Dick Ryerson and I went to the same Christian high school, graduating in 1964. We reconnected at our 40th reunion in 2004 and have stayed in touch since. He loved to go on construction mission trips, especially after retiring from a career as a CPA. His most recent trip was to Alaska two months ago. He wrote,

Bob, the trip to Alaska went well even with uncooperative weather. Tried to get the missionary’s house and water system ready for 40 below winter and also various village projects. We hope to have a trip to Honduras after the 1st of the year after missing for the first time in 20 years last year due to COVID. Pray with us it will happen. The foundations for two churches are ready and we hope to complete both with 6 teams.  IN Christ,  Dick R. 

Dick was 75 years old, and he was planning another trip! Unfortunately, a week after he sent that email on September 8, he was in the hospital with COVID. A week later, he went on a ventilator, and two weeks after that, he passed away, October 7, 2021. (FYI, he had been vaccinated.)

Dick just wanted to serve even if he was going through hard times of his own. Here’s what he wrote before the Alaska trip:

I have an opportunity to go on a mission construction trip in August to a remote Alaskan village reachable only by air.  Pray that this will be a successful and safe trip.  The missionary and his family have sacrificed much for this ministry and the renovations we propose doing are much needed!  I also need prayer personally as I seem overwhelmed with duties and responsibilities at this time.

Did I say hard times? Dick responded to my May 2018 ministry update with word that his youngest brother, Tim, had passed away while Dick and his wife, Barbara, were in Bolivia on a mission trip. When I asked, he responded:

Tim had been in declining health since the twin losses of his wife and son, but had rallied from his latest episode, gained back most of his weight, and started back to work.  We are leaving tomorrow morning for the approx. 12hr. drive so keep us in your prayers. Seems like we just walked in the door from Bolivia!

That was 2018. In early 2020, Barbara contracted a rare cancer. While still undergoing treatment, Barbara’s oncologist recommended Dick go ahead and take the mission trip to Paraguay he had been planning because “You need a break.” Can you say 2020? Here’s the story:

We almost got trapped there. Fight after flight was canceled, until the last plane out was one chartered by the US State Dept. to evacuate Embassy personnel and Peace Corps volunteers.  They had sixteen seats left and there were sixteen on or team.  I know we are taught to have faith, but I must admit in times like that it is easy to doubt!  They closed the airport and all borders as soon as we left!  In Christ, Dick R.

Barbara passed on August 7, 2020. The same day Dick’s step-sister Cassie died of COVID.

So a year after his wife and sister passed away, Dick was still at it, completing one trip, planning another. I wrote to his pastor, John Reeves, who happens to be the son of friends of June and mine from high school days. John responded:

Thanks for the note. “Faithful Man” is a great description of Mr. Dick. He has been a servant at one of our church plants for the last 10 years. He and Barbara despite being significantly older than everyone there have produced much fruit. – John Reeves, lead pastor, Radius Church

Dick and Barb left behind two adult children, their spouses, and six grandchildren. I know the family will appreciate your prayer.

¹²  The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³  They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴  They still bear fruit in old age… (Psalm 92.12 – 14, ESV)

Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25.21, ESV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4.7, ESV)