Author: Rick

I just got off the phone with Merrill and also Susan (Howard’s wife). Merrill had just arrived. It was disheartening to hear Merrill say that Howard was worse than he had imagined. Merrill said Howard basically continues as an invalid, unable to walk, exercise, see, or think right. Susan said he thinks he’s in Mexico (he’s in Salmon Arm BC Canada). But Susan did say that he’s opening his eyes a little more which may indicate that the cerebral inflammation is going down some. Regardless, she said that she has heard of few other people who have had a similar case of viral encephalitis and it can take a year to recover (Merrill said in some cases 4 years). Susan said that barring a miracle, she would expect it may take another year from now.

So this puts Susan in a real tough spot as they are all trying to function in Merrill’s condo in BC. Howard’s bed is down stairs in the living room now which eliminates stairs, but with the winter now setting in and very little support network locally, Susan REALLY wants to take Howard back home to Mexico where they have a larger house and plenty of support on all sides for his recovery, not to mention being able to go outside in their yard. So the biggest pressing need is how to get Howard (he’s a huge man) back to Mexico.

The reason they were in Canada was to renew Canadian status. Susan has applied to the government to give an extension to their deadline so that Howard could first heal up and then they could come back to Canada to renew their Canadian status (this status, if lost, would affect their Canadian benefits which they have paid into all these years as ’employees of a Canadian agency’). So the prayer requests are: 1. to get government approval to return and 2. to find a way to get him back down there.

One thought that came up in the conversation was if there was someone with a motorhome that would drive Howard and Susan back to Mexico that could be a wonderful way to transport him as he can’t be climbing stairs to get into an airplane and it’s extremely hard to get him in and out of a wheelchair.

Robin and I are about to be heading down to Mexico. We (Lord willing) depart November 14th from here in Canada. We will be right next door to Susan and Howard’s house so we would also be close by them if they could return.

We all appreciate your prayers and thoughts regarding Howard’s trial which is also Susan’s trial. Please pray for her too, I can’t imagine how exhausting this is for her. Thank you.

t.

As you know the 20,000 P Bibles which made their way from Bogotá to the P nation ran out within about a month’s time. Boxes and boxes were dispersed and slowly made their way to their designated destinations. Here is a photo of a small church in one of the farthest P villages (Caño Tama Tama) which just last week finally received their portion. E took this photo and sent it to me when he got back to town. It has been extremely difficult in these days of crisis in Venezuela to obtain fuel and to travel the rivers. You can see in the photo E and his wife L on the left hand side. E has been such a force in the Lord tirelessly working in SO many ways. Who would have thought that he would have personally made it his responsibility to get these Bibles to TT.

You are also aware that since the 20,000 Bibles quickly ran out, E requested another 15,000 as there are still scads of villages without Bibles many of which spill over onto the Colombian side of the border. We have been collecting funds for those Bibles as they would have to be printed and shipped again down the river on a river barge and over the border again. More miracles will be needed. If the Lord blesses us again with the 50% discount printing, the cost for another 15,000 Bibles would be $60,000 USD. As of last week the tally sent in to SOM came to $28,000 USD.

However, today I received a phone call from SOM director David Witt. I couldn’t believe it when he told me that someone just sent in another $50,000 USD for the P Bibles! He couldn’t believe it when I told him I had no knowledge of this. We both stood in amazement at the provision of the LORD and what He is doing among the P’s and for that matter all over the earth.

I just thought you’d like to know this that you too may rejoice and give thanks to our heavenly Father as His mercy endures forever.

t.

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1

Hello! It’s Robin here. Many of you may have never heard from me but maybe some of you remember how I used to write all the letters and updates while we were living in Venezuela for 10 years. We are so thankful for all those who read, appreciate and pray for the things we communicate.

For many years, my main focus was feeding our family and raising our 5 children. I homeschooled one or several for 20 years! As the kids got older and I had more time, I found myself being drawn to the arts, and specifically oil painting. I have been developing and enjoying that for around 10 years. I find great joy in being creative and thank God that He made me an artist. We are made in the image of God and one great aspect of His person is that He is Creator. I consider it a privilege that I can enter into His creative activity, imagination and inspiration. Photography has helped me see in a new way and consider the beauty and wonders all around me. Recently, someone has made me aware that the first mention of someone being filled with the Spirit of God is in Exodus when God was calling the artisans to create parts of the tabernacle. The Lord spoke, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood”, “…I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans…” (Exodus 31:3-6)

As we have been in Mexico and Tim has been teaching the Bible at the school there, I have been filling the walls with paintings of local scenes. In recent years, I have focused on providing paintings for the nearby orphanage. Last year as I was delivering 4 paintings, I had a chance to speak to the kids living in the house and tell them how they are all beautiful creations of the Great Artist and that He may be making some of them to be artists. Also last year, I enjoyed bringing a daughter of one of the Mexican teachers into my painting room and walking her through her first painting. I loved seeing her incredible talent and joy. I loved gifting her with paints, brushes and supplies to keep painting.

I see many fellow Canadians and education systems realizing that music and art can be effectively used in dealing with trauma. Personally, I sense God speaking in the arts. I think we have all been touched in many ways through music, sensing realities that can not be communicated in other ways. I have been writing poetry, reading literature, dancing, painting and taking photos.

Another thing that I have been spending time on is being with my 9 wonderful grandchildren. We are blessed to have 5 of them living in the same town when we are in Canada. They are precious little people and one of my greatest joys in life is being in their lives and building them up with special memories and experiences. How important it is to do all we can for children who will become the future society. It is easier to build healthy, loved and secure people than to deal with all the problems that come from early harmful experiences. God help all people raising children in these strange and difficult times!

As I am writing this, I can hear Tim talking to several Piaroas on the computer. I can hear them sharing and laughing. Now he just came in and told me that he got this video call out of the blue and a group of Piaroas in a village in the jungle (up river from where we used to live) now have a satellite internet connection, solar powered and will be keeping in touch with him. He said that they want to be a connection for thousands of Piaroa believers in the area to be able to converse with him. Wow, you never know what a day will hold.

I can’t express how precious these people are, so humble and grateful and hungry to learn. They love God! I often imagine them, as I pray, in their homes and places of gathering, reading and hearing the words of the Scriptures in their own language. What realities is the Spirit of God waking them up to, what truths is He making them see? As these things are revealed to them, I pray for transformation. What an incredible part of the body of Christ they are! God fill and direct and provide for them all.

We appreciate each one of you and your partnering with us.
With love,

Robin

Here is an update from Howard’s daughter Katie

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Hello again!

I am again writing to update you on my dad, as it’s been a little while. The reason I haven’t written is because there really isn’t any change or improvement. After arriving home from the hospital my parents were exhausted and my dad especially, being very weak and off balance. Two days after my parents left the hospital, we received the news that my Uncle Murray, in Australia, passed away. He had cancer and we knew he didn’t have much longer, but it’s still hard. My Mom has mentioned that my dad is very disconnected with everything and everyone. He isn’t himself; he barely speaks all day…. he just wants to sleep constantly.

What do we know?
We know that there is swelling in his brain from the West Nile Virus.

What do we do?
Because there is no cure or way to help him medicine wise, my mom is putting him on a strict diet of foods known to bring down inflammation. He is receiving cognitive therapy and hopefully can be set up soon with physical therapy.

The challenges
My dad isn’t able to use his right side well, so this makes getting around on his own impossible. My Mom helps my dad with everything, things like: helping him put toothpaste on his toothbrush, sometimes help with meals, bathroom breaks, dressing, showering, and so on. This has been a huge learning experience for both of them! My dad, being the strong, capable man he “normally” is, he doesn’t always realize he can’t do things. He has fallen twice when trying to get out of bed and walk on his own. The second time he fell my mom said it broke her heart when she asked him why he attempted on his own and he responded that he thought he was better that day. And for my mom, she is learning how to help a big man without falling down with him! She has a belt around him that helps her steady him and together they get around. My Uncle Wes comes in the evening to help my dad make it up the stairs safe and sound for bed.

We continue to ask for your prayers for my dad’s healing and for my mom as she takes care of him. Thank you so very much for continuing to stand with us. Again, we so appreciate your support and prayers.

One last thing, my sister is able to sneak up to Canada for a week this month, we’re thrilled that she is able to go, even if it’s short. We’re so thankful that she will be able to help and encourage my parents during that time.

That’s all for now, thank you for praying for us all! Blessings, and Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian Family and Friends! There is always so much to be thankful for, even in the midst of trials, so we are counting our blessings and continuing to praise our mighty and faithful Father.

Bye for now,

-Katie

Thank you for having prayed for Murray while he was still with us. I received news that yesterday at 7:30am PST Murray breathed his last. As far as I know Murray intellectually tried to be a dedicated atheist to the time of his passing, but truly only God knows the journeys that took place in his heart even up to his final hours. We will not know the dialogues in the heart that took place. Yesterday morning Murray slipped out of his body and he likely then observed his body laying in the hospice care bed with his friends around him mourning. He likely tried to speak with them and they could not hear and then as he ascended away into dimensions more real than this one, I wonder what he thought or experienced? If at that time his mind was still clouded with the demonic wisdom of materialistic atheism he likely wondered, “Why am I conscious? What’s going on?” But as the layers of blindness are removed I sense strongly that he will have been liberated from these dark powers in the mind and heart and returned to his true heart which as a youth confessed Jesus Christ as LORD. Returning to this truth he is likely at this time overwhelmed by the powerful, healing grace and love of his true Father, stepping into his true home, seeing clearly what he has really always known deep down in his childlike heart, but tried to suppress through bitterness or pain. God knows, we trust. God loves, for He is love and does all things well.

Murray is survived by his mother Esther, brothers Wes, Merrill, Howard, Vern and sister Jen. Your prayers for them are much appreciated during this difficult time in the Dyck family.

Thank you so much,

t.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-15