Posts Tagged ‘life and death’

Weeping Endures the Night, but Daybreak is Coming!

Posted: January 6, 2017 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Journey, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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A New Year with New Opportunities
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David Sr., Jonathan, Dawn & David Jr. Our new normal

There are some positives to starting a new year. It gives us a chance to recalibrate. We can look back on the past year, and see where we’ve come from. A new year means new opportunities. I must say, that I’ve never had a new year quite like this one.

Last year ended on such a rough note, with our beautiful daughter’s passing. The problem with death I’m finding is there’s no time limit on the pain. The sadness and frustration come at what seems like the oddest times.

Needless to say Dawn and I are starting this new year off still dealing with the aftershocks of Hannah’s death. We are hopeful for a better 2017!

Thankful for Community
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I like this photo, because it represents some of our community which extends from Mexico to Cuba to the U.S.A and Beyond. Our Lord has blessed us with many friends!

I think we are more mindful than ever of the need for community. The necessity for friends to surround us and lift us up in prayer.

We ended the new year traveling from the State of Washington through Oregon and we landed in Redding, California on New Year’s Eve. David and Jonathan were with us, and a friend, Jacob Betchol. On the first day of the year we had the privilege of going to church and worshipping the King of Kings. We attended a wonderful and joyous service. Our loving Father met us there in a special way.

God’s Promises for a Better Tomorrow
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We are Going to Give it #AHannahPercent this Year!    Hannah, we miss you and we love you.

My heavenly Father reminded me of some important truths regarding Hannah’s death. I needed to hear this. “It’s not your fault (that’s something I’ve struggled with). It was Hannah’s appointed time to go. I took her and I will take good care of her.” These are truths the Lord had already assured me of, but as a father who loves his daughter so dearly I needed to hear them again. It was a good way to start off the new year.

As I think of beginning a new year I realize that part of this year includes healing. My family and I still need the Lord’s healing touch. Yet, another thing that the Lord has assured me of is that this is not the end, but the beginning of something greater.

The Lord has reminded me that it is right to grieve Hannah’s loss. Weeping endures for the night, but we will see victory; daybreak is coming. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). It’s like Jesus is saying to me personally, “Cease striving and know that I am God. Do not dwell on the pain. You are a testimony of my grace, and my strength is made perfect in your weakness. I will uphold you. You will not shrink back.”

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Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

It is with this hope and assurance that we begin 2017. Yes, we are hurting. Yes, we are in pain, but God is our deliverer. He will not leave us here forever. In fact, he says that he will never leave us or forsake us!

This year we will begin to experience victory. The Lord is going to use our suffering and he will use our tears for his glory.

So I choose to be hopeful as we begin 2017. I continue to ask you to hold us up in prayer. We will not succeed without your loving support. Dawn and I give thanks for you!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Victory Out of the Shadows in 2016

Posted: December 30, 2016 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Ministry Partners, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Tragedy of Death and Hope in 2016
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Our last family photo with Hannah

When I look back over this last year there are a number of wonderful accomplishments that we’ve seen the Lord do. Unfortunately, all of these achievements are overshadowed by Hannah’s death. It makes me feel like we are ending 2016 on a down note. There have been plenty of down days since Hannah’s passing. Yet, I see the Lord picking each of us up, Dawn, David Jr., Jonathan and me.

Yes, death is a terrible, even demonic and cruel thing. I believe and feel that this is true in a more intense way that I ever have. While I recognize the pain and the tragedy of death, and Hannah’s early homegoing I see the Lord lifting us up from the ashes. We are down, but not out. I believe our family has drawn closer to the Lord than we have ever been. In many ways I sense that God is not done with us, but just beginning. He is going to bring something beautiful out of our pain, even if we can’t see what that is yet.

We may be going through “The Valley of the Shadow of Death,” but this shadow has not completely snuffed out the light. Jesus did some amazing things in 2016 that we should celebrate.

Accomplishments by God’s Grace
The inaugural service for Ministerios Transformación in Rosarito. Church #29

The inaugural service for Ministerios Transformación in Rosarito. Church #29

This year by God’s grace we:

  • Helped start our 5th new church planting project with Ministerios Transformación since 2012. It was Ministerios Transformación’s 29th church!
  • Pastor Obed Lares and his wife Cesiah are off to a great start in this new church in Rosarito, just South of Tijuana.
  • Partnered with in planting, coaching and training Pastor Daniel Nuñez and the ministry of Ministerios Transformación
  • Coached and partnered with Pastor Victor Bravo and his wife, Sol who are seeing people come to Christ and lives transformed in the church plant they are serving at in Plan Libertador that we helped start in 2015. Every time I talk to Victor and Sol I come away encouraged.
  • Coached and partnered with Pastor Ivan Casados and his wife, Rocio. They are making a difference as they are reaching out in Ribera del Bosque. We helped plant their church in 2014.
  • Coached and helped launch a new work called Renuevo in Ensenada. Pastor Petri and his wife, Yudy are leading this new church planting project.
  • Led 1 medical missions brigade with Redeemer San Diego & La Nueva Jerusalén in Ensenada, Mexico. We ministered to more than 80 adults and children, and 9 of them gave their lives to Christ.
  • Led one summer VBS in Ensenada with Skyview Presbyterian and La Nueva Jerusalén for 50 children and presented the gospel to them along with their families
  • Started a two-year incubator training for 10 church planters in Tijuana
  • Began a coaching network for pastors and their wives in Mexico
  • Began to coach pastors and train coaches in Cuba – this is a new and exciting ministry that the Lord is opening up for us.
Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah

Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah. We miss her dearly

I don’t fully know why we experienced such a huge loss this year, but I believe one reason is because our enemy is not happy with all that God is doing. He desires to discourage us and defeat us. Yet, our Lord lifts us up and gives us victory. All our many friends are praying for us, which sustains us. So I will praise Jesus. Hallelujah!

My family and I stand with Job in stating, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him…” (Job 13:15a)

Thanks for joining us on this journey. Praise God with us for sustaining us, and giving us so many victories in Christ.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Learning to Live with Death

Posted: December 5, 2016 in Christianity, Church Planting, Journey, Ministry, Ministry, Missions, Tijuana
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Celebration and Mourning
The inaugural service for Ministerios Transformación in Rosarito. Church #29
The inaugural service for Ministerios Transformación in Rosarito. Church #29

The day before Hannah died, we had reason to celebrate. Ministerios Transformacion’s 29th church held their inaugural service. A church that we helped to build, and plant. We were so excited for the new birth and for our friends Pastor Obed Lares and his wife, Cesiah.

I’m not going to lie that even though this is a great achievement for kingdom advancement, that because of the circumstances it was hard to celebrate. We were and we are thankful for this new work, but the shock of Hannah’s early departure totally knocked us off balance. Her home going caught us by surprise. We’ve been trying to sort life out since then.

Getting Back in the Battle
Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah
Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah. We miss her dearly.

The Lord in his graciousness is bringing healing, but it is a slow process. Dawn and I are getting back in the battle. We are starting to minister to others. Yet, our hearts aren’t always there.

Today we head out to Mexico City. Then on Tuesday we arrive in Havana, Cuba to connect with some friends there. The Lord is opening some wonderful doors for us in Cuba. I will write more about that later.

Over the last month and a half Dawn and I needed to slow down. We’ve needed to mourn and grieve. We still are in the process of doing that, but as time goes on we are grieving while serving. Some days we feel more up than others. Things that used to bring us joy, now don’t. Yet we are not despairing.

Death is a terrible thing. The Apostle Paul says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26). Later in same chapter Paul,goes on to say, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:54, 55). Glory to God that in Christ we have victory over death, as painful as it might feel today, Jesus has removed the sting of death.

We give thanks that the ministry is not dependent on us. The church continues to grow. Yet, the Lord is so loving and gracious. He carefully teaches us and draws us to himself.

Join us in Prayer!

Please join us in prayer as we learn this new way. We are learning what we call our “new normal”. We need wisdom and grace, as we move forward in ministry. We pray that we will see many more churches planted. Many more people reached for Christ, many more that become disciples. We pray that the Lord will use, even Hannah’s  untimely death to spur others on to love and good deeds. O Lord, do be glorified! Be lifted up, and build your church!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Hannah, Hope & Healing

Posted: November 15, 2016 in Christianity, Family Happenings, God's Leading, Journey, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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God’s Work of Healing
Hannah #AHannahPercent

Hannah
We love you #AHannahPercent

Today marks four weeks since Hannah passed away. Our family has felt so loved, and so embraced by all the friends who have sent us cards and notes. Friends and family who are praying for us and holding us up.

In the midst of this I’m slowly starting to get back involved in our work of ministry. Dawn and I covet your prayers as we move forward, because it is one of the hardest if not the hardest thing we’ve every had to deal with. God is greater! God is stronger than all our fears! Hallelujah!

Starting today I will begin ministering with my friends in Mexico to evaluate potential church planters. I need your prayers and an extra measure of grace.

More Glimpses of Heaven

The Lord has been so good to us in showing us glimpses of heaven as I shared in my last post.

Hannah is excited to be starting IMPACT 195

Hannah on her first day at IMPACT 195

Here’s a message from one of Hannah’s friends from her IMPACT 195 school. Her name is Marta, and here’s what she wrote.

Beautiful Family,

I just want to say that your daughter was the sweetest person I ever met. She came right up to me the first time I met her and just started complimenting me without even knowing me. That never happened to me before. She brought so much joy, so much love every where she went. When they told me what happened we were at the prayer chapel at IMPACT and started to pray.

God speaks to me in visions and He gave me a vision of her wearing a white dress looking even more beautiful and dancing with Jesus. She had that freedom dance with her hair everywhere, turning and just glowing so much! Filled with love and joy! She will never be forgotten and I can’t wait to see her again. I want to say that you did an amazing job raising her. I’ll be praying for you that God will bring you peace, comfort and may you completely trust that it was His timing.

Love, Marta

These added measures of grace that the Lord gives us are a huge boost to our faith. It’s a glimpse into what awaits all of us who are called by His name.

Hannah Diaso Memorial Facebook Group

I created a Facebook group called, “Hannah Diaso Memorial” if you’d like to join the group click on the link and I’ll add you in.

Thank you dear friends for going with us on this deep and difficult journey!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

A Glimpse of Heaven: Hannah Diaso

Posted: November 9, 2016 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Glimpses of God’s Grace
Chivis and Hannah

Chivis and Hannah

Since Hannah passed away the Lord has ministered to us, and shown us glimpses of grace. He has given us some previews of heaven.

One of Hannah’s best friends, Chivis. A friend that Hannah knew since they were about two years old. They first met each other in Mexico City, and that relationship continued through our years in Colorado and now on the San Diego/Tijuana border.

On the day Hannah died, Chivis had a dream. Hannah went to be with the Lord around midnight Pacific time on Tuesday, October 18th. Chivis had a dream at 2 AM Central time on the same day. Her dream is a very encouraging one, and gives us a glimpse into the Lord’s work.

Chivis’ Dream of Hannah
Hannah & Chivis in Mexico City

Hannah & Chivis in Mexico City

Here’s the dream that Chivis shared with us:

Hannah and I were in a beautiful garden, full of flowers. It was a beautiful and sunny day. When I saw Hannah’s face I was surprised, because she looked very young around 11 or 12 years old. Her face was radiant and it radiated such brilliance that I was sure that she had seen her Creator face to face (although I didn’t realize it at the time).

While we were together we laughed like we used to when we were younger. We shared jokes and we held hands. All of the sudden, I realized that the last time I saw Hannah in Mexico, she didn’t look like this. She was a little down, and she had gained weight and of course she was 22 years old.

When I remembered the last time I had seen her, it seemed strange so I turned to look at her again and there she was. She was young, smiling and full of joy. Then I fixed my sight on her, and I told her, “Hannah, sister, you are completely recovered!!!!!!” She turned to look at me with a smile and gave me a high-five. She said, “Yes, I feel very different, we made it!”

After exchanging hugs and some more time of chatting, Hannah said to me, “Chivita, I have to go, but I will see you soon. I love you very much.” I said goodbye too and gave her a big sister’s hug, and I told her that I loved her and she left.

Chivis & Hannah

Chivis & Hannah

Trusting God’s Goodness

This greatly encouraged Chivis, and when she shared it with us we felt that the Lord was giving us further confirmation that, although Hannah’s death is tragic in that she died so young, we see his hand was in it, and that he had a purpose in it. We may not understand that purpose, but we trust in the Lord’s wisdom.

There were also three or four others who shared visions that they had of Hannah. They saw her filled with joy, and at peace while she was enjoying being in heaven with her loving Father.

Thank you, Jesus for your kind graces to us, and thanks to all of those who love us and love our daughter, Hannah.

In his Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Hannah Diaso – Celebration of Life

Posted: October 29, 2016 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Missions, Prayer, Video
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Our Princess Warrior – Hannah Diaso
Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah

Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah

On Tuesday, October 18th our beautiful daughter, and beloved sister went to be with the Lord. A tragic loss! Yet our refrain continues to be, “we grieve, but not as those without hope.” We are a hopeful family, surrounded by a wonderful community of hopeful people. The hope that the Lord has displayed to us is a Biblical hope, which is a hope of certainty that Hannah is with her heavenly Father, and that we will see her again in glory.

On Wednesday, October 26th we mourned Hannah’s loss and celebrated her life at the graveside service and the funeral service. One of Hannah’s close friends, Marissa Irakoze posted the following on Instagram,

Before this week, I never knew that joy and grief could be in the same place. Hannah, your service yesterday was incredible. You would have LOVED it. You lived such a beautiful life, it was an honor to have known you. See you soon, friend ❤️

The service was Christ centered celebration of life. While the service was a time to grieve, yet also a time to rejoice. We grieved that she is gone, and we don’t get to enjoy her presence anymore on this side of heaven. We rejoiced in the victory that Christ secured for us over death on the cross. We have victory through his death and resurrection. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!

The House of Mourning is Better

Another close family friend, Heidi Griffith shared a wonderful verse in Ecclesiastes that the Lord used to minister to Heidi when her mother passed away. We found it touched us as well, and I feel it’s a passage we will be chewing on and thinking through for a long time.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.”

Ecclesiastes 7:2 ESV

It’s hard to understand how it can be better to mourn than to feast, but there it is. We are finding that the Lord is meeting us in a deep and profound way through the pain that we are enduring. God is present in this trial. He has not abandoned us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

Hannah’s brothers, David and Jonathan put in over 24 hours creating a beautiful slide show. They chose two songs from Rachel Platten that Hannah loved, and that carry a deep significance. The boys shared during the service that the first song, Better Place, speaks of how  Hannah made the world a better place from the moment that she entered this world to the moment that the Lord took her home. Several Friends shared that Hannah would not waste any time to show her love and would make you feel special the very first time you met her. The boys also shared that, Hannah touched many lives on this world and we are confident that her Impact and testimony will outlive her by continuing to bring those still on earth to a relationship with Christ.  Most importantly an assurance that the Lord has given us  is that Hannah is now in a better place. The second song, Fight Song, is a remembrance of Hannah’s fighting spirit. She was and is a princess warrior.

Video: Hannah-Celebration of Life

If you have trouble viewing this video on your browser you can view it by clicking on this YouTube link

We rejoice that death has been swallowed up in victory through the death and resurrection of Christ!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Celebrating the Life of Hannah Diaso

Posted: October 21, 2016 in Christianity, Family Happenings, Ministry, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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Our Beloved daughter
Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah

Our beautiful daughter and beloved sister, Hannah

It’s with heavy hearts that Dawn, David Jr., Jonathan and I inform you that Hannah, our daughter and beloved sister went to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning. We grieve, but not like those that are without hope.

Hannah was a loving, caring, sweet young woman who the Lord used to encourage and bless so many. As Dawn, David Jr., Jonathan and I have been interacting with friends about Hannah’s passing we’ve been amazed by the stories. Just last night Hannah’s friends from IMPACT 195 organized a prayer vigil. It was a wonderful time, and we heard stories of how Hannah touched people’s lives and what she meant to them. It was an uplifting time amidst the pain we are going through.

Hannah’s encouraging spirit was used to lift up people in both the U.S. and in Mexico.

Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

Hannah with her brothers, Jonathan & David

Hannah was a wonderful and loving sister. Her brothers adored her, and it was always so fun to see them together.

We must admit we don’t know why Hannah was taken at such a young age, but we know that the Lord’s plan is higher and better than ours. We know that Hannah’s in a place where there isn’t any more suffering, and there isn’t any more pain.

This passage in Isaiah expresses well some of what we are going through,

“The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.”

Isaiah 57:1-2 ESV

Our family is thankful for the peace and joy that Hannah is now experiencing. The Lord has given friends visions of Hannah’s joy of being with her Father. That also gives us much peace.

Graveside Service

Next Wednesday, October 26th we will celebrate Hannah’s life with a graveside service at 10 AM at

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary: 3838 Bonita Rd., Bonita CA 91902

Memorial Service & Celebration of Life

Wednesday, October 26th at 2 PM we will have the memorial & celebration of life service at

Redeemer Presbyterian Church: 1831 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024

View More: http://lylphotography.pass.us/diaso-family-2015Dawn and I along with our boys, David and Jonathan would love to have you join us! It does encourage us to have so many friends praying for us, encouraging us and mourning with us.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

Celebrating the Life of Jim Healy

Posted: March 14, 2013 in Christianity, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, Video
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Jim Healy (in the middle) on his bike

Jim Healy (in the middle) riding his bike

Last week I wrote about a good friend of mine that passed away. Jim Healy was involved in a life ending accident while riding his bike on March 5th. It’s so hard to lose friends, especially close dear friends.

I enjoyed the many good times I had with Jim. I always looked forward to seeing him and his family when I went back to my hometown, Fresno.

I feel frustrated that I won’t be able to enjoy his presence this side of heaven again. The Lord uses this as yet another reminder that there is something beyond this life. That we have the hope of heaven where there will be no more pain, no more tears.

“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'”

—Isaiah 25:8,9

The funeral service was held on Saturday, March 9th.

His riding buddies along with friends, students and colleagues held a memorial bike ride for Jim earlier in the day on Saturday. They also put together a touching video expressing what Jim meant to the many people who knew him. It is an encouraging testimony of Jim’s life.

It is sad to lose Jim, and my heart goes out to his wife, Janine and their three children. I’m thankful that I could count Jim as one of my close friends. I give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful testimony that Jim left.

May his life serve as an inspiration to us to live in a way that we honor our Lord as we love and serve others.

Thank you Lord for Jim. Please watch over and care for his family in a special way now that he is gone. Continue to use his testimony to draw people to you!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org