There are no words. They found Josh’s backpack. About an hour later they found his body. His family and friends are devastated. The Durango Herald did an article this evening, it can be found here.
Dw and I just got home. It is just about 10pm. We are so glad we had the privilege of spending today with this precious family. They desperately need your prayers. No one expected this outcome. Maybe that Josh was hurt, but not this. Our only comfort is that Josh knew Jesus and we know where he is and one day his family will be reunited with him.
We were able to spend time with the rescuers, as well, who were also visibly shaken. Many of the Search and Rescue team are Christians….clearly amazing…….as they searched they were praying for God’s wisdom and insight. Everyone is in shock. Everyone.
The weather was mixed all day, with thunderstorms, hail, and some sun. We prayed with the family all day while they waited. Then the horrible news came. Thank you so much to those who prayed and those who were able to join in fasting. None of it is wasted friends. From an earthly perspective, who can understand??? There is no understanding in suffering and loss. We are confident that God is still faithful. Still. No matter what.
Please, please, please keep praying for this precious family.
PS The newspaper said that the woman in the picture with Shelley declined to give her name….friends, they never asked me anything. They didn’t even try to talk to me. And this picture must have been taken early in the day. I never saw them taking it either. Not that it matters at all.
I've been checking your blog all day. My heart just dropped and is breaking for this precious family. There are no words except that I am praying…..
Praying for the family and friends.
Tinacd
Oh my heart just breaks for this family! My prayers go out to them!
Oh Linny–I have been checking for updates all evening. This is absolutely awful. There simply are no words. No answers this side of heaven, dear friend.
Praying for comfort for the family. I cannot imagine the pain.
Heartbroken for them.
I was wondering about that whole picture thing lol! 🙂 I love you and pray that you have a great nights sleep!
Oh sweet friend, I am so very sorry to hear this news. You are right Linny, we cannot understand, but God is still faithful. No matter what. Always.
I know that you do not want praise, but thank you Linny and Dwight for being Jesus' hands and feet to this precious family today. Thank you for standing with them, in a really tough place. May the Lord comfort your hearts. May He hold Josh's family and friends closely as they mourn his loss. Please bring comfort Lord.
Continuing to pray~
Love you guys,
Tina
oh no.
Tears are falling for this great loss of life. My heart aches for his family. So glad that you were there to support them today. I know God is with them. But it is so hard to understand when things like this happen to His people. Like you said, there is no understanding. The only peace is knowing that Josh is now with Jesus and that His family WILL see him again one day. Prayers will continue to go up for all of them during this VERY difficult time.
hugs,
tanya
I don't know what to think or say except that my heart hurts. I just can't fathom what it must be like for the family and friends. I will continue to pray for them.
God is good and God is sovereign.
My heart is completely breaking for the family and friends of this incredible young man. Prayers go out to them.
Pure sadness!! I know you let Shelley know there are a lot of mommas out their lifting her up in prayer right now!!
How heavy my heart is…not what I prayed for but i know God had his hand in all of it…holding them in prayer as i know of the difficult days that are to come…praying for peace and strength…btw i knew that was you in the picture…what a great source of comfort you and Dw have been to the family
Thanks, Linny, for letting us know. I have been checking often too. I will continue to surround the family/friends in prayer.
Carrie
Linny,
I had a hard time sleeping last night after you told me this news! I spend many hours praying for Shelly and the rest of the family, as well as for you and DW. AS hard as it must have been for you to be there, I am so glad that you were! I know God used you and DW to be his arms to hold this dear family!!
Will continue to pray that the flights all go well and that they can get home to the rest of the family.
Terry
Praying blessing and mercy. My Lord comfort and lift the heads of your people! Let's rejoice in the Lord who gives and takes away-even though it HURTS!
Praying!
Jen
I am so sorry. I prayed every day for this young man since I heard the news.
My heart hurts for his family…I will be praying fervently for them. I pray they will cling to Jesus during this season…
Rom. 8:28
I'm reminded of that song that goes "When you don't understand, when you can't trace His hand…trust His heart"
This is so sad. Prayers being said for Josh's family.
I woke up and ran upstairs expecting to see that Josh was found safe and sound. I am so sorry to see this outcome. My payers will be with his family!!!
I didn't get this before I went to bed and kept waking up all night long praying for Josh to be found. I soooo wish the outcome had been different. Praying for this precious family and their shocking loss. I can't even imagine…. Someday we will understand. For now, we trust in the One who loves us enough to give us His Son.
My heart and prayers goes out to his family and friends. Found out that they went to the same church as my husband brother and his wife go to. My BIL knew him. Such a small world.
So sad. Definitely praying.
I am truly at a loss for words. So very hard to understand a loss such as this….My prayer is that God would comfort this precious family during this most trying time…may he hold them up when they feel as though they can't go on…may he give them a peace that only he can…may he comfort them each and every day…
No, no, no, NO……I came here first thing expecting to read that he was found, but not like this. Not like this.
Dear Jesus, please keep holding them all.
Sarah, in tears in Florida
Iam so sorry. My heart just sank this morning when on our news had a small blurb about a "tragic end to the search for the Otterbien student". I couldn't bear to wait for the story.
Please let Gulyas' know that we are in the Columbus area and can help out however we can. (My husband is an Otterbein graduate!)
Please email me and I will give you my phone #. msiowatson@yahoo.com
Sheri
Praying for the family and for them to experience the comfort that can ONLY come from Christ at this time.
I was awake of and on all night praying….so heart breaking!
Oh Linny, I am so very, very sorry. What devastating news. I don't even have words….I'm just so sorry and will continue to pray for this sweet family.
Oh my, I am so sorry. Praying for his family and girlfriend as well as all those involved in the search.
Oh no….So sorry to hear this news. Praying for the family and friends.
Julie
I am so, so sad right now for everyone who loves Josh.
Keri
Thank for for giving us the privilege of praying for this family. My cousin died by falling off a cliff as he was hiking 4 years ago. My heart goes out to this family and I'm praying for them…
Praying for comfort and peace for Josh's family. Our earthly minds can not comprehend how this could be God's plan and why He didn't intervene in a different way. What a blessing that you were able to be there with them and to minister to them during this very difficult time.
My heart is so heavy with pain for this family. I will continue to lift this young man's family in prayer, that they may draw close and feel God's arms around them as He mourns with them.
Please pass on our sincere condolences from blogworld. We were praying and feel grieved that this young man was lost to us, but found by the angels! Praying for the family as they find God in everything.
So very sad. What a tragic day for all. I grew up in Ohio and moved to Colorado while in my teens. I lived there until the birth of our 5th child then moved again. The article is very correct about the terrain being way different in nature. We are praying for this family here.