Almost 3 years ago, on August 25, 2001, I boarded a plane in Atlanta with a young man named Sean Galton. We were headed to Costa Rica for language school and then to Lima, Peru as 2 year missionaries. We worked together in Lima for several months before I left Lima for Cusco. Sean worked in Lima for 2 years, ministering to the people there and having a great impact on their lives.

He left Lima this past April to return to the United States after completing his term. He had hopes of pursuing his civil engineering career and starting a family.

Sean apparently began to struggle with depression in May of this year. He was just starting to get help with counseling and medicine when he decided to take his own life last Friday. This has been a terrible blow to all of us here on the field who loved him dearly. We are all struggling to make sense of what has happened.

I know that depression can take over a person and make them think and act in ways that would not be considered "normal" for them. Sean is the last person I would have profiled to commit suicide. He was bright, attractive, talented, and gifted in ministry. He loved the Lord and shared that love with people on and off the field.

Please pray for me, for our team in Lima, and for Sean's family as we struggle through our grief. I have no doubt that Sean is with the Lord and experiencing eternity.

Please pray for us.