Elizabeth Johnson

Hi friends this is Elizabeth writing this letter with my own hand, 

I was born in Bloemfontein South Africa on July 13, 1976.  My parents, Willie and Marita Van Aswegen raised me and my siblings Carel and Myburgh on my father's 5000-acre farm. We were raised with the knowledge of the Lord’s claim on our lives and we looked to the Lord for everything, especially rain! My mom, Marita, was my beautiful example of what it meant to raise children, to be a wife, and to love the Lord with all your heart. My parent's love to travel the world created this desire that would one day take me to America. 

When I was seventeen in 11th grade, I applied and was selected for the South African women's army. My training would be for one year. This was located in George, South Africa on the south-eastern coast. That year my comrades and I were trained to show us we were capable of far more than we ever thought possible, or that our bodies could handle. This was a wonderful year with talented young women from the whole of my country. We were trained to handle weapons, shoot, do survival training, read maps, and perform battlefield first aid. This adventure would forever shape my life.  

When I entered university at age 19, I studied world tourism and travel at the University of Bloemfontein, however, I had never been overseas. At 20 years old I flew to New York City and then to Solon Ohio to work as a nanny with the Au Pair in America program; this was in March of 1997. I remember seeing my first snow, this is where the Lord would write a beautiful story I could never have imagined. In America I missed my family and the church so much, this is where Parkside Church would become a significant part of my story for the rest of my life. One Sunday morning in June of 1997, in the center aisle of the church, I met a wonderful man; Rusty! That man became the love of my life; the Lord gave us favor with immigration and one year later we were married. Five months before we were married I was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. I was told I would not live very long, that I needed a bone marrow transplant, and that I would never have children. Accompanied by this news was other sad information that the doctors shared. BUT GOD! He writes His own stories! These 25 years have been filled with goodness and kindness and He has blessed me with so much time. This past year He has been so faithful. My greatest desire my whole life was to be the best wife I could be. I always told Rusty in the beginning, I just want to know our marriage will stay good, and with Christ at the center, and it was great!  Then the Lord did the impossible. He blessed me with the best gift I could even ask for; Marita, Ane, and Gavin! My absolute favorite thing became being their mamma. I could not believe I could love three little people so much. Rusty led us beautifully, we taught our kids God’s Word. At this stage of my story, I am so grateful they know God’s word because that is the only comfort we will get in this life. God allowed us to travel the world with the children, and to visit my family so many times. He granted us such wonderful memories that shaped their thinking and their world.  

I am so blessed to have raised these three children with a man that provided for us so that I could focus on our home and the people the Lord sent us.  

Thank you to each of you that made my life rich with your friendship and encouragement.  I look forward to seeing my Savior. He has prepared a place for me and I am going to be safe with Him. I know this is sad, but death is the last enemy to be destroyed. 

Thank you for supporting Rusty, Marita, Ané, and Gavin. If I can have one last wish it will be this…

believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not harden your heart. Do not wait for tomorrow.  He is your only way to Heaven. He loves you and made a way for you to know Him. Family and friends are invited to gather at Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023. Where funeral services will be held Saturday January 7, 2023 at 1:00 P.M.

Elizabeth loved flowers! For twenty five years not a week went by where Elizabeth would tell me I bought her flowers for the house. However she was passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus with school children in South Africa. Elizabeth worked with Parkside Church to support missionaries Johannes & Mathapello who were both her friends and missionaries in Bloemfontein S.A. where Elizabeth grew up. If you prefer you may make a donation to Parkside Church marked for S.A. missions.

Parkside Church
7100 Pettibone Rd,
Chagrin Falls, Oh 44023
440-543-1212

www.parksidechurch.com
 

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