Memorial Service

Greetings from Togo – and thank you so very much for your continued prayers for all of us (missionary and Togolese) who are serving our God in this part of the world.  There are times when the fatigue (not just physical but emotional) is huge.

And then I am reminded that God renews my strength, that He allows me to “mount up with wings as an eagle, to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint” (from Isaiah 40:31). And I am reminded that you are standing with me in prayer – and I cannot thank you enough!

The last time I wrote was just after Todd DeKryger, our missionary surgeon in Mango (our northern hospital), went to heaven.   This past week Todd was buried at the Hospital of Hope in Mango. A small service was attended by missionaries, hospital employees, and Muslim friends of the DeKrygers. Friday evening Jennifer, the boys, and a wonderful group of missionaries from the north arrived here at our southern hospital for a memorial service for Todd that was held Saturday morning.  I just returned from that service; what a very special time of honoring God and sharing together our love for Todd and explaining to those who do not know Jesus Christ the joy and peace and assurance of eternal life that is possible because of Him!  During the service, our nursing supervisor, Mensah, told about the last time he and Todd were together.  At that time, Todd said the following:  “Mensah, we are in a battle.  Some of us may die.  It might be me; it might be my wife; it might be one of my boys.  But we continue on in faith.”  That was Todd – willing to give absolutely everything, even his life, to see people understand and respond to the wonderful message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Todd left an incredible legacy.  He is with the Lord.  But you and I are here.  For now.  And what we leave behind is still being “written.”  What a reminder that I need to live faithfully, walking closely with God, doing everything possible to see more and more people brought to Christ.

Here are some words from Jennifer’s latest email:

Isaiah 55: 8 –9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Yesterday one of our sons commented to me that we’ve never before had any life experiences that truly tested if we believe what we say we hold as Truth.   He reminded me of Isaiah 55, the chapter of Scripture above that we’ve memorized as a family.  This passage goes on to confirm that God ALWAYS accomplishes what He desires.  That gives me comfort today.  He is my God, my desire is His glory, and His ways are higher. He WILL accomplish His desires. Thank you for continuing to pray for the boys and I.  Like never before in my life I sense the hand of God sustaining us.  The cost of serving Jesus is worth it all, even when the cost may mean laying down your life as Todd did.

Trusting still,
Jennifer, Will, Grant, Luke and Andrew

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 40:1  I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Specific prayer requests from the DeKrygers:
-Keep praying for our friends in Mango who do not hold firmly to this hope we have in Christ.  They’ve watched us mourn yet we’ve intentionally shared words about the salvation found in Christ.  We’ve had countless opportunities to share, like never before.
-Please pray that God would not allow a spirit of bitterness in any of us, that we would focus on the immense love of Christ for us and the tremendous gifts God gives us.
-Above all, pray that the name of Jesus would be magnified and many would come to know Him personally.

-Shared by Sharon Rahilly