On December 30, 2007, our dear friend and sister in the Lord, Elena (Lena) Piskunova, succumbed to cancer at her family's home in Minsk, Belarus, and went home to be with our Lord. Many of our family and friends had been praying for her. The following is an updated version of the e-mail that I sent to them. It is very similar to the e-mail I sent to her family after her pastor e-mailed us to let us know that Lena was gone.
To our Pastors and all who have been praying for Lena,
Ellen and I have lost our dearest friend in the world.
While we rejoice knowing that Lena has been freed from all of the pain, struggle and suffering, there is a huge hole in our hearts and in our lives today.
I have often felt that Lena could not believe that she was worthy of being loved by the many people who loved and cared about her, and as her pastor said in his e-mail to us, she poured herself out for others. No task was too small or too menial for her huge, servant heart, and she threw herself into these things, all things, as "work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thes. 1:3)
But she was loved, in this house and in many places and hearts, by the many, many people she touched in her life and her trips to the United States in particular. To look at the face of Lena Piskunova was to see the face and the love of her Lord, Jesus Christ. She poured this love out to her family and friends, and we were blessed to be in that number. Her love, compassion and care for her father and step-mother and for her nephew, Stas, were things she spoke of often to us. Her friendships with Asya, Dorothy Rogers, Don and Vi Fladland and with us were deep and precious to her. She was part of our extended family, and a day never went by that we did not pray for each other.
She could be quite funny, often without meaning to. We will never forget the phone call we got from her the summer that she was working at a Lutheran youth camp in North Dakota, proudly declaring that she had been promoted; "I am half of a head cook!" (Which she pronounced "kook") She loved sunflowers, and seeing a field of them in full bloom while we were in northern Minnesota for a family wedding, she insisted on stopping and having pictures taken of her and Ellen among the tall yellow flowers, in their best dresses for the wedding. (Always without her glasses. She never liked to have her picture taken with her glasses on.)
Looking back, I can see now in Lena's last e-mail to us, that she was preparing for this time, and she was starting to say "good-bye." Even as early as May and definitely in September, she knew something was happening, but she did not want us to worry about her. That was typical of Lena. Everyone else was more important to her than herself.
Many years ago, my grandfather passed away on my 10th birthday, and I have always remembered that each year when the day comes around. It will be like that for us with Lena too. You see, the day that our beloved sister went home to be with the Lord was our 30th wedding anniversary.
For almost fifteen years, Lena was part of our lives, our ministry and our family. We are so thankful for that time, for that love, for that beautiful spirit in our lives. We will never, ever forget her.
Godspeed, Elena. "Well done, good and faithful servant." We will see you again.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless and comfort all who mourn Lena's passing. And may you have peace in knowing that today, she is with Him in heaven for eternity. May the same be said of us all, in our time.
Thank you, all for your prayers over the past month.
God Bless You All,
Hans and Ellen
A celebration of Lena's life was held at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills, MN on Sunday, January 6, 2007. Pastor Don Richman, Director Emeritus of the East European Missions Network and Pastor Dave Jore, former President of the Lay Ministry Training Center-International, (LMTC) where Lena went to Bible school in the United States, led the service. My wife, Ellen, and I both gave eulogies, and Randy and Renee Klawitter of Wilderness Fellowship did the special music. Ellen, Randy and Pat Johnson, who was also able to attend, were members of the LMTC missions team that first met Lena in Belarus, which resulted in her coming to the U.S. to attend Bible school.
So we enter the new year saddened at the loss of our sister and friend, but buoyed up by the knowledge that she is with the Lord in Heaven, and, inspired by her faith, courage and perseverance. We have stepped too far from the call to take the Gospel to all nations, and so whether it is here at St. Brendan's, serving the servants, or going back to Russia or Belarus, or wherever He would call us to go, "we will not be silent any more"
In Lena's memory and honor,
We are proceeding on...
Trailpatrol
Ellen and I have lost our dearest friend in the world.
While we rejoice knowing that Lena has been freed from all of the pain, struggle and suffering, there is a huge hole in our hearts and in our lives today.
I have often felt that Lena could not believe that she was worthy of being loved by the many people who loved and cared about her, and as her pastor said in his e-mail to us, she poured herself out for others. No task was too small or too menial for her huge, servant heart, and she threw herself into these things, all things, as "work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thes. 1:3)
But she was loved, in this house and in many places and hearts, by the many, many people she touched in her life and her trips to the United States in particular. To look at the face of Lena Piskunova was to see the face and the love of her Lord, Jesus Christ. She poured this love out to her family and friends, and we were blessed to be in that number. Her love, compassion and care for her father and step-mother and for her nephew, Stas, were things she spoke of often to us. Her friendships with Asya, Dorothy Rogers, Don and Vi Fladland and with us were deep and precious to her. She was part of our extended family, and a day never went by that we did not pray for each other.
She could be quite funny, often without meaning to. We will never forget the phone call we got from her the summer that she was working at a Lutheran youth camp in North Dakota, proudly declaring that she had been promoted; "I am half of a head cook!" (Which she pronounced "kook") She loved sunflowers, and seeing a field of them in full bloom while we were in northern Minnesota for a family wedding, she insisted on stopping and having pictures taken of her and Ellen among the tall yellow flowers, in their best dresses for the wedding. (Always without her glasses. She never liked to have her picture taken with her glasses on.)
Looking back, I can see now in Lena's last e-mail to us, that she was preparing for this time, and she was starting to say "good-bye." Even as early as May and definitely in September, she knew something was happening, but she did not want us to worry about her. That was typical of Lena. Everyone else was more important to her than herself.
Many years ago, my grandfather passed away on my 10th birthday, and I have always remembered that each year when the day comes around. It will be like that for us with Lena too. You see, the day that our beloved sister went home to be with the Lord was our 30th wedding anniversary.
For almost fifteen years, Lena was part of our lives, our ministry and our family. We are so thankful for that time, for that love, for that beautiful spirit in our lives. We will never, ever forget her.
Godspeed, Elena. "Well done, good and faithful servant." We will see you again.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless and comfort all who mourn Lena's passing. And may you have peace in knowing that today, she is with Him in heaven for eternity. May the same be said of us all, in our time.
Thank you, all for your prayers over the past month.
God Bless You All,
Hans and Ellen
A celebration of Lena's life was held at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills, MN on Sunday, January 6, 2007. Pastor Don Richman, Director Emeritus of the East European Missions Network and Pastor Dave Jore, former President of the Lay Ministry Training Center-International, (LMTC) where Lena went to Bible school in the United States, led the service. My wife, Ellen, and I both gave eulogies, and Randy and Renee Klawitter of Wilderness Fellowship did the special music. Ellen, Randy and Pat Johnson, who was also able to attend, were members of the LMTC missions team that first met Lena in Belarus, which resulted in her coming to the U.S. to attend Bible school.
So we enter the new year saddened at the loss of our sister and friend, but buoyed up by the knowledge that she is with the Lord in Heaven, and, inspired by her faith, courage and perseverance. We have stepped too far from the call to take the Gospel to all nations, and so whether it is here at St. Brendan's, serving the servants, or going back to Russia or Belarus, or wherever He would call us to go, "we will not be silent any more"
In Lena's memory and honor,
We are proceeding on...
Trailpatrol
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