but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
First a cousin.
Later a sister in Christ.
Now we rejoice that Pat has gone to dwell forever with the one who has been the object of her praise and worship for many years.
Pat and I grew up living less than 20 miles away from each other, though in separate towns, in central Connecticut.
We were not only close in distance but also close in age, being born only a couple of months apart from each other.
We mostly saw each other at family gatherings, though it was always a special treat when we went to visit their house, because they had a swimming pool.
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| At about 5 years of age, sitting across from each other. |
I didn’t see or hear much from my cousin after high school. She had gone off looking for something and ended up finding Jesus and a husband. But I really knew little about where she was or what she was doing for many years.
But then our lives intersected. We ended up moving to Bakersfield, California, only 50 miles from where Pat was then living near Lake Isabella.
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| Steph, Pat, and Don (and Josh's legs)-sometime in the early 90s |
It was a difficult time in the lives of both of our families. We were in the process of adopting a child, an adoption that, in the very last minute, did not materialize. Pat was recently separated from her husband and trying to get established on her own. In spite of her own difficult circumstances, she was a great encouragement to us.
We saw each other a lot that first year we were in Bakersfield. We traveled to Lake Isabella almost every weekend and ended up putting in a vegetable garden in her back yard. We had commonalities in that we both played guitar and liked similar worship music.
It was fun to be a part of her family as she raised her two children to love Jesus as much as she did.
Eventually, we moved away from Bakersfield to Fresno, but we stayed in touch and were glad to celebrate her reconciliation to her husband—a testimony of her great faith in Jesus and her love for her husband.
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| Reconciliation Celebration |
Our lives continued to intersect in Fresno as we were both involved with a movement to get the good news of Jesus Christ to those people in the world who have not had opportunity to hear about Him. Our common interests brought us together at missions conferences.
Later, after moving to Thailand, our paths would again cross as we served in our different roles for a common purpose: Pat with Global Teams and ourselves with MB Mission.
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| Pat with Steph and Frank visiting us in Bangkok |
Pat was able to be at her husband's side while he battled cancer. But Jesus called Don home a few years ago. Only in the past two months did she marry again.
Today, we received word that Pat has gone to be with her first love.
This isn’t the first time that Pat has died. Many years ago she made the decision to die to self and live for Jesus. And while she may no longer walk the dusty streets of earth with us, she is more alive than ever in the presence of Jesus.
We will miss you here, Pat, but glad that you are home.
Thank you for touching the lives of so many with the love of Jesus during your sojourn with us.
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
John 12:24-26 (NLT)
