Link to the Pals family blog:
Jamison Pals was about twenty years old when he first started thinking about becoming a Christian missionary in Japan. In his blog he tells us he was inspired by,
Christ’s command at the end of Matthew 28, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..."And also the words of the apostle Paul who expressed a desire
“to preach the gospel where Christ [is] not known”Jamison says that he initially tried to talk himself out of embarking on such a bold adventure, but eventually decided to press forward with the plan.
(Romans 15:20).
He married Kathryne in August, 2010 and she remembers a day,
In the Spring of 2011, I (Kathryne) was working as a pre-school teacher, and Jamison was finishing up his second year of seminary. One memorable day, he was at home studying, while I was at school working. Out of nowhere, I got a text message that said something like, “What do you think about moving to Japan?” I don’t think I even responded. But, five years later, we’re now getting ready to move our family to the Land of the Rising Sun.
https://joyofjapan.org/2016/03/25/kathrynes-story/
During those five years Jamison and Kathryne prepared for their missionary journey to Japan and also started raising a family. Their first child, Ezra, was born in 2012. Violet was born in 2014 and baby Calvin arrived on May 21st, 2016.
On July 26th, 2016, Jamison provided readers of his blog with details about the children he loved so much.
Ezra. When Ezra grows up, he still wants to be a worker guy, and we think he will be a good one ... He is learning to swim and can hold his breath underwater for 14 seconds. Ezra understands well that we’re moving to Japan soon, though he wants to know if it’s a short or long drive from Grandpa and Grandma’s house.
Violet. Her middle name is Joy, and that is fitting. She is a happy soon-to-be two year old who loves babies and always wants to “go to Caribou (Coffee) tomorrow.” She can normally be found talking on your cell phone with her Grandpa and Grandma or putting your chapstick on her babies.
Calvin. Our little guy is quickly becoming not little–he’s already well over 14 pounds. He loves to eat, smile and baby talk. He’s probably our toughest baby yet, having survived the loving onslaught of his older brother and sister for over two months now.
Five days later on July 31st, 2016, the family piled into their mini-van and headed off to Littleton, Colorado, for a final session of training before leaving in late October to serve as missionaries with Christ Bible Institute in Nagoya, Japan.
Then, somewhere along Interstate 80, they were rear-ended by a speeding truck. Their car exploded in a ball of flames and the whole family died instantly.
Tears filled my eyes when I heard the news and now (a month later) I still get choked up whenever I think about what happened to them.
Telegraph Herald reporter, Lyn C. Jerde wrote about the tragic accident under the headline: Believing in God's wonderful plan and she ended her story with the words, I’ll also continue believing and trusting that God is good.
I really have trouble coping with that attitude. God's wonderful plan? I just don't see it.
But it got worse: The Star Tribune printed an obituary for the family and in the comments section Sandra Barclay wrote: "God is so merciful. He took them all together."
Link to the Pals family blog:
Update (31/7/2017):
One year later and I'm still feeling sad whenever I think about the family.
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