Dear friends, thank you for praying. We just received this update.
(this was written by Ben's grandfather)
Ben Home with the Lord
Dear Family and Friends,
We just had a call from Dan[Ben's father] in South Africa. He reported that Ben did really well for the first 3 1/2 hours of the flight. Then, his heart developed problems. The team on the plane did everything possible to revive Ben, but the pulse stopped and nothing could be done. The plane had been on the ground about 20 minutes when Dan called. He was still at the plane and trying to determine what to do. He really has no one in South Africa to turn to for help. He needs immediate prayer for wisdom and he desperately needs God's presence and strength. Judy[Ben's grandmother] found this wonderful verse in Psalm 54:4. "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one that sustains me." We are praying this for Dan and Lynda and for the dear children. We are also claiming it for our entire family.
At times like this it is so wonderful to have Jesus, whose eye is on the sparrow. We know He is grieving with us. He has not failed. Once again life has triumphed over death. We have total confidence that Ben is 100% well and we will see him again. God is good all the time and even Ben’s passing comes through His loving hand.
If any reading this message do not know the Lord or has wandered from Him, we plead with you to come to Him. At such times in life, there is nothing like knowing that one’s sins are forgiven and that Jesus is able to present us faultless before the Throne of Grace. That is what He has done for Ben. He has done it because He loves Ben, not because Ben deserved it. Oh what comfort we have despite the tears.
Our family wants to thank all of you who have prayed us through this time of pain. Your messages have brought solace and encouragement. We have felt the love of literally thousands and have thanked God over and over again that we are part of the family of God.
To God be the glory!
(If you would like more details about this situation, or would like updates, here is their website .)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
urgent prayer request: Ben in Kenya
Dear friends,
please be praying for a young man (age 20) named Ben. He is a missionary kid who graduated in 2006 from Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. Our friends were his dorm parents, and have written asking for prayer. His parents/mission are trying to med-evac him to South Africa-- he needs heart surgery and they don't think he could make it to the States... please pray.
Ben had open heart surgery because of a strep infection that went bad in the fall of 2005. He's done amazingly well since that time, an athlete playing soccer for a college in the states. He came out for his brother's graduation and to see his family and alumni friends about two weeks ago. But he got an infection in his heart and because of that, he has had a stroke.
The infection seems to be spreading, and his condition is increasingly unstable.
>From Ben's grandfather: "Despite the condition of Ben and the stress on the family, we continue to trust God. We know that God's eye is still on the sparrow and Ben is immensely more valuable to Him. Jesus is totally trustworthy and whatever the outcome, He will be there with grace and comfort. We continue to believe that in HIs perfect will Ben can be healed, but we also want what will bring Him glory and honor. We find that at such a time as this, there is tremendous comfort in knowing Ben is in the hands of His loving and all-powerful God."
please be praying for a young man (age 20) named Ben. He is a missionary kid who graduated in 2006 from Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. Our friends were his dorm parents, and have written asking for prayer. His parents/mission are trying to med-evac him to South Africa-- he needs heart surgery and they don't think he could make it to the States... please pray.
Ben had open heart surgery because of a strep infection that went bad in the fall of 2005. He's done amazingly well since that time, an athlete playing soccer for a college in the states. He came out for his brother's graduation and to see his family and alumni friends about two weeks ago. But he got an infection in his heart and because of that, he has had a stroke.
The infection seems to be spreading, and his condition is increasingly unstable.
>From Ben's grandfather: "Despite the condition of Ben and the stress on the family, we continue to trust God. We know that God's eye is still on the sparrow and Ben is immensely more valuable to Him. Jesus is totally trustworthy and whatever the outcome, He will be there with grace and comfort. We continue to believe that in HIs perfect will Ben can be healed, but we also want what will bring Him glory and honor. We find that at such a time as this, there is tremendous comfort in knowing Ben is in the hands of His loving and all-powerful God."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
June 18: water truck
What happens when there is no water in the city for the fifth day in a row?
The water truck comes to your neighborhood!
Dave took these great pictures from his office window... sadly the truck didn't come close enough to our house for me to see it!
Click on the picture to view it in a larger size!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy 23rd Father's Day, Dave!
Dave has been a great dad to Danny, Joey and Jacob over these years! Today is the first Father's Day with none of the boys at home... Jacob is in the same country with us, but at the beach for a few days with some friends.... We are both blessed to be the parents of our boys-- and I'm thankful for the father our heavenly Father has given them!
Remembering Dad on Father's Day
On Fathers Day, I'm thankful for my dad. He died almost 17 years ago, but I still miss him! He was a great dad to me, and a great grandpa to Danny and Joey. He would have loved to be a grandpa to Jacob, Lilly, Maggie, Jack, Luke, Jennifer, Paul, Anna, Matt, and Stevey too! The center picture in this collage is from Father's Day in 1990, his last "good" Father's Day with us. (The next Father's Day was pretty sad, with him ending up in the hospital and dying the following month...)
Although I remember him on many days, today is special-- and I just want to say Thanks, Lord, for the great dad and the many great years of him living on earth as my father!
(i know some of these pics don't fit quite right... but it's the best way i could get it to work!)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Danny
We haven't written any update about Danny lately, and our friend just sent us this cute picture of Danny and his wonderful girlfriend Leah... so I just thought I'd post it here for you to enjoy as well! Danny is working an internship this summer at a bank in Miami, as well as continuing classes (is still living on campus.) He's keeping busy! And we miss him!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
random afternoon in the neighborhood
While talking to a friend on the phone this afternoon, I suddenly could not hear her above the sounds of loud drumming. I hung up on her, and ran up to the roof with Jacob and his friend to see what was happening-- and found the beginning of a celebration at the new apartment building across the street from our house!
Update: this got louder and more festive, with more people gathering until at least 11 p.m. Our house was LOUD!
Joey update!
Dear family and friends,
Thank you for your prayers for Joey! He had a detailed work-up at his eye doctor yesterday in preparation for his surgery, and amazingly-- it seems that his eyes will not need surgery! I don't fully understand all the details, but it's pretty exciting.
He had to stop wearing contacts for two weeks before the exam, because contacts apparently change the shape of the cornea, and the exam needs to be done without that influence. When his eyes were dilated yesterday during the extensive exam, his vision was close to 20/15... It seems that the muscles used for close-up vision (like reading) were over-developed due to the many hours per day he spent reading (especially while we lived in Abidjan) and in the 4 1/2 years he's been wearing his contacts, his eyes and brain have adapted to them. His doctor thinks that if he goes two more weeks with contacts or glasses, his vision will be 20/20 without them! We are so happy for him, and excited to see the Lord working this situation out in a way much different than we expected!
Please do continue to pray with him and with us that his vision will be fully restored, and his next appointment will reveal excellent results.
With thankfulness in Him,
Mary
for the Dakar Deckers
Thank you for your prayers for Joey! He had a detailed work-up at his eye doctor yesterday in preparation for his surgery, and amazingly-- it seems that his eyes will not need surgery! I don't fully understand all the details, but it's pretty exciting.
He had to stop wearing contacts for two weeks before the exam, because contacts apparently change the shape of the cornea, and the exam needs to be done without that influence. When his eyes were dilated yesterday during the extensive exam, his vision was close to 20/15... It seems that the muscles used for close-up vision (like reading) were over-developed due to the many hours per day he spent reading (especially while we lived in Abidjan) and in the 4 1/2 years he's been wearing his contacts, his eyes and brain have adapted to them. His doctor thinks that if he goes two more weeks with contacts or glasses, his vision will be 20/20 without them! We are so happy for him, and excited to see the Lord working this situation out in a way much different than we expected!
Please do continue to pray with him and with us that his vision will be fully restored, and his next appointment will reveal excellent results.
With thankfulness in Him,
Mary
for the Dakar Deckers
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
DeckerUpdate June 10
Here's a fairly lengthy update about our family and ministry, including
* Mary's month at D.A.
* Dave's trip to Liberia
* Prayer concerns
Dear family and friends,
Thanks so much for your prayers, and notes of encouragement, over the past several days. We've had some good days, and some bad days with regard to electricity since that time. We've been able to get enough water to fill our reservoir, and we are figuring out how to best use it so that we have water for what's needed and not waste it!
* Mary's month at D.A.
* Dave's trip to Liberia
* Prayer concerns
Dear family and friends,
Thanks so much for your prayers, and notes of encouragement, over the past several days. We've had some good days, and some bad days with regard to electricity since that time. We've been able to get enough water to fill our reservoir, and we are figuring out how to best use it so that we have water for what's needed and not waste it!
Friday, June 06, 2008
June 5 quick note
Dear friends and family--
We're a bit overdue for an update, and I will write one in the next few days! But in the meantime, would you please pray for our electricity and water situation? We have had significant outages in the past few days, as much as 12 hours out of 24, and at completely unpredictable times. It gets a bit stressful when our reservoir is not filling, and we have no water... and I do worry about things in our refrigerator! I know in many locations it is always like this, but at this point we're not real-well set up for it here! Please pray for "enough" water, "enough" electricity, and "enough" cold for the fridge.... Update will follow!
With love,
Mary
for the DakarDeckers
We're a bit overdue for an update, and I will write one in the next few days! But in the meantime, would you please pray for our electricity and water situation? We have had significant outages in the past few days, as much as 12 hours out of 24, and at completely unpredictable times. It gets a bit stressful when our reservoir is not filling, and we have no water... and I do worry about things in our refrigerator! I know in many locations it is always like this, but at this point we're not real-well set up for it here! Please pray for "enough" water, "enough" electricity, and "enough" cold for the fridge.... Update will follow!
With love,
Mary
for the DakarDeckers
Thursday, June 05, 2008
June 4: after graduation!
Tonight was graduation at Dakar Academy. We rejoice with the seniors, congratulate them on their accomplishments, and wish them well in the days ahead. They are a special groups of students and we will miss them! After grad, some of those in Jacob's class-- they've just finished 10th grade-- gathered for a photo. What a crazy bunch of kids. Some of them won't be back next year, which is sad... but others who have been gone this year will be returning and we're looking forward to that!
Dave and I have been asked (along with two other couples) to be class sponsors for their class next year. We will get to help them with many events, and generally be involved in their lives. We're looking forward to that-- they're a great bunch!
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