A reminder

Below is a quote from an interview with Al and Deela Dyck did with CRM in July of 2005 when they were on home leave. The full text is in the archive. Deela is the one speaking, and her words are especially poignant now.

Say like practically, if people write me a little note or Al a little note in this process to encourage him. You know "I was thinking of you today and I am praying for you." Or just send a card . It just lifts our spirits to know in a practical way that someone's praying for us even though we haven't talked to them for months or we are not real close, that is a really big encouragement and it is a really practical way to help. For both of us, if he gets a card or a letter in the mail and it's not a bill or not anything else, you know saying that we love you and we are praying for you it changes the whole day.

And I think as you pray for us, it is for us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus because we tend to get self focused with what the doctor says or with discouragement or whatever. And we just get in a busy mode of work and children and just life. But to keep our eyes focused on who they need to be focused on through the whole thing. And that makes the bad times not so bad. And that is knowing that God's peace is there because those things are minimized if we know that people are praying for us. Okay I am discouraged, I recognize that, I give it up, and I press on.

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Deela Dyck is with Jesus

On January 6, 2007, Deela Dyck passed away after a three year battle with ovarian cancer. The following is a blog entry from her husband, Al Dyck.

"Our beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend went to be with Jesus Saturday evening January 6th at around 8 PM in our home. Her prayers were answered as she did not want the process to go on and on. She was ready. She was at peace with Jesus and had not regrets. We had a beautiful time with the kids last night and they were with her in and out all day today. I was with her in the end hold her and comforting her. I told her again how much she meant to me and that she should go and then begged Jesus to come and get her with many tears. Some 30 minutes later she met Jesus face to face.

This is the most difficult thing I or the kids have ever faced but we are together, God is with us, and we have an awesome community around us including many world wide praying. Yet we are left to grieve. May we not grieve, though, as those who have no hope -- for Christ's resurrection is our future promise. (1 Thessaloanians 4:13-18)

On a practical note we have many details to organize. The idea at the moment is to have the funeral here at the end of the week in Holland. I have also talked with our home church pastor in Byron, Illinois about organizing a memorial service there in the U.S. as soon after as we can work that out. The kids and I will come for that though it will be short so the kids miss only a little school. I’ll post more when we know it!

I love this picture of Deela. I know she wants us to not be sad but to celebrate her COMPLETE healing and finally being HOME!"

Deela's life has become a testimony of true perseverance through adversity. Please continue to pray for Al and his three children during their time of grief. Please also pray for logistical planning of the funeral and memorial services. You may find out more information on Al Dyck's blog.

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