I have written prayer letters on a regular basis since early 2000 without missing any, except once. I have enjoyed writing prayer letters and being accountable to my supporting churches for these past 23 years, reporting on what God is doing in my ministry. However; this is the prayer letter I never wanted to write, the only prayer letter I am not enjoying writing, the report I never wanted to give; yet even when I do not want to, I must be faithful—it is my duty.
In late August, my wife started coughing. Both of us thought it was just a cough! But in the early morning of September 1, she felt very ill. I rushed her to the hospital, where after a few hours, she was diagnosed with severe pneumonia. She was put into an induced coma and on a ventilator. A week later, my wife had some very good days, and it looked like she was ready to be off the ventilator. However, her kidneys began to fail, and she slowly began to go downhill. On the night of Wednesday, September 13, she took a turn for the worse. Then on Thursday, at 7:25 a.m., her heart stopped beating! My wife of 37 years went Home to be with the Lord. We buried her on the mission field where our three daughters live. It was her wish!
My wife’s funeral and burial were packed with Christians we had led to the Lord and others we had known from many years on the field. Pastors around us and their congregations were present to show us their love and support. Many ladies gave their testimony of how my wife was a blessing to them. I will miss my wife! But I know that she is in Heaven, and I will see her again someday! ♪ “But until then, my heart will go on singing. Until then, with joy I’ll carry on. Until the day my eyes behold the city, until the day God calls me Home.” ♪
After talking with my area field director, we agreed that since I had not taken a furlough longer than three months since 2016, this is the time for me to do so! I can sit under my pastor’s preaching and counsel. This will also be a time of rest, a time to heal, and a time to refocus.
I don’t know how soon I will be in the U.S. I have to get some things ready on the mission field before I head there, but I will let you know as soon as I land and get settled in the States.
Please pray for:
1. My three daughters and my son. They are all adults and have their lives.
2. Me—I will have to learn to live without my wife.
In His service,
Ricardo Leyva
leyva4christ@hotmail.com • ricardo.Leyva@fbmi.org