable to attend the event.  We sang Rock of Ages, selected by Zarito in the moment, then took a quiz about who knows Zarito best; Bene won by correctly identifying Zarito’s full name, number of siblings, year of conversion, and favorite color, fruit, main dish, and hobby.

As we ate pizza, most of the guests rose one by one to describe Zarito.  He is very humble, always putting others first and rejoicing in their successes even when he is disadvantaged in the process.  He compellingly expounds God’s word, using vivid stories as illustrations.  He is dedicated to the Lord and ever hungering to know Him more.  He selflessly gives himself to serve others through conversations, counsel, or practical help.  He suffers from health problems which have threatened his life at times but amazes us with his vibrant faith in the Lord through this trial.

When it was finally his turn to speak, Zarito commented, “If I were asked to describe myself, I wouldn’t have said hardly anything that has been mentioned here.  I feel like Moses, who came down from the mountain not knowing that his face was shining, when everyone else could see it!”  He thanked us for the investment each one of us has made in his life.  He also marveled that Bene managed to invite his closest friends from various circles of his life who wouldn’t normally be together at any given time.

I’d purposely kept a low profile in the event, but somehow everyone knew I was behind it.  Bene took me unawares by rising to gratefully acknowledge my love shown for Zarito in hosting the party and to bless me with the words of Ruth 2:12:  “May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel.”  Teque immediately inserted his own discourse of gratitude for my generosity, of which that supper was just one example.  Then Zarito stood to announce the blessing of my support for Pastor Mussagy in his hometown.  Thus, I ended up being surprised myself during the surprise party that I’d planned for Zarito!

Stélio prayed a blessing over Zarito, and Riquito read Psalm 23, which had also been selected by Pastor Mussagy.  We sang “Happy Birthday” while Zarito blew out the candle, cut the first piece of cake, and fed the first three bites to guests of his choice according to local tradition; then I cut and distributed the remaining dessert to everyone.  I took photos of individual guests with Zarito, then one of the entire group.  Ofélcio, who had led Zarito to faith in 2014, gave the closing prayer.

Please join us in prayer for our beloved brother in Christ, Zarito.  Pray for his health to stabilize and for him to continue growing spiritually, in Biblical knowledge and intimacy with the Lord.  Ask the Lord to soon bring him a wife so that he can start a family.  Pray too that he can further his education in order to be financially prepared for the next phase of his life.  May God continue to be glorified through this man after His own heart.