The note below is from our friend and fellow missionary, Wayne Smith, one of our primary sources of news about Danny. Wayne and his wife Becky are on the staff of the Instituto Misionero in Colombia.
(Side note: When Becky was still single and making her first trip to the field, our young family was also flying to Bogotá for the first time and we met at LAX and made that trip together. So we go way back…)
So many of you were and are praying. Thank you so much.
Please continue as the Father brings them to mind. “Danny’s” race has finished now, but Jhon and the girls (Sara, 12, and Moriah, 4) as well as the family, can really use your support.
Becky and I attended the funeral and burial yesterday. It was a special time. Even through the tears, it was obvious that Jhon and “Danny” touched many, many hearts on at least 2 continents during their time together.
“Danny” was the youngest of 13 kids, but it was she who bowed the knee to the King first in her family. She was then instrumental in marking many of their lives, both as defender and exhorter. She was special even as a little girl. We heard multiple testimonies to that effect.
“Danny” is no longer hurting. She’s done her part, and did it well. As I shared at the interment yesterday, the challenge is now ours, not hers. She and Jhon lived to a different set of values; they saw beyond the here and now which is so passing to that which lasts forever, and gave themselves to that. And we who remain? Will we learn from them?
But now it falls to Jhon to raise their girls himself. He shared through his tears at the cemetery that his desire is to continue on in the outreach to the Tikuna. But that is going to be a challenge. You can imagine. Pray for him and the extended family as they consider the implications of that.
Once again – Thank you.
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Steve & Eida Irwin
Spanish Language Resources
Ethnos360
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