Please Pray for Us

Blog Post from David Sheppard (3rd oldest in the Sheppard Family)

I'm writing to tell you about a family tragedy. I ask for your prayers as we struggle through this sad time. Wednesday, we received a phone call from our older brother Joseph who lives in Oregon with Grandma and Phoung. He was the bearer of bad news. Grandma had passed away.

Mom left for Oregon Thursday morning and will be tasked with arranging everything necessary to properly address this loss. Aunt Rachel took a couple of days off to help Mom while Phoung went to stay with Aimee (a close friend) for a few days as the family adjusts.

Here I would like to say a few things about my grandmother.

Growing up, I remember always having a loving and helping grandmother. Grandma was always available to help with the kids throughout the years. Helping and teaching others was a common theme in Grandma's life. Grandma was a missionary kid who grew up in China during the '30s and '40s. After moving to Oregon she became a beloved school teacher until she retired. She also helped many of us learn how to read and she always cared about us and frequently asked us how we were and how she could help. She loved to talk about her missionary childhood and one of my favorite stories was about her pet rabbit in a culture where rabbits were simply food and never pets. 

Grandma greatly influenced our desire to become missionaries. For years we had talked about moving to China or Haiti, but we were never sure it was the right decision. Some people questioned what that would be like for all of the children. So we talked to Grandma and decided that if she could leave her friends and family behind in the days before the internet and before commercial airlines, then there is no reason we can't also.

The cliche thing to say is, "she's in a better place". The good news is that's true. She was a believer and she is now with her father in heaven. We just ask for your prayers to help us find closure and ease the grief we feel from this loss.

Thank You,

~DWS