Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Changed Settings on Comments: Your Comments Mean a Great Deal

When I first set up the site, in haste, I did not check over the settings in the comment section. As a result, some of you may have attempted to make comments but were not able. Anyone viewing this sight may now leave comments by clicking on the comments link. The comment may not appear immediately as we review all comments but this is just a precaution to protect the family from anything hurtful.

Though this space is focused on Austin, if you have a comment for any of the other team members or family of team members, you may also leave them here. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. They have meant a great deal to Walter, Kim and the rest of the team.

42 comments:

Chris said...

My heart goes out to everyone on the team.

My heart goes out especially to Walter and his family. Your in my thoughts and prayers and I pray that God will bring peace to you.

To mom and dad, I couldn't think of a better team to be there for everyone. You're both extremely gifted and God has given you both the wisdom and heart to be what I believe is a beacon of hope for everyone there. I love you both and pray that the Lord will be with you all.

~Christine

Anonymous said...

To Walter and Kim, and the entire LPC family- your brothers and sisters at Saxe Gotha Pres are praying for you!

Anonymous said...

All at Westminster Pre in Clinton are in prayer for the family.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kim and Walter,
In the last year that I have taught Austin, he has really gotten into my heart and I am praying for him and you all constantly. I hope with all my heart.
With much love, Katherine Schilling

Anonymous said...

We love you and are continuously praying for your precious family.

Love,
Eric and Carrie Shick

Anonymous said...

Praying for you all during this time. I pray that God will pour his Mercy and Grace upon you and may the Holy Spirt hold carry you through this.

Unknown said...

Dear Walter and Kim,
Ashlyn called sharing about Austin. We are praying for you all, trusting God to give you strength for the day ahead,and for Austin also. We know that our Lord is with him as He is with you.

Lovingingly,
Bob & Lou Maronn

Anonymous said...

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this young man as well as the church family. My sister and her family attend Lexington Presbyterian and are devastated by this news. We pray for God's will be done and for comfort and healing for the family.

Anonymous said...

My family, friends, and I are all praying for this situation. May God's will be done and may His peace abound.
God be with you all.

-Melanie H.

Anonymous said...

We have contacted everyone we know to pray for covering and to ask that God use this to show everyone involved how awesome he is...whatever that may be...however, as parents and youth leadrs our hearts are aching for you all.
Love in Him, Tessa and Dee Stanton
Raleigh, NC

Anonymous said...

We are all thinking of your family and praying hard. I pray that God will comfort you and give you strength and grace to get through this incredibly hard time. We all love you.

Anonymous said...

Walter and Kim...
Our hearts break with yours. We are lifting you all up constantly to our powerful and merciful Father. We pray you are filled with an outpouring of HIS peace and comfort.
With love,
Rodney, Beth, Ryan, Katie & Clair Hollingsworth

Anonymous said...

Stay strong and keep holding on. Dont let go untill it is all gone. I am an 11 year old from S.C. I am a friend of Evie Rogers. She is the one who told me about this. I feel that every thing will turn out just fine. I have been praying all day to day for Austin to return home safe. God does things sometimes that we do not understand but he has a reason for doing them. May God bless you. Have hope in the Lord. I love you.

- Erica B.

(Soon to Be) Lean Green MP said...

Walter, it broke my heart to hear of this on the news this morning. The Baldaufs are all keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

Mary Pat Baldauf

Anonymous said...

May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Praying for a miracle of God for Austin and his family to the glory of our Father.
Your Sister in Christ,
Dottie
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge. Psalm 31:1a

Anonymous said...

The Whetsell family and the LPC family are in my thoughts and prayers. We all must remember that God has a plan for each of us.

LaDonna Miller-Marshall

Anonymous said...

Walter and the Entire Whetsell Family;

Words can not express the sorrow and grief that you must feel. Please know that I am praying constantly for Gods peace, guidance and assurance in these most horrific of times. I know that your faith and the people of your church will be supportive and strong when you need to be weak. May God bless and keep you in your times of sorrow.

Wes Farno
Dayton, OH

Anonymous said...

My thoughts and prayers are with the Mission Team and their families and most of all with Austin and his family. May God comfort and console each and every one of us who are praying in earnest and give us HIS peace an HIS strength for the days ahead.

Anonymous said...

You are all in our prayers. May God give you peace and strength. May He wrap His loving arms around the Whetsell family and the LPC family.

Rebecca & Lloyd Barnett
Willow Ridge Church
Lexington, SC

Anonymous said...

Dear the Whetsell Family, My heats goes out to you. I am going to have my familty pray for his self return and I hope everything comes out well.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kim and Walter,

Our hearts and prayers are with you. We pray continuously for a miracle and that you may find rest in the will of our Lord and be filled with His strength and comfort.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." Psalm 46:1-2

Love and Prayers,
Kevin, Deanna, Miles, Marshal, and Morgan McGee

Brantley said...

Thanks for keeping us updated, Daryl.

We are praying for a miracle and for comfort for the Whetsells during this most difficult time.

Brantley and Graem Clark

Anonymous said...

To The Whetsell Family,

We are continuing to pray for you, since we received the news. Please know that everyone who has come in contact with Austin will continue to pray for you all. Tyler and Austin played basketball together this past year.

In God's love,

The Aslunds

Anonymous said...

To the LPC Family and Immediate Family. Our prayers are with you and Austin in His Heavenly Home.
Sincerely,
Bruce & Julie Donatelli
Jeff and Amy Anne Donatelli Lassig;
Minneapolis, MN

Anonymous said...

The Whetsell Family,

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Dad has been keeping me up to date. And, I have been praying for you constantly. May the Lord grant you strength and peace at this difficult time. I love you all.

-Amanda Strickland

Reamed said...

Kim,Walter,Carol,Nelson and Family:

Our hearts ache for you. We pray believing God will give you the strength to endure.

We are only a "stone's throw" away and willing to help in any way possible.

Your neighbors,
Allen and Debbie Petricek

Anonymous said...

God bless all that are involved in this mission. As tough as times are it is heart warming to know that everyone involved has done so to help others. Austin lived a wonderful life as he served the lord. I will keep the family in my thoughts and prays.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Austin, but my heart goes out to his family. We don't know why God allows certain things to happen, but it is His decision and we have to trust Him. My prayers ae with the family.

Debbie Mack

Anonymous said...

To the Whetsell Family,

There is nothing I can really say to comfort you or let you know how sorry I am, but I knew Austin when I went to LPC. He was always nice and never excluded other people. God had a reason for all of this. I don't know if we will ever see it, but just knowing that is comforting to me at least because I believe everything he does turns out for the better and for his glory. Austin is with God right now, I know you will hear that a lot, but I don't think you would want it any other way. I grieve for you, the team, the church, and for his memory. You are in my prayers.

Love,
In Christ,
Shelly Skelly

Anonymous said...

I am a friend of Carol Tripp who taught Austin. She relayed what a fine young man he was. My 98-year old mother, my husband, and I have been praying for the family, friends, and people involved in his search. We know that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Austin, the others on the mission trip, and his family certainly fit this verse. Thank you for the opportunity to give through his memorial fund.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Austin, but we put his family on our prayer list and I have been praying for all involved. My heart goes out to Austin's family at this time.

Anonymous said...

I have been praying so hard for his safe return but as the situation lies, I am very sorry but he is in the safe arms of God and we shall see him again. He shall stay in our harts always. A sweet boy he was and is. I pray for the mission team as well.

Anonymous said...

To the Whetsells
I am sorry and are praying for you and Austin. Even though he is gone he is still in our hearts and we shall see him again some day. I love all of you and pray for ya'll to recover. And my love goes out to the mission team as well. Remember, God has a plan for everyone and your son completed the plan and work that he sent him to do.
Many loving prayers,

Anonymous

Anonymous said...

Dear Whetsells

I can't explain how much sorrow is in my heart and so many others but he has gone to the LORD and is safe and we will see the light of his face again. Its a bitter sweet ending hear on earth but a grand new begining for him in heaven. Austin was close to the LORD and doing HIS work. He did what GOD asigned him to accomplish and your son did it with full heart and soul so you can be asured he is with the LORD. My love and prayers go to ya'll and the team. I'll do everything it takes to help out with this pain and burden. Christ is going to help you through!
AMEN!

Much love and hope,
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Anonymous said...

Mr. and Mrs.Whetsell,

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I haven’t talked to Austin since 5th grade when we were in the same class at Heritage. But I know that he was one of the sweetest boys I have ever met. I still remember in kindergarten when we sat beside each other, we used to talk and pretend our fingers were people. He told me that he wanted to drive ambulances so we would act out all kinds of things and he would always do the loud ambulance noises during class. Whenever we did that Mrs. Green would look at us and say, “Austin Whetsell, if you and Clair don’t stop talking you’re going to be in deep dark trouble!”. I am not sure why I still remember that so vividly but it is about the only memory I have of kindergarten. I realize that I haven’t seen Austin in a very long time but I am still heartbroken to hear the news. He was always smiling and running around happily. I wish I had kept in touch with my Heritage friends after I left so that I could have known him better. But all the memories I have of Heritage include him, his bright blue eyes, and his joyful smile. I am praying for your family, for Chandler, and for the mission team.

Love
Clair Hollingsworth

Anonymous said...

To the Whetsells
and my beloved family at Lex Pres

Gosh - what do you say... there aren't words for times like this - it is the groans Scripture describes. But we do have an Intercessor who will pray for us when we cannot. I did years of Youth Ministry at LPC before going to Seminary and my heart hurts with y'all. You are not alone.

I am praying that God be so close!
Teri Wilson

Anonymous said...

Mr. & Mrs. Whetsell,
This is Harry Dent, father of Ashley Dent, lost tragically last year from an auto accident on I-26. I pray that you will be lifted up with the same support of your church and community that we have had. Be strong for each other, and if there is anything I can do to assist, please call me.

With deep sympathy,

Harry Dent
Columbia, SC

Anonymous said...

Walter & Kim,
We are so sorry for the heartache you are experiencing in your loss of Austin. There must be so many unanswered questions, and we are praying for grace and comfort for you and your family.
With Love and Prayers,
Paul, Susan, Joel, Kayla, & Jeremy Bishop

Anonymous said...

Walter and Kim, We are staying abreast of the search in Mexico. We want you to know that there is so much prayer being lifted up here in the Lexington area for you both and for a successful search for Austin. We are all praying for you and care deeply for you and Austin, as well. We pray that you feel the Lord's arms wrapped around the situation. The prayer here for Austin is in the air. We can feel it everywhere. Continue to be headstrong in your search and we will be headstrong and faithful in prayer. Much love to you, Jay, Tonya, Will, Nick and Maddie Hammond

Anonymous said...

To the Whetsell Family:

As our family prays for you all on our knees, the words are hard to find. Out of one such time of silence, our little girl took over and began by praying "O, God. Show your power to the Whetsells."
Now, this is our prayer for your family. And we pray for God to get supreme glory through Austin's life and death. May your family shine brightly for Jesus so the world may know He is the truth.
In Christ's love,
Rick and Kaye Hall and children

Anonymous said...

Brothers and sisters at St Andrews Evangelical Church continue to lift up Austin's entire family and mission team. We know that Rom 8:28 is still true and much will be accomplished for the kingdom as a result on Austin's life and death.
Elizabeth and Duane Briggs

Anonymous said...

Dearest Walter, Kim and family ~ Austin's death has caused us all to think of you constantly, and we send our condolences and deepest thoughts to comfort you during this tragic time. Please know that in your darkest hours, your pain touches all of us and we mourn your loss as if it were our own. We cannot know the mind of God, yet we know that He does lift us up tenderly and sets us up on that solid rock that never moves or wavers. There is no God like Jehovah. Please accept our deepest thoughts of you at this time. May you find comfort in your fondest memories. Our prayers and tears are for you and the family. Lovingly, Rebecca, Heather and Heidi Kaiser