Austin Bouma-Wesson

Austin Rowen Wesson - Born in Cape Town, South Africa on 23 September 1997, died 5 August 2017.

Loved through thick and thin by his parents Wendy and Roger Wesson and his sister Candace, age 11. He is survived by his parents, sister, grandparents Errol and Claudia Wesson, Malcolm and Adie Lourens and Louise Devine, many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Austin grew up in Fish Hoek, a small beach village in the deep south of Cape Town. He attended Fish Hoek Primary and High School. He was in the Waterloo A team, Hockey A team and long distance running. He was a very talented drummer and used his gift to play in church, a school band and in other countries. Austin had a passion for surfing and loved the waves and would surf whenever he could. Before he left for America he was teaching surfing, including adaptive surfing to people with disabilities at the Surf Emporium in Muizenberg.

He attended Fullies Church all his life serving with a big smile. He was sent from Fullies to his Global Challenge Expeditions (GCEX) family in Jeffreys Bay which was also his favorite surf spot. The team of 11 traveled to 11 countries and met many people and was changed forever. His GCEX family helped form Austin into the mighty man of God he became. Never before had we seen a boy turn into a man that loved Jesus so much. In his own words, Austin said, "Mom, Jesus and I are so close!" We always wanted to hear more from Austin and spend more time with him but over these few days realized where all his time and energy was going to. It was to all the people he invested in, loved, hung out with and cherished locally and across the world. Austin was without a doubt a people person. He enjoyed meeting new people and was always doing things for others. He had a HUGE heart and gave the best hugs. At GCEX he met the love of his life Rebekah. We fell in love with her within minutes and agreed that we could not have chosen anyone better and knew that this relationship was of God. Never before have we seen two young people who put Jesus first and themselves second. Our hearts are shattered at losing them here on earth, but know without a shadow of a doubt that they are with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Their lives were a living sacrifice for the Kingdom of God.

Rebekah Christina Bouma-Wesson - Born in Wichita, Kansas on 26 November 1997, died 7 August 2017.

Rebekah grew up in the Wichita area to John Tjitze and Rachel Marie Bouma as the fourth of five much loved children. Rebekah has an older sister Kaitlyn Deanne (Nicholas) Nygaard, older brothers Timothy John (Liz) and Micah James, and a younger sister Jaclyn Joanne. Rebekah's going to heaven was preceded by two pre-born siblings, Ariel Dorothea and Matthew Thomas, and her dear husband of one day, Austin Rowen Wesson. She was also preceded in death by her two grandfathers, Tjitze Bouma and John J. Byker, an uncle, John J. Byker, and a cousin, Christina Marie Kennedy. She is survived by her parents, sisters and brothers, grandmothers Dorothy Joan Byker and Betty Bouma and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Her life was defined by her love of others and her desire to serve them. In the last several years, Rebekah's faith in Jesus Christ grew exponentially. In response to her faith, her desire to serve others for Christ also grew. Rebekah was a member of Heartland Community Church, and a homeschool graduate. She also attended Trinity Academy and Wichita State University. She was a charismatic, selfless person who deeply invested in others and was loved by so many. Rebekah participated in a number of short term mission trips over several years and went into the mission field last year through the World Race. She spent three months each in Albania, the Philippines, and South Africa. It was in Jeffreys Bay on the Eastern Cape, South Africa that she met the love of her life, Austin, who was doing mission work with Global Challenge Expeditions. So many people around the world have been touched by Rebekah and Austin both individually and as a couple. Their love for Jesus was first in their lives and they desired to continue to do missions together after attending school in Michigan. Our hearts are broken at this loss, but we take comfort in the promise that we will see them again in heaven where we will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Funeral Service

Time: 1:30pm, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 Place: Central Christian Church
2900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226

Memorials

Adventures in Missions
Bouma Memorial
6000 Wellspring Trail
Gainesville, GA 30506
or donate online at: give.adventures.org

Global Challenge Expeditions
PO Box 1064
Jeffreys Bay
6330
South Africa
or donate online at: www.gcex.org

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