Prayers for the family of a fellow warrior in Christ

Asking for prayer support for the Tamanisau family, and Island Breeze. This week Island Breeze lost a faithful member of it's team, Jerry Tamanisau. Jerry had been serving with Youth with a Mission for over ten years, using his talents of playing musical instruments, his love for youth, his soccer and rugby abilities, and his ability to dance to spread the gospel of Christ throughout the nations. I had the honor to serve with him at Island Breeze until this past January when he was married and stayed in his home country Fiji with his new wife Amanda (from America). He was diagnosed in June with an aggressive stomach cancer that had spread to his liver and other organs. We all mourn not only the loss of a ministry partner but also a faithful friend and example of generosity and faithfulness to God's call. I've copied a portion of his wife, Amanda's , words to us because she is inspiring in her response to the circumstances around her. Please continue to pray for Amanda as she is expecting Jerry's child in May. May we all be inspired to live the life we've been given to the fullest, not in Jerry's honor, but as he would say , "To Give Glory to God".... Amen

From Amanda:
"About a month before Jerry got to the worst, we were talking… I was asking him what are some of the main things he thought God was teaching us through all this… he said it was all about THE CALL… he was determined that when he got through all this, he was going to be that much more dedicated & committed to pursuing the true Call of God on his life – why he started missions in the first place...  In January, when we were given Psalm 90 about numbering our days to gain a heart of wisdom, we had NO idea how spot on that would be for our lives in 2011…

 

One of the saddest things I have seen as I travel around the world is a wasted life – whether it is wasted because people don't know what to do & wander through life aimlessly,unsure of God's hand-crafted plan for their lives,OR whether it is wasted because they focus on selfish & temporary pursuits rather than count the cost, focus on ETERNITY, & let God be the Lord over every area… one thing I would like to challenge all of Jerry's friends & family that the best way you can honour his life is to take that scripture to heart, lay down your lives & fully pursue the call of God RIGHT NOW…don't put it off… "waste" your life for Him in whatever sphere He takes you into & create impact for His glory."