Death is so hard. And yet …
        And yet heaven is very real.

This is why Jesus came. To atone for our sin and give us genuine hope of everlasting Life.

Would you pray for the Helmly family this Easter weekend? 15 weeks ago we buried Frank’s mom, Terrie – but her home-going was full of joy as she was free from the suffering caused by cancer. I understood what it means by the verse “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

Just 5 weeks ago we buried Frank’s niece. Cheryl was 17. She was on her way to high school and in just a short moment of time and a car accident, she was in the arms of Jesus. I weep as I write this, but please pray for her parents, Chip and Kim and their son, Will (he's 21). Chip is Frank's brother. I feel pain, but I truly cannot imagine the pain they are going through. If testing of one's faith is quantifiable, I think this is the hardest test of faith anyone is asked to go through. There are so many unanswered questions.

And here we are at Easter.

I Peter 1:3-4 says "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you".

Wow. By God's mercy, we can take time this weekend to ponder His sacrifice and rejoice in His Resurrection. We may hurt for a short time while we spend our days here, but we can live out an eternity of peace and hope. And we can rejoice together in that truth.

For this I am thankful. And I am grateful to you for sharing this burden with us in prayer for our family.

It has been one year since our transition back to life in the US. And I have (slowly) grown in my awareness of God's sovereign hand bringing us home. Thank you for your prayers for us while we were in Quito. And thank you for your prayers for us since we have returned home.

Speaking of home, my MTW workload and responsibility is increasing. It has been amazing how much contact I can have with people serving all over Mexico via phone, computer and internet! I am volunteering my time but will need to raise a relatively small amount of ministry funds to allow me to travel a few times a year to Mexico. Meeting face-to-face with both American missionaries and Mexican nationals will reap positive results for serving as a liaison between the missionary and stateside churches. If you have any interest in helping out, our missionary account remains the same.

May you have a blessed Easter weekend.

Gratefully yours,

Darlene

Frank & Darlene Helmly