Hello, my name is Caleb

This might seem like an odd place for my testimony since I am not active duty or a veteran. Nor do I live on Guam. My story is relevant, nonetheless.

I am the director's third son. My two brothers, older, are preachers now in the US. My sister is a student at UoG.

I grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister. My parents took us to church every Sunday and most Wednesdays. Dad did what he could to give us a good education and a happy life. Dad considered fun and adventure as important as education and so he felt bad we didn't have enough fun.

People described me as a sanguine child. I played piano and even preached sermons to hundreds of people when I was 18. My Dad and brothers instilled in me a strong work ethic. My managers loved me. My coworkers and friends all said I left a memorable impression on them.

When I was young Mom explained the gospel to me, how Christ died for my sins, and rose on the third day. I called on God to save me because of what Christ did for me. Even though my life wasn't bad after that I struggled with meaninglessness. "What's the point of it all?" I knew God and had hope for the distant future but felt meaninglessness now.

When I was 17, I made the connection between knowing God and having purpose. It wasn't someone I had to find or manufacture; it was something Christ had to give me. It didn't matter what I was pursuing, if I had my heart and feet pointed toward the Savior and his glory I could have that purposeful meaning now, just like Joseph and Daniel in the Bible.

When I was 18 December 2022, my family was living in Guam as missionaries to the military. In early January 2023 I chose to pursue avionics and aviation with the Coast Guard. I was accepted to Purdue a few months later. I had found that purpose I craved inside and vocation in a field I loved. I never imagined that by the end of January I would be dead.

"Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

On January 30, 2023, we were at a new swimming spot. It seemed like an average day with little waves in shallow water. A blast of large waves surprised me and Dad and dragged us out and I drowned. Dad tried to save me but the waves were too much for him. He recovered after a few more waves and made it back to shore where medics had arrived. The Coast Guard arrived but they were too late for me.

My death seems meaningless. But for a few short years I had discovered purpose in life. I served the Eternal God.

Dear friend, Dad and I both thought I would live to see my dreams in this life fulfilled, to be a Coast Guard pilot. Who knew that it would be the Coast Guard pulling my body from the ocean just weeks after I dreamed that dream. We learned firsthand the brevity of life: Tomorrow is not promised to us, but life is promised to any that call on the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though her were dead, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)