Thanksgiving

 This post has been a long time coming and it seems appropriate to write something today.

On September 15th, I remember riding a boda home and thinking how amazing life was at that moment. I was settled into a great job, was living in a great house with a wonderful roommate (although she was out of town then...). I finally was not living 8000 miles away from Tonny, and Tonny had started his final year of university. We submitted the paperwork for the visa and figured I could float through the next few months without too much stress.

The morning of September 16th, I was supposed to be going to Rwanda with Tonny for a holiday and to renew my visa. At 4:30 am that morning, I was awoken by a phone call from my father. In tears. Nothing could have prepared me for the words that would come out of his mouth:


Josh is dead.


My 21-year-old brother, Joshua Daniel DeBoer, was killed in a plane crash in Indiana just before 5pm on Thursday, September 15th. He was piloting my father's plane with one of his friends and roommates, Joseph Neuzerling. Both boys died instantly.

By the grace of God, I was able to book a flight home immediately and by Saturday morning, I was with my family. I barely remember those few days, I think we were all in shock.

It's Thanksgiving. It's the first Thanksgiving without my brother. Honestly, it's hard to feel very thankful today. It feels like the family has been shattered, how can we possibly be thankful at this time?

But then God's grace and peace come over me. He reminds me that Josh is with Him now. I should be thankful that I know my brother is in heaven and doesn't have to live in this filthy sinful world anymore. I should be thankful that I was able to go home and be with my family in September, and I will be again for Christmas. I should be thankful for the small blessings - the motorcycle we were finally able to purchase, the new house I have moved into, the financial ability to afford all of these things. I should be thankful God brought Tonny and me together at the right time, that Tonny has been my support the last few months. I should be thankful for the Christian community He has given me here (the ones I will celebrate the Thanksgiving meal with tonight!).

I am thankful for the ability to see the hand of God working in my life and the lives of the people around me the last couple months. God has never been so obvious to me as He has been since Josh was killed. He shows up time and time again, He has His arms wrapped around me and my family during this time. It's not easy and your continued prayers and support are more than appreciated. Please remember my family over this weekend and into the holiday season as we continue to mourn the death of our brother, son, grandson. Pray for God's grace and peace in our lives.


My family has set up a memorial scholarship fund at our high school in my brother's name. If you would like to make a donation, checks can be made out to Illiana Christian High School, Care of: Josh DeBoer Memorial Scholarship Fund. 2261 Indiana Ave. Lansing, IL 60438