Many of you have already heard the news regarding Austin Whetsell but we have had numerous requests for updates on this situation so the staff at Lexington Presbyterian Church decided to start this blog so we can keep family and friends as current as possible.
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, our youth missions team in Zihuantanejo, Mexico, was swimming at the beach. The waves there can be quite high and Austin was hit by a series of waves and apparently knocked unconscious. The turbulent waters prevented other members of the team reaching him before he was swept out of the cove where they were swimming.
Local fisherman have been assisting in a search but as of this morning (Monday, 10 AM EDT), there has been no word on Austin. Walter, Austin's father, was an adult member of the team and is there in Mexico. Kim, Austin's mother, is on her way to Mexico as I write this. This is a very dark time for them so please be in prayer for them and their family.
Our LPC family will meet today at 12 noon for prayer in the sanctuary. There will be some child care. If you can attend, I know the Whetsells would appreciate the prayer support.
The team of ten youth and six adult leaders are very upset but the team leaders are still helping with the search. We will post updates here as we receive them. In the mean time please pray!
Please pray for the Lord to do something amazing and bring Austin home safely.
Pray for Austin’s parents, Walter and Kim as they anxiously await an answer from the Lord.
Pray for the team leaders and members as they are upset and worried for their team member.
Pray for the many youth who called Austin their friend. If the evening service was any indication most youth will take this news quite hard.
Pray that the God of all comfort would extend to the Whetsells and our church family comfort and peace beyond all reckoning. Pray fervently for a miracle.
Resting in Him,
Daryl Madi
Assistant Pastor for Shepherding & Outreach
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Austin Whetsell Memorial Fund
Blog Archive
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2007
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July
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- A Message from Walter & Kim
- Link to Audio File of the Austin Whetsell Funeral
- Copies and Audio Links to the Funeral Service
- Clarification on the Lemonade Stand Story
- Seeing Jesus' Words Played Out
- Memorial Fund Details
- The Austin Whetsell Memorial Fund: Supporting the ...
- Prayer Service at Heritage Christian Academy
- Online Donations to the Austin Whetsell Memorial Fund
- Funeral Arrangements for Austin (with editorial co...
- Update 7-3-2007, 11:40 PM
- Update 7-3-2007, 11:15 AM
- Changed Settings on Comments: Your Comments Mean a...
- Update 7-2-2007, 10:40 PM
- Update 7-2-2007, 2:00 PM
- The Situation
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July
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32 comments:
Daryl, I can't be in the Midlands, or even down there helping (but Lord knows if I could, I would), but my thoughts and prayers are with Walter and his family.
Thanks for your doing this. A lot of people are tuning into this situation, and we appreciate having a source for the latest news.
Darryl,
Thank you for helping inform those of us who are distanced by space. Please know that our hearts and prayers are with Walter, Kim, the children, and you and your entire congregation as you endure this trama.
Know that are aching with you and for you, and are holding fast in our prayers for miracles, peace, and understanding.
Much love to all of you.
Walt, Kim and family, we're praying for you here in DC.
Jon & Cassie Tripp
Ashley and Zachary
Walt & Kim, Nelson & Carole,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We have sent word on to many friends - there are thousands praying for Austin's safe rescue.
We love you!
Betsy and John Klotz
Darryl, Thanks for keeping us updated.
Kim, Walter & Family,
Please know that we are all praying for your family at this difficult time.
Dear Friends,
Please know that our prayers are with you during this critical time.
God is able!!
The White Horse Equestrian Ministries
Praying for you in Atlanta, Ga. Please know you are being lifted up to our God in prayer.
Mary Peters
We at Northeast Presbyterian Church are standing with you and the Whetsell family in prayer.
Thank you for the updates,
Rhett Sanders
Heartfelt prayers from Summerville, SC. have been continuously flowing since we received word of Austin. Although we are former classmates & friends of the Whetsells, they are in our hearts forever.
We love you!
Bo & Jean Fridh
Tyler, Kerstin & Rachel
We out here in Loveland, CO are praying for you all. In Christ's Strength, Joey and Fran Parsons
Know that Cornerstone Presbyterian Church is praying for the Whetsell's and the LPC family during this difficult time.
I just wanted to say that I am praying for Austin Whetsell! I appriciate the most recent updates. I am praying for that miracle,also for his friends and family, and I am hoping that he will make it home safetly!
Let GOD help the Family during their time of need! I am speaking on behave of his fellow Lexington All-Star Baseball teamates!
Bring Him Home GOD,
Austin Burchfield
Our thoughts and prayers are with Walter and Kim for Austin's safe return and for the peace and comfort that only our Savior can give during a difficult time such as this. God bless you!
Alan and Laura Clemmons
Myrtle Beach
Walter & Kim,
We were devastated when we heard. Our thoughts, hopes and best wishes are with you.
Ralph & Dang Panzrino
Socastee
My prayers are with the family and all of you in your church touched by this. May God give all of you comfort and understanding during this very difficult time.
We are doing our best to harness the fabulous power of prayer. Emails and phone calls have been sent to our friends and family across 3 states (GA, SC, and NC) and who knows how many churches. We are praying constantly for you, Austin, the mission team, the authorities and search parties, and the locals watching God's people in action; also that God will receive much glory. Abide in Him. May God bless you greatly.
Walt, Kim & Family,
Wish we could be with you to assist and hold your hand; however, God is. May you feel his hand upon you during this difficult time. Know that our prayers as well as a chain of people here in Barnwell are praying for you.
I looked back at Austin's letter he sent prior to the trip and several sentences stuck out. One in particular is, "Pray that our attitudes will be ones of service to the Lord and that we will be able to show the people of Zihuatanejo what it truly means to be a Christian." The team, I believe, is carrying out this prayer of Austin. Surely, the people of Zihuatanejo are watching the team pray and come together as a Christian family and they are "showing the people what it truly means to be a Christian"!
We love you lots!
Windsor United Methodist Church is praying for all of you - For Austin and his family and the other young people and their families. May God comfort and guide you all through this long journey.
Remember that God is in control and we can only see a small part of the picture. That does not make it easier, but may the Whetsell family feel God's presence more than every and may they find their joy and peace in HIM! God bless the team, the families that are worried, and the Whetsell family.
The members of Faith PCA (Cheraw, SC) stand with our brothers and sisters at Lexington, in fervent prayer.
We are lifting our prayers up for the Whetsell family and the Lexington Presbyterian Church Mission Team. May God give you comfort and peace as you continue the search. Austin is in our thoughts and prayers.
The Hutto Family
Andy, Karen, & Chris
West Columbia, SC
Our family sends out our thoughts and prayers to the entire Whetsell family and their extended family. My son and Austin are on the same All Star Baseball Team this year. I was just watching Austin at practice last week and commenting to Kim how much he has grown over the last several years when my son and Austin were on the same Minor League Team. Please let us know if there is anything we can do. We are continuing to pray for a miracle and strength for the family.
God Bless this entire family and Austin "Speedy" Whetsell!
Wayne, Drew Stokes and Family
WALT, KIM, AUSTIN & FAMILY,
We are praying for you at this difficult time. Give God the glory in all he does. We love you.
Tammy & Eddie Crim
Walt, Kim & family,
Please know that we are praying for
your family, the search teams, the
members of the mission team and everyone involved. May God give you peace and comfort.
The Tenney Family
John, Mandy, Zach and Emily
Dear Whetsells, Lexington Presbyterian Brothers and Sisters and Friends of Austin,
My heart aches as I type this. As Daryl said in the blog, this is not the desired conclusion. I have been praying for you since Sunday night when Faye Weigle e-mailed our little women's Bible study group from Cornerstone Pres. Of course, I will join the many who continue to pray for each of you as you grieve your loss and yet desire to trust and honor God.
Special note to Tripp R. - your German teacher loves you and is thinking of and praying for you.
We are sad on earth to hear of your loss but God and the Angels are glad to have him home.
Be strong.
Friends from Saxe Gotha Presbyterian
May God be with everyone involved in this very trying time. To Austins family believe that Gods will shall be done and right now his hand is on your son and is with him always as he is with you also. He now holds your family in the palm of his hand. Our prayers are with you.
Dear Whetsell family,
I'm sorry to hear your beloved, strong, beautiful child has passed away. We pray in all we do, we try in all we can, atleast he is in God's hands now. I now how it feels to lose a loved one, my grampa died by falling down the stairs, my cousin died by electricution, ect.... Just remember this: Austin is looking at you right now in heaven, you can't see it. God has a reason for every purpose in life.
p. s. I will pray you every day, and I will keep him in my heart.
Sinceraly,
Natalie Reed
at lpc
Walter & Kim:
Just returned from out of town and heard the news...my heart hurts so much for you both...please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lisa Manini Sox
I stumbled on this site this morning unknowingly. My prayers are with you and your church family. May the peace of the Lord be with the missions team and the family members.
I pray this team will seek God's comfort in this time of need and I pray for the loving hand of God to be placed upon the family.
Austin was on my son's baseball team in Lexington. This tragedy has had a profound effect on all the players, both in Lexington and visiting teams during All-Star playoffs. We all mourn the loss of a terrific kid, friend, team mate. My heart aches for Walter and Kim and for those close to Austin in their time of grieving. I cannot begin to imagine the agony of losing a child. My last image of Austin is at All-Star batting practice. I can picture him smiling and laughing as some of the boys on the older team kidded him about carrying their equipment. We will miss him greatly.
Lexington Baseball Mom
Walter was a high school friend. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife and children during this confusing and difficult time. May God bring His peace into your hearts, His love fill your souls and His comfort lead you through each day to come.
Kim (Massey) Tuttle
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