Since our last letter, the most significant event has been the Homegoing of my father, Eugene “Gene” Siemer. On
New Year’s Eve, we learned he’d suffered a health crisis, so I flew to Colorado on the 2nd to be with him and to help as best I could. Dad suffered heart complications that day and the next (his 99th birthday), and the Lord took him Home on the 6th. We’d like to praise God and honor Dad’s memory.

Thanks for your prayers for us. The best way to explain what it’s been like would be to say that a lot of big decisions needed to be made. We were in a “fog,” yet God guided, provided, protected, and inspired.
• He granted journey mercies so my brother, sister, and I all arrived, despite bad weather; later He gave a break from storms so family and friends could arrive for the funeral.
• From the outset, the three of us were able to deal with everything together in harmony.
• He led us to the right medical-care decisions through Dad’s wise preparations and then through medical complications, which were beyond anyone’s control.
• Though we couldn’t communicate with Dad, He granted comfort, He blessed us with outstanding individuals who cared for Dad, and He sustained us up to and through the funeral and beyond.
• He directed me to write out Dad’s testimony and convictions in detail for the funeral service, so all who attended heard “from him” an encouraging presentation of the Gospel message.

Most of all, the Lord’s loving and masterful care of Dad in such a trial was very evident. We felt we were “riding the wave” of God’s grace. Dad was led to the Lord through the influence of my mom while they were dating as college students. He soon asked his pastor for a Sunday school class so he could teach God’s wondrous work of redemption, as described in Romans. Mom and Dad were faithful witnesses and upon graduation went to Bible college to prepare to be missionaries in Africa. Unable to go for health reasons, they served God actively in local churches the rest of their lives, always supporting missionaries in prayer and finances. They became our greatest supporters, even visiting us in Nicaragua. When Mom passed in 2015, Dad fervently spoke of her as a “God-fearer.” A dedicated adult-class Sunday school teacher until a few years ago, Dad was characterized by his insatiable love of learning and his zeal to share with others the treasures he’d discovered.

Since we arrived back in Indiana, we’ve been going full-speed with church and ministry duties. The Lord blessed us with the most students ever for the college class and a dedicated group of adults in the Bible institute class. It’s a joy to preach for the church addictions-ministry recovery home. Missionaries continue to contact us with their needs, and we continue to go street by street in South Holland, Illinois, with the good news of the Gospel. On Saturday, we saw a 51-year-old man trust Christ as his Saviour.

With deep gratitude for your love, prayers and support,

Dan and Lana Siemer