I love the Lord, because he has heard

my voice and my supplications.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

16 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.

                                                                                               Psalm 116 NRSV 1-4, 16.

During the past year, many of us have mourned the loss of precious ones to the grasps of this unknown virus called Covid. Today, I am mourning the loss of one of our students. A wonderful man with a joyful spirit and warmth. He was part of our second Brazil cohort and he participated in our master’s program with passion and dedication. He wanted to better himself so he could be a better minister to those that depended upon him. He was looking forward to his graduation and has left a hole in the hearts of those that loved him.

The truth is I did not know Ronan all that well. I knew he was a good student, he handed in his work on time, he did not complain about the reading, but what I remember the most from him was his smile and his joy. I am enclosing some pics of Ronan and am praying that God will use his life to bless others. I would add that Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones because their lives are also precious to our Lord. May God’s love and comfort reign in the hearts of those that mourn Ronan.