Nazarene Missionary Dies in Sleep

[desert_island_1]

Well, many of you may of noticed that I have recently switched into clothes for mourning. A man who is a long term missionary in South Africa and a member of my former church passed away in his sleep last night. This is the 3rd man to pass away in that church in 25 months. The part that I guess makes this even sadder is that although the man and his wife had been trying for many years to get pregnant they were unable - until about 6 months ago. Heather is due to have their first child in March. Nobody besides God knows how Derek died, other than the fact it was peaceful and in his sleep. I guess a miracle is that many people from this church were planning to to to South Africa to help with his mission for a month and among those people is the pastor of the church. They are still going but with a new mission ahead - to comfort Heather. Derek was a long time Nazarene and grew up as a missionary's kid so it only seemed fitting that he became one too.

Can you all please pray for Derek, Heather, their child to be, the people going, the mission, the church, the people who are unable to go. Really, anything you can think of that surrounds this situation.

Kristy

[desert_island_1]

Derek had recently turned 40. Heather is from Alberta and has no relatives other than Derek's family living in the area. The part that makes this more emotionally hard is that 18 months ago we had another man pass away from heart disease that we did not know about. He was 33 and left behind a wife and 2 kids aswell as a thriving children's ministry that was about to go international! On top of that 25 months ago another seemingly healthly young man (he had epilepsy but had not had any siezures for a long time) was taken in his sleep.

UPDATE: I have recently 'through the grapevine' found out how he died. Heather apparently woke up to him gasping for air at 6:30 am local time. His eyes were open but he was unconcious. Heather immediatly called some friends who came promptly and started preforming CPR. The ambulance came 30 minutes later and Derek was dead by that time. The neighbours did not stop until the ambulance came and he was said to be dead.

Kristy

[Diane_Windsor]

:crossrc: May Derek RIP and rise in glory. May the HG comfort his loved ones.

:pray: