My family and I were involved in music ministry and travelled all over singing and ministering, recording cd’s, since around 1987. What an absolutely incredible time we had all those years on the road for Jesus, making beautiful music for our Lord. Then at National Quarter Convention in 1993, we met Dave Wilcox. He was an important guy in the music world, but I’ll never forget meeting him and how we became instant friends. Through the years, we’d stay in touch, and when the time came for me to fulfill my calling to Ecuador, I shared my story with Dave. He couldn’t believe I was ‘bounding off’ into the jungle! lol But as our friendship grew dearer, each time I’d return to the U.S., Dave and I would try to get together. Between his busy schedule and mine, it was a challenge, but true friendship always prevails! lol And when we could work it out, we’d do lunch. We’d catch up on all the ends and outs of the music world and my work in Ecuador, and just life in general. Those were such fun times! He was such a great conversationalist and always made me laugh.
As I shared with him all that I was accomplishing in Ecuador for the Lord, it touched his heart greatly and one day he told me that he’d like to build a jungle church in Ecuador for my people. I was so honored and so humbled that he believed in my work and wanted to do something so kind for the Ecuadorians. We talked about it for a while, but as the months passed, we just never could make it come to fruition, but it was always something he desired to do. And I knew that when the time was right, it would happen.
By this time our friendship had spanned over nearly 23 years. Then on my trip to the U.S. in 2017, I was supposed to have lunch with Dave, but because of our busy schedules it just didn’t work out. I had no idea I’d live to regret not seeing him. In September of that same year, I received a message from my sister, Ann, to let me know that my beloved friend Dave had passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. I remember I was in a hotel room in Ambato, Ecuador, and when I heard the message I just fell across the bed and wept for a long time. Did he know how great a friend he was to me? Did he know how important he was in my life and my family’s? Oh, Why had I not tried harder to make the jungle church a reality for him here? I hoped he knew how much he and his friendship had meant to me all those years. I was so very saddened that he was now gone.
A few days later, I received a message from Pastor Shanda Tripp at The Fireplace Fellowship where Dave attended church, (a wonderful church that has faithfully supported my work for more than 12 years now.) She began to confirm things that Jesus knew I needed to hear, how much Dave loved my friendship, too, and how proud he was of me and how he knew that I was a true friend to him, no matter the distance. Such things that brought peace and comfort to my heart. As we chatted, she mentioned doing something in his honor, if there was anything I knew of that he’d liked to have done. Oh, I couldn’t believe it! I just knew this was the Lord! So, I quickly responded, “Yes, his desire was to build a jungle church here in Ecuador.” She didn’t even hesitate and immediately answered, “Then we’re going to build it in his memory.” We both knew that surely this was the Lord’s doing and Dave would be so pleased that his dream would come to pass.
It has taken me 2 years but we finally made it all happen!! With the financial support of The Fireplace Fellowship and Dave’s friends who contributed, we built The Jungle Church at Etsa in memory of Dave Wilcox. We held the dedication for The Jungle Church on Dec. 18, 2019, and I shared with the Ecuadorians about my friend Dave and what an incredible person he was, so kind, and so thoughtful, so considerate of others, and of his dream to build this church for them. They wept with me and thanked the Lord for Dave and the church that now stands in his memory. We celebrated his life by giving away candies and coca cola’s and so many other treats to everyone, and by giving away gifts and toys to the children. I feel certain that my wonderful friend Dave would have been so proud.
The last photo that we ever took together is the one I used on the banner for his church here and after everyone had left that day, I went back one more time, and touched his picture and said, “It happened Dave. It became a reality. We built your jungle church. I wish you could have been here to see it. You would love it and you’d be so proud!” That church means so much more to me now and every Wednesday when I go there, I’ll see him and I’ll think of my friend Dave, and his memory and his friendship will live on in my heart forever.
