Our Dear and Precious Friends and Family;
Thank you for all your prayers and support as we are and have been here on the front lines fighting the good fight of faith. There is something so comforting as we face the sever trials, that are a part of mission life, to know our friends and family are praying for us and lifting us up on wings of faith!
Shortly after breakfast Sunday, March 9, Loren started not feeling well and went and lay down. He was so hoping to have school up and running by the middle of March. There was an urgency to get the men’s and women’s dorms done. His plans for the day were to prepare the ground for the foundation and slab of the women dorm, have others work on finishing the pit for the bath/shower house and by Tuesday start pouring concrete. So many delays and trials had come before him and this was the week to get these buildings done.
While we were in Guyana, South America, working with the Davis Indians four years ago, we lived in a timber framed home that every inch of the lumber was coated in several layers of varnish. With all that varnish covering the wood the termites did not eat it. This gave Loren an idea . . . He is a builder by trade and enjoys working with wood more than concrete and mud bricks. This idea gave him hope that with the help of Kyle, Victor, Collince and his family the buildings could all be finished by the end of the week. Thus school could start the middle of March.
This idea must have made the enemy angry as once again he tried to foil Loren’s plans. Loren focused on getting well Sunday resting when his body told him to and helping around. Late afternoon he felt much better. Loren hates lying in bed and wanted to get some sunshine and exercise he got a jembe (like a hoe but beefier) from the tool shed and peeled half to two-thirds the sod off where the women’s dorm will be. I went to go and check on him. He showed me how far the sod would have to be pealed up and where the door and window is to be placed. Also, if we cut back some of the brush what a beautiful view the women would have looking out their window. I treasure these moments in time. Monday he asked the guys if they would make the material/grocery run without him. He was so much worse than the day before we started giving him the malaria herbs and much water. Wednesday he had relief from fever but he was too weak to do anything so he enjoyed sitting in the sunshine and spending time with his family.
Wednesday evening Loren became sick again. We always had someone by his side. During this time he gave us encouragement and instruction.
Sabbath morning I woke up at 1:30 to Loren sitting up in bed reading his worship on his computer. This sight brought so much joy . . . I had been reading worship to him every morning that week. So grabbing the thermometer from the head of the bed I took his temp 98.6 F. He enjoyed breakfast with us and our time of singing and reading The Desire of Ages. It was a beautiful Sabbath! And made even more beautiful with Loren’s returning health! Jessica and Jonathan were able to share with Daddy that Miss Kuku laid her first egg and he was able to share in their excitement. While lupper, at our home that is what we call it when it is somewhere between lunch and supper, was being pulled together I lay down for I was so very tired after the long week of Loren being sick. I have no idea how long I slept but I woke to Loren rubbing my back and tenderly saying, “Lisa, I’m so glad you were able to get some rest. You needed it. We can’t have you getting sick also. I love you! Thank you for all you help this week. Now, why don’t you go and get some food while there is some left and the fresh air will do you some good.”
Returning back to the house after lupper, Loren was lying down going into an unconscious state with a rising temp and his last words were “Just let it come.” At one point we all gathered around his bed and prayed over him; first of all making our own hearts right with God, second asking for Loren’s healing and third claiming many great and precious promises. Sending everyone to bed I stayed up with him taking care of his needs and wrestling with God.
In the morning Loren was not any better. All week long he was always better in the morning. Kyle, Victor and I took him to the nearest hospital an hour away. The test results came back that he had sever malaria and they later learned he also had pneumonia. Loren responded well to the meds and IV. We were told that they were keeping him overnight so Kyle and Victor went to find a motel and I lay down in the other bed the hospital staff had prepared for me. I don’t know how long I slept but when his breathing changed I was right there by his side. Kyle got a text and the hospital staff informed, everyone was there as quick as they could be. His breathing was labored and then became shallower and shallower until there was no more. Oxygen and CPR - The doctor worked on him for a little bit and then turned to me and said, “Sorry, he is not responding”.
Out of the anguish of my soul I said, “No, you can’t give up on him this soon! He is God’s missionary!”
He started doing CPR again and I dropped to my knees and I believe Kyle did too. Victor watched the hospital staff work on Loren, but knowing him, he was praying. The doctor turned to me again and said, “I’m so sorry . . .
“No, please don’t give up on him. He has four children at home!”
The doctor ran to his office for something and then continued CPR. Finally turning to me and said, “I am so very sorry but there is nothing more I can do.” He reached to shut off the oxygen.
“Please leave it on for a while longer and will you please give us some time with him alone?”
The hospital staff left the room and the three of us dropped to our knees and pleaded for the life of this precious watchman on the wall. Then Victor turned to me and said, “Lisa, do you know how to do CPR?”
“It has been a long time.” Not ready to give up I knelt on the edge of Loren’s bed and did the CPR. Victor saw I was getting tired and took over and then Kyle took over for Victor and I took over for Kyle. Finally Kyle said, “His core is cooling down. He really is gone.” I stopped and stepped back and looked at my precious faithful husband who had loved God and his family with his whole heart. Kyle gave me a hug his sister Trista sent via text and for himself too.
I stepped back and put my hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes and told him how much Loren loved him and prayed for him and when Loren saw he was going through great struggles and trials Loren prayed for him even more. Loren had great concern for Kyle’s salvation and he started praying “Lord, whatever it takes please save Kyle”. “Kyle, please do not let this sacrifice be in vain! He loved you so much!”
The three of us sat on the other bed and talked about what next. I had never dealt with anything like this not even in the states and now I was in a foreign country dealing with my husband dying. The phone rang and I saw it was Cherie, Loren’s older sister, I could not say the words yet so I rejected the call. She called right back and I handed the phone to Kyle and somehow I talked to her also. Then a text came from my Mom that Victoria forwarded to me. And I realized the world knew before my children that their Daddy just died. I did something I did not want to do and I called the children and told them on the phone before anyone else did that their Daddy died. I was going to wait until I got home to tell them in person. We stayed in the room until they came and took his body away. We gathered our things and left the hospital. The guys were never able to find a motel earlier thankfully.
Before heading home we stopped and filled up the truck with gas. Writing the amount I asked the date. Kyle said, “March 15.” Victor came back with, “No, it is March 16.” Out of my innermost depths I gasped, “NO!” For March 16 was being looked forward to by everyone as “Kyle Day” we were going to make a carob wicky wacky cake with fresh coconut almond frosting. The day had come and gone with a different twist then we had planned on. We pray it is his new birth day!
All the way home I wrestled and prayed and talked about what should I do for the children and I from this moment forward. Arriving home all four children were waiting for me out side. I jumped out of the truck and engulfed them all in my arms at once. With tears streaming down all our faces they said, “Mom, we can’t let the devil win! We want to stay and finish the work Daddy started!”
About five minutes later the church showed up to give us support. They were so shaken we were the ones comforting them with the blessed hope. Building a fire they prayed with us and for us. They stayed all night singing until six am to go home and get ready for work. I went to bed about one but Victoria and Victor stayed up and sang and talked with our guests. They wanted to come the next two nights and we kindly asked them to come during the day so that no one would get sick and we would love to visit with them during the day. They understood and enjoyed their sleep at night.
Monday the eight of us walked around to find the perfect place to bury Loren. We finally came to where Loren broke ground for the well that was never finished due to the hard rocks. It was the perfect spot. Loren loved the view and this was the first place the ground was broken. After finding the perfect spot Kyle went to work building the coffin out of block board not good for anything else. When it was done we all gathered around the coffin and talked of the precious memories we have of Loren/Dad. The tears flowed but they were sweet tears of precious memories. Tuesday morning the church came back and dug the grave down four feet; part of it through solid rock. They brought their own cook and food so we would not have to worry about cooking for them. Wednesday they dug the last two feet of the grave through solid rock. Also, Wednesday, was the day we went and picked up Loren, pay the hospital bill and get the burial permit. I was informed that the death certificate would take a month to get. That could not be! Kyle was leaving for the home April 1 and needed to take them back to the States with him. We had two people helping us in working through all the red tape at the hospital; Dr Anthony and James the former property owner whose brother is the governor. We were able to go back on Friday and get the death certificates.
Thursday morning Kyle opened the coffin for the children to say one last good bye to their Daddy. They at first did not want to see him because it was the day of the funeral and they wanted to be strong without tears when we all sang but they finally said “OK”. The children summed it up very well, “Mom, it looks like Daddy just lay down to take a twenty minute power nap.” There is such a peaceful expression on his face. I believe he was at peace with his Friend and Saviour Jesus Christ and his very next moment he will hear Jesus calling him from the grave and the next thing he will see is the face of Jesus. We are looking forward with longing anticipation to that incredible day wanting others to be ready for it too. The last few months before Loren died his theme was “We need to let go of the world and sin and cling to Jesus!” So for now we say Good Night See you in the morning!
Loren had a dream of having a branch Sabbath School for the Masai Children who love to come and spend time with us. On Sabbath, six children came with their faces washed and in their best clean clothes. Victoria told them the story of David and Goliath. At the end she shared with them that we don’t have people giants to fight but it is the giants of bad habits and the only way we can do it is with Jesus in our hearts. The children asked, “How can we have Jesus in our hearts to help us fight the giants of bad habits?” What a question! We had the privilege of praying with them and inviting back the next Sabbath. They ran home to tell their family of the great things they had just learned. Today, Sabbath, there was three children, two young adults and a Mom with her baby. These people are hungry for the truth. The story was about the fall of Lucifer they already knew about the fall of man. They are willing to come and sit under a tree and learn. Please keep praying for these precious people! We long for them to be ready to meet Jesus in the clouds of heaven. They loved Loren and had sleepless nights after he died. So I shared a little of the Blessed Hope we have in Jesus!
Sunday morning I woke at 4 to Victoria coming down the ladder very cold. I had her come and crawl in bed with me to warm up. In the next few hours she went through what Loren went through in about four days. I knew that we were dealing with sever malaria. Kyle drove us to the hospital almost two hours away. We had all been tested for malaria Friday and Sabbath afternoon. At the hospital she was put on an IV while waiting for the test results. My suspicions were confirmed. She was put on a very painful Quinine drip. Kyle was getting ready to go home when I got a call from Daniel Hill who was staying with the other three children. “Moriah has a fever!” Kyle drove home and picked up all three children. Daniel kindly offered to stay and hold the fort down until Wednesday when he needed to go back to Nairobi. Moriah prayed she would not need the drugs. The Lord blessed, her fever tested to not be malaria. The doctor had Victoria moved to another room so she and Moriah could be in the same room and then they brought two matrices in for Jessica, Jonathan and I to use. Whenever they came to take care of Victoria they also took care of Moriah. We were in the hospital until Tuesday late afternoon. The hospital staff loved us so much they didn’t want us to leave. They all had to get pictures with us and especially Victoria. We are home now and Victoria is gaining her strength daily. Last night for Friday night worship her praise was that her life was preserved.
God is truly sending the Great Comforter and we have perfect peace and trust. Yes, the tears come sometimes but they are tears of happy memories. For now we are in Kenya as long as God has us to be here. He sent us here on a mission and He will let us know when we are to leave. We are not builders like Loren but we have apprenticed under his guidance. What better way to gain the experience than to put on the tool belt and go to work.
