In Loving Memory of Ridwan

We were very saddened today to receive a phone call from our good friends back in Salatiga. Pak Jono and Ibu Kasum just lost their brother, Ridwan. My friend, Ibu Kasum, is now the last remaining member of her family at the age of 38 years. We had the opportunity to introduce her to Paul's extended family through Skype. After she had met everyone she told me that the whole family must be very happy. When I asked why she thought that she responded, "They are all alive, healthy and together. Most of my family has already passed away. They just must be so happy to still have each other!". When we moved away from Salatiga she cried saying to me... "Please don't leave me, my parents are gone, my sisters are all gone and now you are leaving. Who do I have to talk to? Please don't go". As you can imagine it was hard to leave her at that moment. Today when she called me I could hardly understand her above the hard crying but she said to me, "My brother is dead, I am the only one left, only me, there is only me and you are so far away". This was heart renching for me. She asked me to pray, even though her and her family are devout Muslims. Our hearts are crying with them as we remember Ridwan, his wife Ismiah and their 2 children. Ridwan was helping a neighbor pick coconuts and fell from the tree. He was only 42 years old. Please pray for them during this difficult time.