In Remembrance of the Perrott Family

On Novembers 3rd, 2019 @ 11:00 am, Brendan, Melissa, Evelyn, Colton and Sabelo where driving back to Bulembu from the Drakensburg Mountain Adventure Race where Sabelo was competing. During the trip home, they were involved in a tragic head on collision. All five were killed on impact.

As we were praying for the right words to come to us, God said “it is done”. He then told us to reflect on the Family’s story of faith, trust and love.

Though this is only a single letter, it is a true testament to these words. Two years ago Brendan, Melissa, Evelyn and Colton continued to follow Gods path for them. When he spoke, they listened.

On December 26, 2017 the family wrote:

“Hello Family and Friends!

From our family to yours...we trust you have had a very special Christmas and we wish you all the best as the new year approaches!  As we prepare to leave for Africa in 5 days...we wanted to write one more update email as we close this short chapter of preparing to go...and begin the new chapter of life in Africa.  


Since the end of August when we took our first steps toward moving...It has been a whirlwind of details and preparation as we have been booking flights, getting our family through Dr's appointments, immunizations, fundraising, moving Melissa's parents into our home, getting vehicles & house in place in Africa...and the list goes on.  We are thankful that we were quite naive when we began as to the amount of work and hurdles we would have to go through...but our faithful Father has been present in every day and in every detail and we can now reflect on all the things He has taught us through the process.

 
As we have worked through all the physical details...our Lord has had us on an emotional journey of surrendering control and letting go of so much of what we have placed our "identity" in.  From simple things like vehicles, furniture, horses and toys, to more complicated things like our jobs, our home, our small group, our church and our community.  It has been a process of being stripped away from the things that we thought made us who we are...the things that offered the illusion of "independence" which as humans we so desperately desire...wow did that ever sound depressing...lol.  Well the amazing thing is that though it has been difficult, we have discovered a new freedom and confidence in the fact that we are children of the King and that is simply all we need.  


We have discovered that "dependence" is actually one of the greatest gifts we could have.  Dependence on our heavenly father that He will provide all that we need, to do what He has created us to do.  Dependence on our community and our church (the body of Christ) who have surrounded us, supported us, encouraged us and equipped us.  When I think of the verse Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me" I realize that Christ's body is the church...His people.  This gives me an entire new perspective on His power that is in His people.  We have now experienced and witnessed the power of His people gathering together to equip us to serve those children in Africa.   And the picture gets even bigger when we think about the thousands of people all over the world who have gathered together to make the vision of Bulembu a reality.  How great is His Love that our father would literally gather up armies of people because He loves those children in Swaziland and He loves us.


Our preparing to leave gave us a new perspective on Christmas this year.  As we celebrate the "coming" of Christ on Christmas day...This year on Christmas Eve we took time to reflect on Christ's "leaving" from heaven to come down to earth to dwell with us.  He gave up His heavenly home, His rights, His deity, His everything...all to suffer and die so that we might have life and hope.  We can't even begin to grasp the depths of his Love and the pain He must have felt on the day he left heaven.

 
We write all this to share with you our hearts and let you know that we are doing GREAT!  Our God is so good, He has gone before us, He stands behind us and He walks beside us.  Thank you to each and every one of you who has been faithful in doing your part as part of the body.  Every single part is crucial and important to His master plan and we go in complete confidence and in anticipation for all that is in store!  So we say an early HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!  May you experience His richest blessings as you walk with Him this next year.

 
Brendan, Melissa, Evelyn and Colton”

 

May there testimony and devotion to God’s plan give you hope. John 14:27 says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Our hearts are broken, but not defeated.

The family's travel arrangements have been covered. Funds raised will go towards additional travel expenses with
the remaining going to Bulembu Ministries where they spent the last two years serving and showing God’s love to
those around them.

These funds will help “raise leaders while restoring a town for sustainable Kingdom transformation.
This is done by restoring hope, equipping lives, building family through Christ-centered community care and
community enterprise” 

In honor of Brendan, Melissa, Evelyn and Colton please share their story so their work can live on.

We’re Sherwood Park individuals that would like to remain anonymous, as this is God's work not ours.
The organizers will however respond to emails. 

We have been asked who are we to Brendan and Melissa. My answer is, we are family, brother and sister through Christ. 

All funds raised will go from the GoFundMe campaign directly to the family.  Dave Perrott (Brendan's father and Melissa's father in-law) will be in charge of withdrawing and handling the funds.
No money will be taken by the organizers.