Posts Tagged ‘Hope’

Give Thanks: God is Restoring What You’ve Lost

Posted: November 9, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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God is Answering Our Prayer for Restoration
These are just a few of the special friends that the Lord has brought into our life who have become like family to us.
From the top going clockwise: Yudy, Petri, Dawn, Dave, Roberto, Eliel, Jessica, Tirsa, Sarvia, Berenice, Mariel, Jose Luis, Blanca & Federico; Eliel & Jessica with Sarvia & Tirsa; Juan, Viki, Lucy, Jorge, Dave, Dawn, Blanca and Federico; Monse, Dawn, MiRae and Dave; Dave, Davis, Luz, Dawn, Ashley, Emi and Deivis.

Last Tuesday Dawn and I had lunch with a pastor’s wife from Moscow, Russia. She was telling us about her experience in Russia, and how although she was living in Russia she was actually from Ukraine, and her husband was Russian. It was interesting to hear her perspective on what was going on and how hard life is in Russia. She said that the people in Russia and Ukraine are used to suffering – in that they are used to having to live without things. Our new friend’s name is Tatiana. Dawn even met Tatiana’s daughter.

Dawn and I shared with Tatiana about our daughter, Hannah and how just a couple of weeks ago it was the 6th anniversary of when Hannah moved to heaven. Tatiana was very encouraging as she listened to our story. We told her that since Hannah died we have been praying for God’s restoration and redemption of what we’ve lost and suffered. One of the ways the Lord is answering this prayer is through all the young people that God has brought into our lives that we’ve adopted into our family. They’ve become like family to us. Special friends mainly from Mexico and Cuba. In the last year the Lord blessed us with a special friendship with a young woman from Korea. God is expanding our borders and our family.

We encourage and love on these special friends. They have told us how much they appreciate us, and many of them call us their, Padre and Madre, (Dad and Mom). This is more common in the Latin context, and we love the connection we have with them. The Lord has been wonderfully gracious to grow our family in this way. These relationships are some of the highlights of our ministry. Some of the fruit of our work and God’s work in us.

Our special friends from Ministerios Transformación (MT) led by Pastor Daniel Nuñez and his wife, Yolanda (photo middle left). Some of the church planters we are working with going through an orientation and training (top photo). Dawn praying with Pastor Victor Bravo and his wife, Sol and their son, Abraham (middle right). Our sons David & Jonathan helping build one of MT’s churches in Rosarito (bottom right). Pastor Ivan & Rocio Casados with Dawn and Dave (bottom left).

Someone said recently that a seed has to die and then it goes into the ground and it bears fruit. Although I must admit I don’t understand Hannah’s untimely death I do believe that God is restoring what we have lost. We are seeing increased fruit. I used to feel guilty when I would sense that we were somehow being blessed in someway since Hannah died. God is giving me more peace in this area, and I’m seeing God answering our prayer for restoration.

After we shared our story about Hannah and praying for restoration. Tatiana said she thought we should also start thanking God for answering our prayers. He is answering it through all these beautiful people, sons and daughters that he has brought into our family. God has even given us some additional grandchildren through these relationships.

As Tatiana was sharing with us and encouraging us my eyes began to tear up, as I sensed God’s love and grace.

Job’s Example of Perseverance in Suffering
Some of our familia from the Big Island – From upper left clockwise: Dunesky; Rene & Yarelis; Ernesto & Damara; Adnier & Mariesly (who are now in Dominican Republic); Oniel & Heidy; Mario, Dave, Sara & Yany; Sara, Dave & Justo; Luis & May with their family. What a great group!

The next day the Lord continued to confirm what he was saying to us through Tatiana. I was reading through my devotional and it led me to read about Job in James and in the book of Job.
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“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

James‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬ (emphasis mine)

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.”
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Job‬ ‭42‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV (emphasis mine)

Even though I had read these passages before this time it hit me in a new way. The timing of when the Lord led me to read about Job’s life was amazing. God uses Job’s perseverance as an example in the New Testament. He was patient in the face of suffering. Job 42 speaks specifically about how God restored what he had lost. I especially love that it says, “The Lord blessed the latter par of Job’s life more than the former part.”

Wow! God is so good. He is full of wonderful kindness. It’s easy to miss if we only look at the pain and suffering. I thank the Lord for His love, and for the amazing ways that he has brought about restoration to our family. It’s an ongoing work, but I already see so much evidence of God’s restorative work!

I hope my reflections would be of encouragement to you. God is able and willing to restore what you have suffered.

Our daughter, Hannah loved the work that we do. She loved ministering with us. She prayed for the pastors we work with. We are raising funds right now to support our two church plants in Mexicali, and our church plant in Oaxaca. We continue to support our familia on the Big Island well.

Join us in Prayer & Extend Your Hands to Help Our Familia
Our last family photo taken in July of 2016

You can make a gift to support these works in memory of our daughter, Hannah by clicking on the link below.

Dawn and I invite you to join us through prayer and by giving a special gift today to help advance the kingdom through our church plants on the Border, the Baja and Beyond! Thank you for praying for our family and considering this request!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond!
BeyondBordersLife.org

God’s Comfort in Our Sorrow

Posted: October 17, 2022 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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The Night That Changed Our Lives
Our beautiful daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Diaso

On Monday, October 17th, six years ago just before midnight Dawn and I found our daughter, Hannah on the floor in her bedroom. Her lips were blue and she was not breathing. We tried to resuscitate her, but we were not successful. We also called 911 and the paramedics arrived soon after, but they couldn’t revive her.

I still remember when the woman came downstairs and told me that they did all they could, but unfortunately they were not able to save our daughter. I was in shock. Numb. Dawn was crying, but I didn’t even know how to react. There’s nothing in life that can prepare you for such a horrendous experience.

Since it was 6 years ago this year the day that it falls on is the same, because we found her on Monday, October 17th. They pronounced her deceased on the 18th, and that is what her death certificate reads. Obviously these are difficult dates for our family.

Yesterday I was sitting in church getting ready to share about a short term missions trip to Mexicali, Mexico and I started remembering all that happened 6 years ago on the days leading up to Hannah’s move to heaven.

On Saturday the 15th six years ago we finished building a church that we were helping to plant in Rosarito, Mexico. On Sunday the church held their inaugural service. I wasn’t able to attend, because Hannah wasn’t doing well. That evening, Sunday evening we had some friends come over to pray with us for Hannah. It was a special experience, but we were concerned for Hannah, although we didn’t think she was in danger of dying.

Then Monday evening we experienced the worst pain that we’ve ever experienced.

The Pain and Sorrow of Death
Hannah liked going with me to Starbucks and taking selfies

As I mentioned before I never thought too much about how horrible death was until Hannah died. I used to think for a Christian it’s not so bad, because now they are in heaven. Of course, it is true that we have the hope of heaven and it is a sure hope. Yet, our loving Heavenly Father created the world perfect and without death. Death did not enter the world until man fell in sin. Sin ushered in death and pain.

I don’t want to belabor that point, but it’s helped me to understand that God created the world perfect, and there was no death in Eden.

Other points that have helped me in my grief is Jesus’s life and experience with Lazarus. Jesus wept when Lazarus died, which has always puzzled me. Jesus who knows what heaven is like more than anyone that has ever lived cried when his friend died. He cried even though he knew the glory and perfection of heaven. He wept even though he knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Why did Jesus cry?

I think he wept at least in part, because he loved his friend and he hated how sin affected Lazarus and man.

Hope as We Wait
Hannah with David & Jonathan

We struggle to understand how terrible sin is and how it corrupted man and God’s once perfect creation. Paul teaches us that all of creation groans until the day of redemption. We eagerly await for God’s powerful and loving plan of redemption to be fulfilled.

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans‬ ‭8:20-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬ (emphasis mine)

Paul speaks of the groaning as we wait along with creation for our liberation from the bondage to corruption. We wait in hope. I give thanks for this hope. God is so good to give us hope. What would we do without hope? Biblical hope is speaking of a sure thing. It’s not maybe yes, maybe no. It’s a sure hope.

Another passage that Paul wrote that has encouraged me since Hannah moved to heaven is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭ESV

We grieve. It is sad 😢. Yet we have hope, we don’t grieve like those without hope. Thank Jesus for the Hope that we have in Christ!

Our loving Father continues to bring us healing, and He uses our suffering. We’ve seen the Lord give us many opportunities to minister and love people who experience loss and pain. We are more able to weep with those who weep.

You Have Turned My Mourning into Dancing
Hannah on the night she graduated from the ministry school she was involved in IMPACT 195. This photo was taken just two months before she moved to heaven.

Just last week a new friend gave me a word of encouragement. He told me that our tears will turn to joy. I thank the Lord for the promises that He gives me. Hope in Christ is one of the most important things that has sustained me during these years since Hannah moved to heaven. In Psalm 30 the Psalmist says that the Lord changed my mourning into a joyous dance and he took off my mourning clothes and clothed me with joy. I know that many, the vast majority of us have lost someone close, a loved one – maybe your dad, your mom, your brother or sister or a child or someone else that you were close to and it’s not easy. Only God has the power to sustain you. Only God can comfort you. Only God can take off your mourning clothes and clothe you with joy.

One of my prayers and one of the desires that I have for my life and that of my family and for you too is that God is restoring what we have suffered, that God is redeeming what we have lost. And I trust that my Papa God hears my requests and He answers my cry. And He does the same for you. That is why our mourning will turn into joy.

Angel in the sky taken on the 1 year anniversary of when Hannah moved to heaven. This photo was taken from our backyard

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”‬‬

Psalm‬ ‭30:4-5, 10-12‬ ‭ESV

We do praise the Lord and we will give thanks to him forever. I do not doubt God’s goodness. There’s much that I don’t understand. There are mysteries too high for me to grasp, but I don’t doubt my loving Father. I don’t doubt His goodness and His loving care for my family and me!

Hannah loved the work that we do. She loved ministering with us. She prayed for the pastors we work with. We are raising funds right now to support our two church plants in Mexicali. We continue to support our familia on the Big Island well.

Our last family photo taken in July of 2016

You can make a gift to support these works in memory of our daughter, Hannah by clicking on the link below. Thank you for praying for our family and considering this request!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond
BeyondBordersLife.

God Speaks Through Dates

Posted: May 26, 2022 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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A Special Day for Our Family
Our family at David & Emily’s wedding – Jonathan, Hannah, Grandma Alice Moore, Dawn, David Jr., Emily, David Sr., Grandpa Ron Diaso

I’m getting this out late, because I was driving up to Fresno most of the day, but I wanted to get it out before I went to bed.

Today is a very special day for my family two years ago today my dad moved to heaven and three years ago today our son David married Emily. It’s their third anniversary.

This year especially God has been speaking to me and using the important dates of our biological and spiritual family. For example, our granddaughter, Serafina was born on April 29 and God gave me Jeremiah 29:11 and Ephesians 4:29 – starting with verse with 26 to 30.

God’s Good Promises

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today I feel like God is giving me Ephesians 5:26 and the verses surrounding it. This passage emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit and it also speaks about marriage. The wife is to respect her husband and the husband needs to show love to his wife as Christ loves the church. This is a perfect love without blemish. The wife cannot be truly successful in respecting her husband well if she is not filled with the Spirit. The husband cannot show unconditional love to his wife if he is not filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit makes all the difference!

If I am honest even in my own life I know that there are things I can do better to love my beloved wife, Dawn in a way that honors Christ. I’d like to encourage each of you to be filled with the Spirit. Grow in the Spirit. For those who are married, love your spouse like Christ loves the church, show respect like Christ and even forgive like Christ that way you will be filled with joy in this life.

Ronald J. Diaso – Life in the Spirit
Ronald John Diaso – 6/19/1935-5/26/2020

I find it special that my dad affirmed his faith just before he moved to heaven. God made it clear to us that he was filled with the Spirit as he confessed his sins and prayed to receive Christ forgiveness just days before he parted this world. Another special memory is that David and Emily called my dad the day before he died and told him that they wanted to name their first daughter, Serafina. My great grandmother was also named Serafina. That brought tears to my dad’s eyes. God has blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter who was born in April 29 of 2021..

A Christ Centered Marriage

It’s also encouraging that this passage in Ephesians 5 that it speaks about a Christ centered and a Spirit filled marriage on David and Emily’s anniversary!

David & Emily – Married on 5/26/2019

I pray daily for David and Emily’s marriage. I do the same for Jonathan and Hannah’s marriage. I trust that God hears and he watches over them and protects them. Hallelujah! Amen!

Join us in prayer for our family!

Ephesians 5:18-30

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.”

Ephesians‬ ‭5:18-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬
Help take the Gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond!
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In His Grip, Dave
BeyondBordersLife.org

A Tribute to Jayson Kyle

Posted: March 22, 2022 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Mom and Jayson Kyle – March 19th
Jay Kyle: photo credit to City to City, Tim Keller’s Tribute to Jay Kyle

Saturday, March 19 marked the second year, since my mom, Virginia A. Diaso moved to heaven. It also was the first day a close friend and mentor, Jayson Kyle moved to heaven. It’s interesting to me that both my mom and now Jay share this same date when they entered into the Father’s presence.

It was a shock for me and all that knew Jay that it all happened so quickly. He had a massive stroke on March 7th, and his brain hemorrhaged. Thousands of people from around the world prayed for Jay over the last two weeks, but it was his time to meet his Savior face to face.

Jay served Christ tirelessly in missions work in Latin America and Asia for close to 50 years. He also grew up on the mission field as his parents were missionaries with Wycliffe.

Jay: a Wonderful Leader and Friend
From upper left clock wise: Jay with Jim DeWitt and Dave; Jay with Jim, Dave, Dawn, Verne & Alina Marshall; Jay having fun in the white shirt with City to City Latin America colleagues; Jay with his wife, Maureen

I first met Jay in 1985 when I was a young seminary student. I had just returned from my first short-term missions trip to Mexico, and he was recruiting a team of missionaries to go to Mexico City. I was one of many leaders that Jay found. He had an amazing gift of connecting with people. Dawn and I served in Mexico City with Jay and Maureen Kyle in the 90’s. Those were very formative years for us in ministry, and God used Jay and Bill Goodman to build into us and grow us.

Even after we left Mexico City and Mission to the World (MTW) Jay continued to mentor me. He gave me wonderful advice and was always willing to connect me to others that he knew. When Dawn and I were still living in Colorado Springs and looking for another ministry I called Jay. He connected us with Dick Kaufmann and the Harbor Church planting network in San Diego. This opened the door to a great partnership with the Harbor churches, which also launched us in ministry. Dick later told me that “since Jay recommended you I knew that you were someone that we should seek to partner with.”

Jay was also one of the best fund raisers I knew. He gave me some great advice regarding fund raising. His brother, Marc also encouraged me in this area as this gift of raising funds runs in the family.

I feel privileged to be able to say that Jay was my friend. The Lord blessed Dawn and me greatly to have him in our lives, and that’s a big reason why it is so hard to say good-bye to our friend.

Dr. Timothy Keller, former pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City and best selling author, wrote an impressive tribute to Jay. Tim and Jay knew each other for a long time, and Jay worked with Tim through City to City.

Dr. Keller wrote, “Jay worked in Asia and Latin America (two places he had lived) while his co-pioneer Al Barth took Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The remarkable global network of City to City, which has produced hundreds of new urban churches around the world, grew from the personal mission work of Jay and Al. Their accomplishment is astonishing and largely unsung.

Jay was famous for his relational skills. He had a supernatural gift of encouragement, of which everyone in my family at one time or another was a recipient. This week, one of my sons said that Jay was the kindest and most affirming man he’d ever met.” Read rest of the tribute here…

When I think of Jay, I do feel sad that he is no longer with us as he was a great man and a great friend. It feels like he left too suddenly before we were ready to say goodbye. My heart goes out to his family. Dawn and I are praying for them often during these last weeks. Join us in lifting them up in prayer.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to have known Jay and to work alongside him for a number of years. He fought the good fight, and he finished the race. He’s a wonderful example for all of us to follow.

I can’t help but think that after Jay was greeted by his savior and his family that my mom and my daughter were also standing in line to welcome him to heaven. That makes me feel sentimental, but I do give thanks for the wonderful hope that we have beyond this life. I look forward to one day joining them, and when that day arrives, I will thank Jay for being such a great encouragement and help to my family and me!

In His Grip, Dave
P.S. Help take the gospel to the Border, the Baja and Beyond!

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Give Thanks for Our Familia

Posted: December 1, 2021 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Grateful for God’s Goodness to Us
Pastors that we work with in Mexico (clockwise starting from upper left): Pastor Davis & Luz Pardo (Tijuana), Pastor Eliel & Jessica Osorio (Oaxaca), Pastor Jose Luis & Mariel Rodriguez (Colima), A group of pastors including Pastor Petri & Yudy Petrikowski (far left – Ensenada), Pastor Federico and Blanca Muñoz (Mexicali).

Dawn and I were able to take a break during the week of Thanksgiving and the pause in our regular schedule gave me the opportunity to think about things that I’m truly grateful for.

One of the biggest reasons that I give thanks is for God’s goodness and His tender care for our family. This year he graced us with our first granddaughter. Who is truly angelic. Dawn and I both give thanks for how our Father is working in the life of David Jr. and Emily, as well as Jonathan and Hannah.

Dave & Dawn with Mirae Lee and Monse Santiago. They are studying at Westminster Seminary nearby. Mirae is from Korea and Monse is from Mexico City.

Another thing that I am thankful for is how God has graced us with a growing spiritual family. Dawn and I enjoy the privilege of being dad and mom, or papá and mamá to a number of the young people that our Papa God has brought into our lives. This reminds me that just a few months after Hannah moved to heaven some friends spoke into our lives and told us that they believed God has gifted Dawn and me to be a Mother and Father to others.

Redemption and Restoration through Family
Pastors that we minister with on the Big Island – our familia

This has been one of the ways the Lord has redeemed and restored what we’ve suffered. What we’ve lost. Not that these relationships can in anyway replace Hannah, but they do bring a measure of healing.

I feel proud as a Papá, and I enjoy being a dad to my own family as well as our spiritual family. I find great joy in these beautiful relationships. The wonderful thing about it is we mutually love and encourage one another.

At the end of the book of Job it says, “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters.”

Job‬ ‭42:10-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

My point isn’t that we’ve suffered as much as Job, although we have suffered. I’m seeking to highlight how God in his kindness has a way of bringing healing, and restoring the loss that we’ve suffered.

Our Loving Father Uses Our Pain
Pastors and leaders from the Big Island – our familia

I hate that Hannah is no longer on earth with us, while at the same time I’m so grateful for our hope of heaven. I’m grateful for a God who is acquainted with grief, and who uses our pain. He uses our journey to bless others. There’s still so much that I don’t know, and that I don’t understand, but I do know that God is good and that He desires to give His children good things.

I know that he made me to be a loving and caring dad to other young friends that we minister with. It gives me a sense of pride when they call me papá in Spanish, which means dad. Some of them also call me padre in Spanish, which means father. And they call Dawn mamá and madre, mom and mother.

I give thanks for these relationships, and I see God doing a greater work in and through Dawn and me as our spiritual family grows.

These are some of the reasons that I give thanks!

God is so good!

Extend Your Hands to Help!
Families that we have helped on the Big Island – they are holding up signs that say “Friends helping hands,” to thank us for extending our hands to help them

Our love for our familia and our concern for them moves us to help them in their need. This is especially true for our familia on the Big Island, because of all they are suffering. We give thanks that they can now meet together for public church services after almost two years of not being able to gather. However, the food shortage continues, the lack of basic needs continues. The inflation for food and goods has reached 500%. So we ask you at this time to extend your hands to help our familia. Thank you for taking the time to pray for our familia and to consider this need!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

Explosive Growth Despite Persecution

Posted: November 9, 2021 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Nothing Can Stop the Advance of the Gospel
Our familia loves to worship

In our ministry we seek to fulfill the Great Commission that Christ gave his followers. We primarily do that through starting new churches in Mexico and on the Big Island. It’s interesting to me that in spite of all the lack of food, basic needs and medicine on the Big Island the church continues to grow. It might have slowed down in some areas, because of all of the restrictions placed on the people. Yet, in other areas it is growing.

Pastor Lucas and his wife, Maria wrote the following to us, “so far this year, despite the pandemia, and many crises that we have faced, these statistics are the result of the work of the church.” Then they went on to share some of the jaw dropping statistics. Through their ministry they shared the gospel with 12,326, and 7,396 made professions of faith! They’ve divided these new people up into 11 territories and each territory has 6 house churches. That’s 66 new churches! The people worship the Lord, they are discipled and equipped in these house churches. The new believers have become an instrument in the Lord’s hands to bring new people, their family and their friends to church.

Wow! Praise the Lord! God is so good and so faithful!

Despite all the challenges we see that it has not stopped the advance of the gospel.

One of our friends on the Big Island
Pastor Ronaldo’s Open Letter

Our friend *Ronaldo recently wrote me, and gave me an update about the situation on the Big Island.

My beloved brothers, first of all we want to thank God for his faithfulness, his promises and care through these complex times.

At the family level we can tell you that we are doing well despite the crises that our nation faces, God has been faithful and provides what is necessary every day. While we see God’s faithfulness it is also true that our nation is going through a deep economic, political, and social crisis. The sense of uncertainty and depression continues to increase; Unfortunately, in people’s minds, it is becoming increasingly difficult to think of a decent future in the medium and long term; sadly many people live without hope of a better future, and the option of emigrating from the country.

Faced with all this bad news; We can thank God that the good news of the gospel continues to bring salvation and hope to many fellow citizens. We have not had face-to-face services in our churches for almost two years now, which has forced us to be creative in the ways we can remain a church in these circumstances.

Another distinctive element in the ministerial work is helping people in need, in that sense we can say that the ministries of mercy and justice are taking a very strong role in the life of the church. On the other hand, there is the work of training and training the leadership of the churches, investing heavily in the new generation of leaders in order to guarantee the continuity of the Lord’s vision.

Of all these good things that God is doing in our midst, you are participants through the gospel of all this, dear brothers and sisters. We are very grateful that together we can be working on the extension and advancement of the kingdom of God in this world.

We reiterate our gratitude for your support, and for joining us on this beautiful day and work.
We leave you this portion of the Word that is found in the Gospel of John 1: 5
The light shines in the dark, and the dark will never be able to put it out …
We praise and glorify the name of our God, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can stop the advance of the glorious gospel of him.

In Christ, *Ronaldo (name changed for security reasons)

There is nothing that can stop the advance of the Gospel! Let us rejoice!

Extend Your Hands to Help!
Our familia on the Big Island

Please stand with us and extend your hands to help those in need on the Big Island. One of the reasons that Ronaldo’s family is doing well in spite of the crisis is because of your generous gifts. You can help by making a donation today!

Click to Donate…

Thank you, dear friends and family!

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

Happy Birthday 🎈🎁🎂 Mom!

Posted: November 5, 2021 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Mom’s 86th Birthday
I imagine mom looks more like this in heaven

Today would be mom’s 86th birthday. I miss my mom, Virginia A Diaso, but I am grateful for the hope that we have in Christ. I know without a doubt my mom is celebrating this birthday in heaven with her Heavenly Father. I love the idea of dad and mom celebrating together with Hannah and other loved ones.

Last year at this time a year the Lord gave me a dream. In the dream there was a big parade celebrating my mom’s arrival in heaven. It made me happy to think about her life and the legacy that she left. I wrote about the dream, the parade celebrating mom on her birthday last year.

Mixed Emotions on Life & Death
Mom & Dave on her 25th anniversary

On the one hand, this day makes me feel sentimental, but I also feel joyful knowing that my mom is experiencing perfect health, perfect peace and great joy in the presence of her Savior. Mom’s last few years on earth she had COPD. She had a hard time breathing, because of the damage to her lungs from tuberculosis when she was a young girl. Sadly, mom suffered a lot while in her earthly suit. That is no longer true. No more suffering, no more pain!

I like to think that as my mom took her last breath here, her next breath she was in heaven! Wow! Jesus and the angels welcomed her into the heavenly kingdom of God.

Heaven and Earth!
Dad & Mom (Grandpa & Grandma) with David, Jr. Jonathan and Hannah

There’s a lot of mystery when it comes to our understanding of heaven and the relationship between heaven and earth. I’ve been pondering how the veil between us and heaven is much thinner than we realize. There is a connection, and there is more interaction than most of us are aware of. In Hebrews the Bible speaks of cloud of heavenly witnesses. I love to think of my dad, mom, Hannah and other loved ones cheering us on and interceding for us. Hallelujah!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the meantime, we all groan as we wait for our heavenly home. There are trials and difficulties that each of us face, but thanks be to God that they are temporary. Saint Paul even refers to them as temporary light afflictions compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits those of us who are in Christ. Hallelujah! Amen!

“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬ (emphasis mine
Make a Donation Today in Mom’s Memory!
Grandma and Hannah reunited in heaven

One way you can honor my mom’s memory is by giving a donation today to the pastors and their families on the Big Island. The scarcity of food, basic needs and medicine continue to be a huge problem. We’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider making a gift today! Thank you!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

Celebrating 3 Years of God’s Faithfulness

Posted: October 26, 2021 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Celebrating 3 Years!
Pastor Mere leading the church service

Last week I wrote about my daughter, Hannah, and the fact that October 18th marked the 5th year since she moved to heaven. On October 17th of this year we celebrated the 3rd year anniversary of the church we built in Hannah’s memory. I find it satisfying that my family has built a living legacy for Hannah and for my dad and mom, Ron and Virginia Diaso. We built the church in memory of dad and mom this July in Rosarito, Mexico.

Pastor Mere Godinez leads the church that was built to honor Hannah’s memory which is on the outskirts of Mexicali. I attended the anniversary service, and it was very encouraging. It’s fulfilling to see the Lord at work. It hasn’t been easy for the pastors who are in ministering in Mexico over the last year and a half. The restrictions due to COVID have not permitted them to meet in person much over the last year. It’s a real challenge to start a new church when people can’t come to your worship service.

God’s Faithfulness to Build His Church
Mere and Edna with Dave

Yet God is faithful! Mere and his wife, Edna have a strong commitment to continue serving the Lord and reaching out in the community. They live about 40 minutes from the church, and I asked them at one point if maybe it would be easier if they found someone else to lead the church, and they could start another church closer to where they live. Both of them told me they felt called to minister to the community of Marítimo. It was encouraging for Dawn and me to see their faith and their strong sense of call.

Mere and Edna have asked us if we could help them build a small apartment on the church property, so that they can stay there on the weekends and minister. The cost to build a one bedroom place is about $2,000. We told them that we would like to help them raise the funds, so that they can minister in the community on the weekends. This will give them a greater presence, which is important when you are starting a church. Mere and Edna both have full-time jobs during the week. They are bi-vocational church planters. If they could be in the community more frequently on Saturday and Sunday that would help their efforts.

Dawn and I give thanks for Pastor Mere and his wife, Edna. We believe that the Lord hand picked them to minister in the church that we helped start. All the churches that we have helped to start are special, but this church is extra special, because it was build in honor of Hannah’s memory. We believe that the Lord has a special plan and purpose for this church. One of the older women that lives in the community had a vision a number of years ago of a church being built on the property where the church now stands!

God Shows His Love
The Hannah Diaso Memorial Church in Marítimo, Mexico near Mexicali

I love seeing God at work in big ways as well as in the little details. He demonstrates His love and His tender mercies in so many ways if we just look for it.

When I arrived at the church I noticed they had painted it, and it looked great. I thought, “I need to take a picture of the church.” After I took the photo all the sudden it dawned on me that the color they had chosen was similar to Hannah’s favorite color. When I asked Mere and Edna about it, they told me they didn’t know that Hannah liked sea foam green. They chose the color, because they thought it looked good. Wow! A kiss from heaven!

Extend Your Hands to Help
Pastor Abraham Velazquez leading us in a time of prayer for Pastor Mere and Edna

Pray for Mere and Edna as they reach out in the community of Marítimo on the outskirts of Mexicali. Pray that the Lord will provide for them to be able to build a small apartment, so it’s easier for them to stay near the church on the weekends. Pray that many in the community will come to Christ as the light of the gospel shines brightly in the community. You can give to their need for a small apartment by clicking on the button below.

We’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider extending your hands to make a donation today either to this need, or to our familia and their needs on the Big Island. Thank you for taking the time to consider these needs!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

The Day the Music Died

Posted: October 19, 2021 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Missing Our Daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Diaso
Hannah Elizabeth Diaso – 4/09/1994-10/18/2016

The day the music died is the refrain from Don McLean’s song, American Pie. For some reason that is the song I often think of when I think of the day the music died for us, when our daughter, Hannah moved to heaven. I always make a point of it to visit the cemetery where Hannah is buried on this day, the day she died, October 18 (which is the day I wrote this post).

We like to say that Hannah moved to heaven, which softens the blow. Yet it is also true to say that she died. As King David said of his young child who died, that he would go to see him one day, but that his child would not return to him. That’s the reality and finality of death, which is hard to swallow at times.

I’m writing this post while I’m at the cemetery near Hannah’s place of burial.

It’s hard to believe that today marks 5 years since Hannah graduated to heaven.

When I think of Hannah’s life and death I realize it has changed me. The trauma of losing Hannah at such a young age, she was only 22, has caused me to grapple with life. It made me desperate for answers. Desperate for a deeper and more intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father. I’ve gotten to know Papa God and His love in ways that I hadn’t experienced before. That makes me sad, because at least on an emotional level it doesn’t seem like it should have taken the death of my daughter to get me to this place. It is something that I ponder. Why is it that heart wrenching loss causes us to cling to God? I know the Bible speaks frequently to the subject of suffering, and yet there is some degree of mystery to it.

God created the world perfect and without death, so it is only after man sinned that death entered the world. Death is horrible in that sense. I never realized how terrible death was until I had to deal with it in such an up close and personal way.

All of Creation Groans for the Day of Redemption
Our last family photo with Hannah

Thankfully God has a solution in Christ! One of my favorite passages can be found in Romans 8, which says,

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Romans‬ ‭8:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I think that accurately describes not only our hearts, but that all of creation groans for the day of our redemption. I pray and trust the Lord for His redemption and restoration of all that we’ve lost.

I hate that it took something as tragic as my own daughter’s death to wake me from my slumber. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but it’s how I feel. I am more awake now.

I can’t say that I have it all figured out yet, but I do know that I’m hungry for more. More of the Father, more of Jesus and more of the Spirit. I want more of the Father’s presence and more of His great and mighty work in my life and in the life of my family. I long for more fruit in our life and ministry. Also, I pray for a greater healing in my life and in the life of each member of my family.

What Does God Have in Store for Us?
Hannah and Dave

When I think about Hannah, I wish I could have had more time with her. We had a very special, and a very close father – daughter relationship. I remember in the last year or two of Hannah’s life she told me, “We are going to go far in this world, aren’t we Dad?” It makes me ache when I think about it. I don’t know what to do with that and other unrealized dreams. I would have loved the opportunity to go far – to accomplish great things with my beautiful daughter. Maybe somehow it is prophetic and speaks of what Jesus will do, it will just look different than I thought.

One of the areas where Dawn and I have seen God’s hand at work since Hannah moved to heaven is that He’s brought a number of special young people into our lives. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. Those relationships keep expanding and growing deeper. There are so many people in need of a father and a mother. As I’ve mentioned in past posts a number of the pastors and leaders that we minister with in Latin America refer to Dawn and me as dad and mom. Of course, that doesn’t replace the hole left by Hannah, but it shows us that God is still alive He is still at work. He is redeeming and restoring in His goodness and His grace.

Just as Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis‬ ‭50:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ – emphasis mine). God can turn around those things that our enemy the devil meant to use to destroy us. This gives us hope.

Also, it does make me happy to think one day I will be reunited with my precious daughter. Someone told us recently that those in heaven celebrate the day they graduated from the earth, because now they are with the Father. There is no more sorrow, no more suffering or pain. There is truly much to celebrate, it’s just not so easy to see that from our vantage point. So I will choose to trust in the love of my Papa God. I trust that He has a good plan for my family and for me.

Extend Your Hands to Help!
Hannah loving life and having fun

As I mentioned in this post the Lord has extended our family. We give thanks for His mighty and powerful work in this way. Yet, our familia that lives on the Big Island are suffering through the worst economic collapse that their country has gone through since 1990. They have very little food, basic goods and medicine. The prices of what is available have skyrocketed. You can give to help our familia in memory of our daughter, Hannah. Extend your hands to help today by clicking on the button below.

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

BeyondBordersLife.org

We Can’t Get Enough of Serafina!

Posted: May 4, 2021 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Missions, Prayer
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Announcing the Birth of Serafina Grace Diaso
Aunt Hannah & Uncle Jonathan meeting Serafina on FaceTime. Yes, we are obsessed!

We can’t get enough of our beautiful granddaughter, Serafina Grace Diaso. She was born to David, Jr. and Emily on April 29th. She’s a small baby at 6 lbs and 3 oz and 19 inches. David said that she would be considered a premie in size, but that all her organs are perfectly developed, so we thank the Lord for that.

Dawn and I are thrilled to be first time grandparents!

God’s Work of Restoration
Love seeing our son, David care for his daughter. He’s a good dad

The Bible is filled with stories of redemption and restoration. Dawn and I have prayed that our Papa God would bring our family healing, especially since our daughter, Hannah moved to heaven. God is answering our prayers. He hears our cry!

Serafina was born in April the same month that both Dawn and Hannah have a birthday. We believe that’s a special gift from our Heavenly Father. It’s a kiss from heaven. God has big plans for Serafina, and the Lord is blessing our family through her. We give thanks for the Lord’s goodness and his redemptive work.

The Lord Turns Our Weeping into Laughter
Clockwise starting upper left: Hannah, Serafina, mom’s garden, Mom & Dad

Last year was a hard year for our family as both of my parents moved to heaven. My mom departed from this world on March 19, 2020 and my dad on May 26, 2020. We held the graveside service for mom on May 1 last year. It’s so good of God to turn our mourning into laughter.

This reminds me of Psalm 30:5b, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” The Lord used that passage to comfort me on many occasions as I mourned Hannah, Mom, and Dad. God is so good.

Hope Filled Promises from Joel
Enjoying some FaceTime with Serafina and David. Our friends from Ensenada, Petri, Yudy and Luz Angela are in the background

Just this morning I was reading Acts 2 where Peter quotes from the prophet Joel. Peter is preaching on Pentecost. The last days which Peter refers to began at Pentecost when he gave this sermon and shared this wonderful promise of God pouring out His Spirit on all believers. If we go back and look at the context of Joel 2, where this promise and prophetic word comes from we see that God is promising restoration to his people. Earlier in the chapter, Joel 2:13b, says, “for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” God’s promises never fail, and his mercies are new every morning.

Here is the prophecy from Joel that Peter refers to in his sermon on Pentecost. It’s filled with hope and promise for us today! I pray that each of us will grow in these ways as God’s Spirit works in us.

“‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above

    and signs on the earth below,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Acts 2:17-21 NIV

Our Papa God’s love and desire to bring healing and restoration encourages us. Serafina is a gift to our family. She is a demonstration of God’s love for us, which gives us reason to rejoice. The timing of her birth reminds us of his care for us. His desire to bring restoration. We are hopeful for the even greater things to come.

Pray with us as David and Emily care for Serafina. Pray for her health as she grows in strength and wisdom.

Extend Your Hands to Help – Donate Today!
One of the young church planting couples that we are helping on the Big Island

Also, Dawn and I believe that it’s important for us to continue to ring the bell for Our Familia on the Big Island. We feel compelled by our love to keep bringing the needs of our familia before you. Basic needs and food prices are skyrocketing, while their pay stays the same. It’s not possible for them to support a family on what they are earning. We remain committed to sending aid to the pastors and families each month.

Give a donation today to the needs of the church and our familia. Your prayers and generosity will aid these families and the gospel in undeniable ways. Make a donation today by clicking on the link below!

Click to Donate…

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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