A bedside vigil, a legacy of faith, and a way you can help

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Dear Reader,

The sun hasn’t quite decided what kind of day it wants to be. It streaks Grandma Lita’s bedroom with half‑light. I’m sitting at the side of her bed, coffee gone cold, heart warm, watching her chest rise and fall to the soft hiss of the oxygen machine.

Every now and then, she stirs, eyes fluttering, and I wonder if she’s catching a glimpse of the glory that waited just beyond Papa’s Montana window all those years ago. Papa saw heaven back in 1999, and he told us about it. I wonder what Grandma’s seeing today.

There’s a sacred hush here, broken only by the tick‑tock of the little cuckoo clock that I bought for her a few years ago when I was speaking in Michigan.

There’s the squeak of my chair when I lean forward to tuck a strand of silver hair behind her ear. Yet the quiet is crowded.

First, with the scent of White Shoulders perfume lingering in the curtains. Then, with the echo of her laughter when she tried to teach me the cha‑cha in our tiled kitchen. Also, with the firmness of her hug … well, pretty much every day of my life.

She’s always been there for me. She’s lived with us for twenty-five years. But before that, she was always there. I would love to give you a few glimpses of her life.

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My Grandma

Grandma was raised in a boxcar beside the tracks in Weed, California. She danced through the Great Depression in borrowed saddle shoes. And somehow she kept that sparkle even after a doctor whispered “lupus” over her young body.

She’s the first woman I ever saw pray with pure faith. She knew Jesus was present, and she talked to him as if He might walk right into the living room and sit down for coffee.

Grandma also prayed for each family member by name. Nothing can explain how peace draped itself across our family every time she opened her well‑worn pages and offered up a prayer.

• She was born in 1929 and raised in a boxcar in Weed, California. Her “china” was tin dishes. Their Christmas tree was a discarded one from their school that her old brother dragged home to set beside the outhouse.

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• At thirteen, she went to work full‑time—and still found time to dance. Her high school yearbook named her “Best Dancer.” She could twirl joy out of thin air, whether it was a wedding fiesta or the middle of the living‑room floor.

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• She met the love of her life—our Papa—while waitressing at the Weed Diner after WW2. He sat in her section because he loved her long, dark hair. She noticed his bright green eyes.

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• As a young mom, she was told lupus might take her life, but God had other plans. She lost hearing in one ear, yet never lost her spark.

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• A Bible from her daughter, Vickie, introduced her to Jesus—personal, present, full of grace—and she never looked back.

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And then there’s the story she loved to tell most: Papa’s final week. Gazing out a Montana window, his eyes filled with wonder.

That vision carried Grandma through twenty‑six more years.

“When I get to heaven,” she’d grin, “Papa will hug me and tease, ‘Jeepers, I’ve been waiting for you. What took you so long?’"

How You Can Stand With Us

1. Pray

• Comfort & Peace for Grandma’s gentle home‑going and all the grands and great‑grands saying good‑bye.

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• Strength for our family as we keep vigil and share stories around her bed.

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2. Consider Eternity (Grandma’s Greatest Wish)

Grandma’s Bible is still open beside her pillow. These are the verses she underlined and lived:

If you’ve never trusted in Jesus, today He welcomes you with open arms. Simply confess that He is Lord, believe He rose again, and receive His gift of grace (cf. Romans 10:9 ). Grandma would be first in line to celebrate that decision.

Here's a simple prayer you can pray:

“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Savior who died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my way and place my trust in You. Please forgive me, fill me with Your Spirit, and lead me from this day forward. Thank You for the promise of eternal life and the hope of seeing those I love again. Amen.”

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3. Help Bring Family Home

With the generous care of our friends, we were able to cover the cost of plane tickets for our two daughters serving in Poland, Florentina and Lauren. But we still have more family in Europe.

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Our daughter Leslie has served as a missionary in the Czech Republic for twelve years. She and her two children, Amelia (6) and JJ (4), ache to say their earthly good‑bye. And they're coming.

The three international tickets cost $1,554 each. If you’d like to help, we’ve set up a GoFundMe. Every dollar moves them closer to Grandma’s bedside.

John and I wish we could just cover this ourselves, but we're actually in the process of buying a new house so we can move John's parents in with us. Our savings are tied up in that!

And when I was praying about all this, trying to figure it out, God's voice was unmistakable. I felt God saying that I shouldn't stop my friends from getting their blessing through their giving. So here we are.

Yes, this is the season of loving and caring for others in so many ways.

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If you are interested in helping cover the cost of Leslie, Amelia, and JJ's tickets ...

👉 Share or donate here: https://gofund.me/1304c33a​

Until We See Her Again…

We will carry Grandma Lita’s story with laughter, with Scripture, and with Jesus at the center. Thank you for praying, for considering eternity, and for any help you can give in reuniting our family during these sacred final days.

With gratitude and hope,

Tricia Goyer & Family

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P.S. Hit reply with a favorite hymn or verse—we’re reading them aloud to Grandma. We know she can hear us. Also ...

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Pray for Grandma Lita’s comfort, our family’s peace, strength for every caregiver, and hope for each reader who’s walking a similar road.

Consider eternity by reflecting on Romans 10:9 and breathing the simple salvation prayer printed above—Jesus welcomes you today.

Support our daughter Leslie’s travel fund by giving or sharing the GoFundMe linkhttps://gofund.me/1304c33a​

Remember, please send a favorite Bible verse to me or forward this email to someone who needs encouragement.

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