David's Story

When we think about Divine providences, the thought that comes to mind are the “good things that happen”. This is very often true, but the bad and hard things that happen are the Lord’s providences as well, bringing out the best things even when heartrending at the time. Many life stories show this to be true, even with great loss and deep heartache. This particular story is about David Jeremiah D’Amato, our son. David will tell his story and then we will continue it. We are sure that this story will continue even after we are a distant memory.

“I am David Jeremiah D’Amato, my name means Beloved and Exalted. The Lord gave me life on 9/11 in 1998. My forever birthdate was November 13, 2005 when I professed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I was baptized in a local church. I grew up in a loving family with an older sister and two broth - ers, one older and one younger. Since we were homeschooled we did every - thing together. We played, studied, ate, traveled to many interesting places, worshiped, worked, fought, laughed, cried and worked things out. There were times when the mix was challenging, even with much discussion, especially with my large reserve of restless energy.

I graduated from Mountain View College with honors at age 17 and was award - ed a scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas. I played violin and per - formed with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and All-Region Orchestra. I was also a part of NCFCA (Christian Speech and Debate). I helped my dad in our family’s property business.

I was always active and ahead of the curve. I am not bragging, but I had God given talents and abilities. I could ride a unicycle and play the violin at the same time, I played tennis, hunted and fished, bought and sold many things from a young age. I loved things that moved, so I did it all….RC cars, scooters, skateboards, go-carts, minibikes, BMX bikes and finally many cars. Each thing tried was fun, but the thrill quickly faded away.

“Where is David?”

My name turned into that question as I ventured out from home. My dad would often search for me on his old bike, my mom in her car. With my ever widening circles, new friends were found. The search seemed endless and ex - hausting for both me and my family. Some of the activities these new friends were into were not the best for me. I was bold and challenging. In the midst of all this it was really hard to be still, but there were times when the Lord did slow me down to ponder my faith in Him. I even went to Norway with YWAM to be a part of a mission outreach.

Hello Family & Friends,

Greetings and salutations! I know it's been quite a while since you have gotten an update from me. I have quite busy lately – adjusting to so many new things makes time fly by! We’ve been having snow over here which makes the Texan feel far away from home.

I have been participating in daily discipleship training/DTS classes, planning team weeks and engaging in outreach. This has included traveling to various parts of Norway to serve and minister to underserved youth. So far it has been quite an exciting experience. I have gotten the opportunity to travel to places that include Råde, Lillesand, Kristiansand, and Høvåg. The culture here is very different from what I am used to, but I would say that I am doing a good job at adapting.

There have been many highlights during my time spent here so far. But I can honestly say that the biggest highlight during my time here was being able to share my testimony and a story from my life in front of a large youth group gathering at a church in Høvåg. The expressions that I saw on all the faces of the teens in that youth group were so encouraging to me. I really felt that God was speaking through me during that time, because I shared many things that, to be honest, I would not have naturally shared. I would encourage you all to pray for that group in Høvåg, Norway. Pray that the seeds I planted will grow and that I was a positive influence in their lives. Also, please pray that my story will influence them to want to further their relationships with God.

When traveling someone lent me a violin while we were serving at a community retirement center. So, I had a chance to lead some worship and play hymns for the group there. It was nice to pick up the instrument again, maybe some of the long practices I was required to do when I was younger did pay off, haha. The people listening seemed to really enjoy the music. There’s lots of things to be thankful for and I’m just glad to have this time to experience how people from different parts of the world live and communicate in unique ways.

I have been learning many things due to all the Discipleship Training School teachings as well as new relationships and eye-opening experiences. But most importantly, I think I have been learning how to pray and strengthening my relationship with God through conversations with others. I cannot say it has been easy for me, but then again, who said good things in life come easily... Am I right?

Motor missions will be underway next month as we’re currently focusing more on outreach. The staff here selected me to be part of a small group of YWAM students to go on a 2-week outreach trip to Dresden, Germany (next week). During my time there I will be working with refugees and doing whatever else God calls me and my team to do. So please be praying for my time there. Well haha, I've been rambling on for long enough now...

Thank you all so, so, so much for all your love and support. Super thankful for my family and encouraging friends, also credits to Naomi for helping with this newsletter. Please pray that God will give me clarity, energy, wisdom, and the desire to pursue things in life that are pleasing to Him. As we say in Norway, tusentakk (a thousand thanks) and ha det bra (have a good one)!

I saw how my Savior Jesus was working in my life and the lives of others. But my inner struggle continued even as family and friends were encouraging me in the Faith and standing by me. Finally at 20, I left home yearning for something out there. I didn’t give up on my family since they were so much a part of me and who I was. I visited them often and even traveled with them. In one of my quiet moments I wrote this note on a scrap of paper, not even thinking of how or when it would be found. It was just an expression of my feelings and thoughts:

Dear Family,

We have enjoyed many times together, but we all know they would not last forever because there are the good times and the bad, but we all know the bad times are longest of them all. No wind, no storm, no hurricane can take us apart because we are all always together during that kind of rain. Nevertheless regardless of how far we are apart we will all remain in each other’s hearts. For there is no such love like family love because it can be seen from up, down and above. – David

Sunday, February 9th, 2020 started too early for David while it was still dark and ended before the sun was up. Four masked thieves climbed onto the balcony of the apartment where David lived and smashed the glass out of a door window. David was awakened by his girlfriend. He quickly retrieved his legally owned handgun, placed himself between the attackers and his girlfriend, and was able to shoot one of the attackers; but he was overwhelmed and quickly killed. The Lord never left David, but embraced and received him that morning. The criminals were all caught by the police at Parkland Hospital, where one of them was being treated. Since David had shot one of his attackers, all four criminals were quickly caught and charged with capital murder, which is unusual in Dallas. Indeed, it was the hand of God. As Molly was thinking about David the day after he was received, the Lord comforted her with a message sent by a dear friend, which read, “…I thank Him that David’s name was written in the ‘Book of Life’ at a very young age, where names are never erased…” (David made a profession of faith November 13, 2005 and was baptized.)

The Lord provided closure and spiritual and emotional preparation for us when David was taken from us and received by Him in the days leading up to his last day here. Molly reflected on the scripture used at David’s birth and other events leading up to his passing: Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and knows my anxious thoughts.”

My son David’s birth announcement on September 11, 1998 was celebrated and commemorated with Psalm 139: 13-18, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast isthe sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.”

Losing David at only 21 years old was a real shock and tragic from a human only perspective. Often times, the quick and unexpected tragic loss of a young life doesn’t have the closure that leads to some peace and understanding. However, the Lord revealed His sovereignty over the whole incident from the start to its end. Psalm 139:16 “…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

As a family, we often prayed that the Lord would use our lives for His glory. I don’t think we really knew or understood what it meant while praying, since what we think is “good” and what the Lord’s plans are, can be very different. Some might think David’s death is a tragedy, but in the past few days, the Lord has intimately revealed to me that this was not a tragedy as humanly defined, but David was called Home by his precious Savior Jesus Christ as his job on earth was complete. As I thought about the three weeks prior to David’s death, I see God’s providence in providing closure to each of our family members and friends.

David loved his freedom, but in the last several weeks, he was much more responsive, tender and yielding to his Savior. There were several instances when I messaged David to call me back for no reason and he responded within two minutes. When he asked me why I called, I said, “Are you okay? I love you.” He responded without irritation… ”That’s it?” and I said “Yes.” And he said, “I love you, too.” On a couple of occasions when he visited, before he left, I would say, “David, come over and let Dad pray for you before you go.” He just walked over without asking, “Do I have to?” or saying “Whatever”, but instead, walked to Peter for prayer. David’s girlfriend said that the night before he was killed, he set his alarm clock to get up early enough to go to church with us on Sunday. This reflects that the Lord was working in David’s heart regarding submission to Him.

Not by Accident

The Lord had begun preparing me several weeks prior to David’s passing with an unexpected trauma that enabled me to embrace and accept the vail of tears and disappointment of life. Seven years ago, I bought an audio book entitled “Beginnings” by Steve Wiens. In January, the Lord led me to listen to this book. In the loving kindness of the Lord, He has used this audio to prepare me for Sunday, February 9th. The Lord was starting the healing process in advance before I even knew what was coming. One passage that spoke to me was Genesis 16:3 “…You are the God who sees me, for she said, I have nowseen the One who sees me…” The message emphasizes to me learning to accept an ending, and, to embrace a new beginning. The Lord also led me to Job 2:10 …”Shall we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

Closure: Siblings and Friends

Jennifer, a very dear aunt, who knew David since he was 2 years old, took David and his girlfriend to his favorite Chinese restaurant on January 15th, which was less than three week before he passed. When I asked him how his lunch was, he responded, “It was great!”

This past Christmas, David, knowing that Ethan likes fashion and brand name things, found a pair of Gucci sneakers at a consignment store and left them at the door for Ethan at Christmas. On January 26th, two weeks before David passed away, he watched a movie about a brother and sister relationship. He suddenly decided to buy a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers for his sister. He messaged Naomi and said that he was coming over. He had not seen her apartment before. This visit brought closure for Naomi.

Naomi recently discovered a birthday card from David she had saved, with these sentiments, “Dear Naomi, Happy Birthday! Most people would write you a card and say, ‘You are nineteen years old!’ But you already know that. You need to set aside some time, just have some fun, do whatever you want to do. Just remember that you do not have to be best at everything. You just have to fear God and He’ll take care of the rest! Love, David”

Another example of closure was when Adam, a childhood friend, visited from Arkansas. On February 7th, Joshua, David and Adam were able to spend time and enjoy a movie together. That was by the hand of God, not by accident. When Joshua visited David on that Friday, he accidently parked in the wrong spot and his car was towed, incurring a towing fee. David’s heart was moved to give his brother $100 toward the cost of the tow charge. This gave another opportunity for Joshua to see David before his eternal departure.

On the day before he passed away, David connected with his friend, Stuart, and they had lunch together at Hav-R-Charburger. This restaurant was always a favorite eating place of Joshua, David and Dad after working together on projects. The restaurant had closed for several months, but re-opened about two weeks before David and Stuart enjoyed their last meal together.

David left, I asked him if he would like to come and have lunch with us to celebrate his father’s birthday the next day, and he said, “Yes, I would like to.”

David stopped by 3 days before he passed on to pick up the eggs. When he walked in, I asked him if he had had his breakfast and reminded him that he should eat something good and nutritious. He answered, “Mom, that is why I stopped by, to pick up the eggs.” This was another instance of closure that became evident after David was not with us.

God provided yet another special closure in a surprising way. I had brought out the four photo albums of David’s life. Joshua’s friend Luke was over, and Joshua wanted to show Luke some pictures. I was sitting there, too, and as Joshua flipped through the pages, for a split second, I saw a little piece of paper folded up into about an inch square. At that very same instant, I heard David say, “Mom!” That was really God. I told Joshua, “Wait, wait!” and I searched through the album and found the paper. It was a note that David had written. I don’t know when he wrote it, since it had no date on it, nor did I know how it got there, but I knew that in that split second God drew my attention to it.

We look back and see how God has prepared us. We didn’t see it at the time. Our minds often conform to how the world thinks, and what we want to achieve. But, if man’s chief end is to glorify God, and His ways are not our ways and His thought is not our thoughts, then who are we to question Him? There was one morning two days after David’s death, that I was trying to make sense of it all and asking, “God?” God showed me a room with different size bottles. There was a bottle for Amy Carmichael, a bottle for Jim Elliot, a bottle for Billy Graham, a bottle for Corrie Ten Boom and there was yet another bottle for David. God knew each one of them intimately. He knows what they were made for and what they would accomplish through their lives for His Kingdom. I rejoiced as the Lord reminded me of the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 20 where, although the workers arrived at differing times, they were still paid the same at the end of the day. To human reason this seems unfair, but God’s ways are not ours. I firmly believe that David’s life has been and will be used for God’s glory and the advancement of His Kingdom.

January 30th is Peter’s birthday. I called David just before lunch to ask if he was coming. He responded, “Oh...I am sorry, I’m in Dallas.” I snapped a picture of the food and said we were about to eat. As soon as I sent the message, he messaged me back, “On my way”. As an adult, David was not too keen on pictures or video recording. However, he let me take a video of him and multiple pictures of the rest of the family singing Happy Birthday to Peter. Again, another way that the Lord brought closure.

Who is God to you?

My image of God has changed a lot over these last few months. I used to think of God as just some being that people prayed to and worshipped because it makes them feel good, or because they are scared to go to hell. God to me is a creator, and a father. A lot of times it is hard for me to see His love, or hear His voice, but I do know He cares for me and wants the best for me. But, I feel like I can’t completely answer this question, because I am still figuring who He is to me. I just pray that God will continue to reveal Himself in very vivid ways to me. I feel like, once God fills me with His love, I’ll be able to fully understand who God is to me and what He means to me.

What has God done for you?

God has done so much for me. But a lot of times I suck at realizing all the good things He has done in my life. But God has provided me with amazing parents that love and fear Him. God has spared me so many times…Especially when I didn’t deserve to be spared; and, He has also blessed me immensely through other people. I just thank God for everything He has done in my life, because He has saved me so many times, and every day He continues to show His love to me.

Molly Crying To God…

Two days after David passed away, very early in the morning, I just needed to cry out to God even though I knew He was in complete control and there is no mistake about that! As I was crying out to God, I was writing in my journal whatever God put in my heart…

Lord Jesus, I will not stop singing for my Savior’s love.

He is with me through the valleys and wilderness.

How my soul longs for Him and He alone can satisfy.

He is with me through the storms of life. Jesus, Jesus, I plead with you, help me to always choose to please and obey you.

In you alone I find my strength, my all.

Nothing in this world, but you alone, can satisfy.

O God, my Lord, my rock, my strength, help me, O God, to understand.

Teach me to surrender and put it on your altar, not holding back anything that I have.

O Lord, my rock, my Savior and my friend, you will be faithful to the end. What you give, you take away; it is but a moment until I will see you face to face.

My heart is aching and longs for breath; in you alone I will find rest. Jesus, Jesus, hold me till the end, as I long to be completely at rest in your hand.

There is nothing I can do to make it right again, but to trust in you until my heart is content.

Receive my son, David, O God.

Another Affirmation from the Lord

On February 19th the day before David’s Memorial Service, the Lord provided another comforting assurance. I was awaken by Joshua at about 2:30 a.m.. After hugging and consoling each other, I went to my bathroom. Not ready to sleep, I just picked up my phone and scrolled on David’s text messages to me. I found a screen shot that I sent him on October 2018 of an assignment he wrote, when he was in Norway for a mission trip. Here are his responses is to thess questions:

Tea Eggs

On January 29th David stopped by and came into the house and asking, “Do I smell tea eggs?” Tea eggs are Chinese tea spice flavored hard-boiled eggs. I said “No”. Immediately as I opened a kitchen drawer, to my surprise, there was a pack of spice which I had brought back from Malaysia back in March 2019. While David was standing there, I started to prepare the eggs, but they require eight to ten hours to season to reach full flavor. I made a bowl of a special spicy noodle soup that David enjoyed and we had lunch together with Ethan. Before Thank you for bringing Him Home and giving him perfect rest, until I see him again. Amen and Amen.

David was an extraordinary young man from a very young age. He was loved and chosen by God even before his first very breath and to his last. Growing up, often times in the afternoon, David was mentored by his Dad in operating the family rental business. The employees of Home Depot were familiar with David since he always tagged along with Peter. They would often ask: “Where is David?”

“So where is David now?”

David is in his Forever Home, Heaven, with Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. “The Lord gave me life on 9/11 in the year 1998 and my life was taken on February 9, 2020, by a former friend at only 21 years old. Not a long life, but it was filled with many relationships, learning, and great experiences. My life ended quickly that morning as I would have wanted. My last act was to save my girlfriend’s life, getting between her and my killer. She was saved, but I graduated to be with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

No more restlessness. I have a perfect peace in Him, and I am worshipping Him fully, enjoying a fellowship and completeness, in the Lord. How do I know this? ‘We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.’ - II Corinthians 5:8”

David made an impression wherever he went. One evening, a year after David’s passing, we were at Walmart and a young man approached us and asked if we were David’s parents. He shared with us how David inspired him to have courage and to be confident in himself and to use his ability and skill to develop as a man. Even after David’s passing we are learning from others, David’s friends, how he touched their lives. The Lord uses these brief encounters that we have to let us know how He used David’s life. And we know that the Lord is still doing so even now.

David’s Memorial Service

At David’s Memorial, we were surprised by the numbers of his friends who were present to honor his memory. Each friend has a story of how David influenced his or her life. Two of his friends accepted Jesus that month and were baptized. Please pray the seeds planted that day bear fruit now, and in the years to come.

Raising children is not for the faint of heart. Since it requires every facet of our being (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). Raising our children is a window of experiencing God’s love for us. It always points us to the magnitude, depth and breadth of God’s love for His children. Since we are made in God’s image, we learn through all the things that we do that mirror the imprint of God’s traits, but, with imperfections. As parents, we seek wisdom and guidance from Him daily on how best to impact our children for His Kingdom.

One of the songs that we used for David’s memorial that seems to capture some of the essence of David’s spiritual journey, sung by Lauren Daigle, is titled “You Say”.

“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough, Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up. Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low. Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know. You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing. You say I am strong when I think I am weak. And you say I am held when I am falling short. And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours. What You say of me, I believe. The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me. In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity. “

To have lived and not have loved is tragic. David was intensely loved by us: his family and his girlfriend, friends, and many others. David was just as intense in his love for family and friends with a desire to protect. In his final moments, with a full measure of devotion and love, he gave his life to save a life. That was David - his Lord and Savior in him.

Arrest and Conviction of David’s Assailants

After David’s life was taken, the four murderers took their wounded criminal partner to Parkland Hospital, but by then the police were on the alert and quickly apprehended the four criminals at the hospital, where they were arrested and charged with “Capital Murder and Terrorism”. The murderer confessed to his crime and evidence was gathered to confirm the charges, and the sequence of events. David’s stolen property was also recovered. This all happened within about 4 hours. In the early afternoon, we learned about David’s murder from Joshua who learned it from Yuli, David’s girlfriend. John Valdez, the Dallas homicide detective, came to our home in the early evening and confirmed what we heard and explained what happened and assured us that the four murderers would not be released given the severity of their crime.

We were so devastated emotionally, mentally and physically by the loss of David. There are no words that can describe the depth of pain. Friends and even people that we didn’t know well prayed for us and our family. We know that the Lord heard those prayers for us. We are convinced that only the grace of the Lord sustained and enabled us to make memorial arrangements for David on February 20th at First Baptist Church Dallas. We were encouraged and comforted by many who attended. Soon after David’s memorial service, the Covid 19 virus virtually closed the country and the whole world. Being shut-in is not very good for the emotions, but in our case, the time allowed us to slow down and heal. The Lord’s timing is amazing, orchestrating all events according to His purposes and our good.

The Dallas Homicide Detective told us that the criminals who took David’s life would not be released on bail before trial since the charges were capital murder; and bail was set at $1,000,000 by the first judge. However, through access to court records, we learned that both adult defendants were released on a reduced bail of $100,000 dollars. Being new to how bail works, we discovered that the defendant only needs ten percent of the bail amount to be released. Furthermore, the $10,000 required to gain freedom, through “bail finance”, reduces the amount for the accused to be released. Elections indeed do have consequences, and liberal judges can’t help themselves in the name of “social justice”, releasing dangerous prisoners to do more mayhem. Needless to say, we were shocked by all this.

The pandemic slowed the trial process. On September 2, 2020, seven months after they took David’s life, the first to be tried were the juvenile perpetrators. Listening to their testimonies was difficult and painful, but we needed to be there for David. The defendants will remain in juvenile detention until 19 years old and then be transferred to adult prison for 20 years. Since we are victims in this crime, Texas law requires that we be informed of any changes in each killer’s status. We were also able to give victim impact statements and close the hearing in prayer.

On August 25, 2021 we attended the sentencing hearing for David’s murderer. We were told initially that there would be a week long trial. However, the defendant’s attorney and the Dallas assistant district attorney reached an agreement to lessen the charges against the defendant from “Capital Murder Terrorism” to Murder. The former capital charge carries at least a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty. The initial charge was accurate since the murder was planned for weeks in advance and the murderer actually enlisted and organized help to carry out his treacherous and horrible deed. Although the DA told us our opinion mattered on the reduction of charge, it really didn’t. The consequences to David’s murderer were reduced to 40 years which seems like a long time, but it is obvious that he may well be paroled before he serves his time. We realized that ultimate justice comes from God, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

At the hearing we were able to confront David’s murderer and let him know, by way of a Victim Impact Statement, how his actions affected our lives, and the lives of others not present. Molly, Joshua and Ethan focused on the devastation our family has gone through as a result of losing David this way. Peter focused on the devastation that the murder caused, and told him what he was. There was no remorse in his expression or eyes. It is sad to see someone who has such a callous and hardened heart.

There is one more culprit to be sentenced. His hearing will probably be at the beginning of 2022. He was the driver and also participated in the ransacking and theft of David’s home. We are told by the DA that his charge has been reduced from Capital Murder Terrorism to “Aggravated Robbery”. It appears that he may spend little or no time in prison even though he was an active participant in the crime from start to finish. Ultimately we know that even though man’s justice is lacking, the Lord’s justice isn’t.

So, Where are you going?

As much as we miss David, we have a biblical hope and promise that we will someday see him again. If David was here, he would say: “Did you know, regardless of when the Lord Jesus Christ calls you, your time on earth decreases each day? You can join me in heaven with the Lord with many old and new friends who are rejoicing with me.. First, repent from your sins ‘for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.’ Romans 6:23.”

“You can start your heavenly journey right now by praying and asking God to make you a part of His family, a child of the king of the universe, loved and cared for by Him ― don’t wait!” “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

If you believe Jesus is the Son of God, pray: Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sin and rose victoriously over my sin and death. For it is by grace I have been saved, through faith ― and this is not from myself, it is the gift of God. I acknowledge that You are my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How do you know that you are a child of God and going to heaven?

Bible Promises:

Romans 10:9-10

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.”

John 1:12

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

1 John 2:25

“And this is what He promised us ― eternal life.”

What now?

Find a church and join other believers in worship of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Start praying, get a Bible and read, tell others of your new faith.

Family Eulogy to David

As we reflect on the characteristic traits of David, words that come to mind are: Courageous, Leader, Influencer, Fighter, Tough, Resilient, Reticent, yet at times so expressive, Determined, Entrepreneur, Natural, Confident, Hard, tender and gentle, Skilled, Talented, Handsome, Rugged, Restless, In Your Face, Real, not fake, Teacher, Mentor, Fully Present, yet having vision for the future. David lived a full life and touched many.

“David, it was a great blessing, privilege and honor to raise you. You were a gift from Jesus. Your presence was always felt from when you drew first breath, to your passing on to glory and even now going into eternity. We taught you, but you also taught us so, so much. You took us to places, experiences and to people we otherwise would never have met, except for you. Our life is so much richer for having had you. We admire your energy, your passion for life, your extreme courage and your unique love for those around you. You were so real, touching us to the depths of our spirit, emotions and thinking. Your presence, touch, expression and love will be grievously missed. But even in our great sorrow, we have so many memories etched into hearts - pictures, letters and shared relationships that we can enjoy until we join Jesus and you in Heaven. In meantime, by God’s grace, we will spread the good news of the Gospel. , Mom & Dad”

“David was charismatic and capable, ready to engage with the here and now. While it feels incomprehensible that David’s life was so short, knowing he is with his Creator brings comfort. David’s passion and his desire to protect his loved ones is seen in his life and death. My prayer is that God will bring healing and use David’s death, even as He worked in David’s life. Memories of growing up with David, of experiencing life with my little brother, will continue to shape how I live. ‘Thank you David for sharing your exuberant life – until we join you in God’s presence.’ , Naomi”

“Throughout my life with David I admired his courage, persistence, and how he would challenge people. But most of all I appreciated the love and care he had for his family and friends. He kept a lot of his feelings to himself but at times he displayed a compassion and kindness that was unfathomable. I don’t know why God called him home but David is at peace now and I have no doubt that he is with his Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. God used his life and will continue to use him even in death. And to David I would like to say that, ‘I love you my brother and look forward to rejoicing with you in heaven.’ , Joshua”

“It’s hard to comprehend that my older brother is gone so soon. David was a big part of my life. We spent countless hours together. We even shared a room together for more than half of my life. I couldn’t ask for a better brother. I know that he is in a better place, where there is no pain and sorrow. As Revelation 21:4 says: ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ ‘I know God called you home for a purpose David. One day we will reunite and see each other again in Heaven.’ All the memories I had with David have a special place in my heart. He was such an inspiration and gave me a different view of life. ‘ you forever’, Ethan.”