Update Saturday, June 19 9am AT

 Update  Saturday, June 19, 2021

 Posted @ 9am Atlantic Time:

Friday our family went down the job site where David was working and living the past month, helping our dear friends build their home.  

It was a hard but very good evening as they showed us all the projects he worked on, the spots he liked and the places he went this past month.  

We also went down to the river to see the spot where David drowned.   

Seeing it was so hard but also so good for all of us.   Both families.    In fact I can honestly say, it was probably harder for them to go back to that spot than for us.   It was their first time back, and I don't think they would have gone if it hadn't been for having to show us.  

  The area is full of fly fishermen,  people on tubes, families with kids swimming. 

The river is so shallow,  up to a spot.  

As hard as it was, the one thing that struck me was David was enjoying and seeing such stunning beauty  his last hour.  He must have been so so happy.  I can see his smile delighting in the moment.   

Then after, what I am sure was a short time of fear and panic,  he was immediately experiencing  an even more stunning,  beautiful view , with perfect, radiant Joy, seeing the Face of Jesus.  

Absent from the body , present with the Lord.  

2 Corinthians 5:8

  " We are confident, yes, well PLEASED rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

He died in  a spot that was everything he loved....building, fishing, mountains,  mountain biking,  being with best friends, and stunning views that declare that majesty of God.

— From Sarah Van Essen on behalf of the family.

Funeral,  

Saturday June 26 at 10 am. 

At First Evangelical Free church. 

3280 S. 84th St. | Lincoln, NE 68506

More details to come.

Original Story/ Fund & Funeral Information: 

https://prayersforelva.blogspot.com/2021/06/david-van-essen-fund.html

Update June 17 11pm Atlantic Time

This afternoon (Thursday, June 17) Sarah & Matt and family were able to see David's body at the funeral home. Thank the Lord it was not the traumatic event they had feared it would be. They were thankful that his body was viewable and not bruised. He just looked like he was sleeping. They really felt the Lord's peace and presence during that time and were thankful for the needed closure it brought to be able to see him. 

The only way for them to move the body back to Nebraska is for them to transport it themselves. (This is due to Covid restrictions the funeral home can’t offer this service). The plan, Lord willing, is Matt & another man will drive a van carrying the body. They will drive at night as it is is cooler then. Leaving Sunday evening and driving right through, 17 hours from Montana to Nebraska, sharing the driving. (The family just realized it will be Father’s Day so that adds another layer of heaviness).

Sarah and another lady will leave Sunday afternoon and drive back to Nebraska over a two-day period in their van with the rest of the family. Some of the family will be in Caleb's truck as well. (Caleb is their eldest son).

Once they get to Nebraska, they will meet with the funeral home personnel and find a church venue large enough for the funeral numbers expected. The exact date of the funeral will be decided then. They do hope to Live-stream the funeral. More details will be given on that once they know where the funeral will be held.

Thank you again for your continued prayers for them as they make the journey back home.

Original Story/ Fund & Funeral Information: 

https://prayersforelva.blogspot.com/2021/06/david-van-essen-fund.html

Van Essen Update June 17, 2021 5:30 pm Atlantic Time

Sarah and Matt are now in Montana. A kind family even offered to moved out of their home and are staying with others so that Matt and Sarah and family can stay in these folks house. The kind lady had even made a bunch of food for them. The Van Essen's so appreciated of the kindness of this family and so many others of you who have been reaching out to them. 

We wanted to ask that while you are praying for Matt and Sarah and family please also pray for the family that David had been staying with in Montana as they deal with the trauma of being there when all this happened. Matt and Sarah are currently visiting with them for couple days to assure them of their love and care.

Original Story/ Fund & Funeral Information: 

https://prayersforelva.blogspot.com/2021/06/david-van-essen-fund.html

Prayer Time in Lincoln Nebraska

For those is the Lincoln, Nebraska area: 

*** The room will be  1417 it's the middle room. Turn left when you enter the building.  ***

Prayer time for the  VanEssen family will be on  Friday  June 18th at  Indian Hills Community Church. Time 7PM till 8:45 pm to allow time at the end if we need to put chairs away. 

Indian Hills Community Church  is located on 84th and  A st. The church asks that we park in the back (North East parking lot. Enter at the  Entrance in the back with the Overhang)  they just are finishing up with  asphalt in the  South  Entrance so that area is not accessible. I believe that the  room that we will be in will possibly be the  first room to the left on the left side. I will be  notified as to what room and if that changes I will let you know.  

We will also have a hymn as well.  

Janet Rice 

Update June 17, 2021 11am:

Thoughts from the Van Essen Family 

The Van Essen family wanted to share with you some verses from the Bible they have been meditating on and finding comfort in.

Lily Van Essen has been meditating on these verses:

My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” 
-- Lamentations 3:20-24 ESV

These are verses on Matt Van Essen’s mind right now: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy,
he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold
that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him.
Though you do not now see him,
you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

—1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV

David Van Essen Funeral & Fund Info

A Photo of David in Montana.

        Photo of the Van Essen family taken earlier this year.

The Story:

Matthew & Sarah Van Essen's third eldest son, David, drowned in the Missouri River in Montana on June 14th where he was spending the summer helping with carpentry. His body was found the next morning further down the river on June 15th. He was 17 years old. We are thankful that David knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. 

Matthew & Sarah VanEssen and family have driven the 17 hours from Nebraska to Montana where they will be for a few days and then return to Nebraska for the funeral & burial.  

David Van Essen FUND

Many of you have been asking how you can help the Van Essens with the repatriation and funeral costs of David Van Essen.

Friends have kindly made this fund available as a secure way to transfer 100% of your gifts to Matthew & Sarah Van Essen. Click on the link below. You can donate in US Dollars, British Pound Sterling, or Canadian Dollars.

https://donorbox.org/david-van-essen-fund

Facebook Group:

There is also a Facebook group 

we use to post these blog updates you can join it here: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/157958231228091/

Funeral info:

Saturday June 26 at 10 am. CDT

At First Evangelical Free church. 

3280 S. 84th St.,  Lincoln, NE 68506

https://firstfreelincoln.org

For those watching to watch the live here are the times in other time zones: 

PDT: 8am /  MDT: 9am / CDT: 10am / EDT: 11am / ADT: 12 noon

Visitation 

Friday June 25th 3-7 pm with family present 5-7 pm, At Roper and Sons 4300 O st. Lincoln NE.  

Funeral
10 am Saturday June 26 2021. First Free Church ,3280 S 84th st, Lincoln NE.   

Graveside service 

Greenwood Memorial Cemetery  at 1:30 (Saturday, June 26, 2021)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to The Ezekiel Project  ( tepse.org)

Condolences online at  https://roperandsons.com/david-van-essen/ 

Live stream link will be available on the Roper and sons website.

A Recording will be uploaded after for those who could not watch the live stream.

________________________________________________________________________

Obituary: https://roperandsons.com/david-van-essen/

David Nathanael Van Essen, 17, of Greenwood, NE passed away June 14, 2021, in Cascade, MT. Born January 11, 2004, in Omaha, NE to Matthew and Sarah (Brooks) Van Essen,

David was a member of Hollywood Heights Bible Chapel.

Family members include his parents Matthew and Sarah Van Essen; siblings Caleb, Timothy, Lilias, Linia, Nehemiah, Miriam, Jeremiah, Samuel, Joel, Micah, and Cassia; grandfather Don Brooks; grandmother Patricia Van Essen; aunts and uncles David and Desiree Van Essen, Dennis and Valerie Easton, Richard and Katherine Brooks, and Leonard and Rachel VandenBerg. Preceded in death by his grandmother Elva Brooks and grandfather John Van Essen.

Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Saturday (6-26-21) First Free Church, 3280 S. 84th Street. Livestream at roperandsons.com/livestream. Graveside service will be in the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday with family present from 5-7 p.m. at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Ezekiel Project (tepse.org)

________________________________________________________

For Map of where the church is that the Funereal will be at:

Click on the map of the Lincoln below to see it larger.

VanEssen Update June 16, 2021

 

A recent photo Matthew & Sarah Van Essen and Family taken earlier this year.

VanEssen Update June 16, 2021: 

We are still en route to Montana.   

Stayed in a not so great hotel in Douglas WY last night, but we all slept for which we a very grateful. 

A 9 hour drive today. 

 Reality is settling in today.  Just seeing a mountain bike today was so hard.

The kids and ourselves are reading all the texts and emails.   Thank you to each that has written.   

The notes and prayers are carrying us!  

Caleb is driving his truck out as well.  The older boys need the time.  

We keenly sense the Lords love.  

Yesterday the Love of the Lord was poured out on us through his people in Lincoln.   

They sent us on the road with so much food    , a friend sent a bag of crafts which saved my sanity. 

Someone even had boxes of adult and kids pain meds.  

Thank you to each of you.  

Sarah, for the whole family.

vanessen.sarah@gmail.com 

____________________________________________________

Past/ Original Update:

Dear Family & Friends,

It is with heavy hearts that we let you know that the third eldest son of Matthew & Sarah Van Essen, David Van Essen drowned yesterday (June 14th, 2021) in a river in Montana, where he was spending the summer helping with carpentry. He was 17 years old. 

Search and rescue searched found his body the next day (June 15th) further down river.

In the afternoon of June 15th Matt & Sarah VanEssen and family started the 16-17 hour drive to the town of Cascade, Montana or near there. 

Please pray for them as they make decisions about burial and funeral etc.