Update : From Dieter
April 20, 2008
This is Dieter writing, with Valerie’s help. I wanted to give you this update.
Thank you for all the prayers for me and all the encouragement from cards and emails and phone calls. I always read the blog and all the responses you post here. Thank you for all the grand dinners and support. Today some friends came to our house for spring cleaning, and we cleaned out the garage and tool shed together.
My exercise is hiking, a little jogging, calisthenics, a yoga class, and exercises for my right hand and arm. I’m also doing some therapy that involves motions set to music.
My speech therapy, or “vocal” as I call it, is frustrating. I’ve been working hard to say the following: Dieter, Valerie, Kyle, Conrad, and Christopher; the days of the week; counting from 1 to 20.
I am supported by so many and my family.
April 20, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Dear Dieter & Val,
You remain on our hearts and in our prayers. We know you’re on a journey that no one imagined. In the midst of the losses and changes and struggles may you find fresh strength each day and a measure of God’s grace and hope to touch you deeply. We appreciate your choices to share so much when we know there are times to pull in and just be your family. We have deep respect for you. We pray for His wisdom and care to be evident to all of you! Love, Rob & Kathleen
April 21, 2008 at 5:43 am
Thanks for the update, Dieter! I was getting worried because it had been awhile since the last post. I check daily and pray for you several times a day. Let me know if you ever want a friend to join you for a hike. You are on an interesting, albeit frustrating journey. You are a special person to be chosen for this experience. Please forgive me for this observation. I am not discounting the frustration and pain you are going through.
Just as you have ministered to us and encouraged our walk with the Lord through your music, words and strength, you continue to encourage us as you walk with Him each day through this difficult time.
Val, I pray for you in particular. The load must be heavy. And of course, I pray for your boys, but they are warriors for God. You have both served and loved them well. Although this time is confusing, the Lord is making them stronger and wiser through it all.
As much as you need to release your frustrations to God. He can handle it. Gain strength and joy from the legions of us who remember you and your family regularly in prayer. The Zander family is special indeed. I love you, my brother!
- Dave
April 21, 2008 at 6:32 am
With tears of joy I write to tell you how thankful I am you are alive! Words cannot express the gratitude and love we feel for you Dieter and Val! Early on in our married life and age wise, you helped us grow in our walk with the Lord! Your guidance and committment to Him and one another have been an awesome example to us! You continue to be that…even now! We love you so much! Thanks for working so hard Dieter! You’ve always been a fighter in the best sense of the word! You have an awesome family full of love and support!
We continue to pray for you and love you from afar!
Love,
Joe & Chela
April 21, 2008 at 10:28 am
Deiter,
We love you so much and wish we could be near to support you as you walk through this time in your life. We’re grateful that you have a wonderful group surrounding you now, and we continue to pray for your complete healing and restoration. We look forward to the day when you can not only speak with ease, but you can sing and worship the Lord as you did in the past.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us so we can partner with you from Southern California.
Much love,
Eric & Dawn Girod
April 21, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Congratulations! You all are never far from my thoughts. Dieter, I pray for your patience, determination,speedy progress, and continued health. Val, I pray for your strength,wisdom, and continued health as well. I hope you know that there are many of us former New Songers out here praying for you.
God speed in your recovery.
Jeff Miller
April 21, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Deiter,
I’m praying for you, Val and the boys daily. With God’s wisdom & grace you will all grow stronger & closer thru this circumstance.
God Bless
Ted
April 21, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Our Dear Friends,
With all the long-time New Songers posting today, it seemed only fitting to share our thoughts as well. Dieter, Val and boys…our thoughts and prayers for you are daily. Like Chela, we are SO grateful you are alive! Please know that we celebrate with each accomplishment!! God is THE amazing healer and we pray for His perfect healing for you, Dieter. May each word that comes from your heart and mouth be a sweet treasure for you, and Him. We are walking with you from a distance…
Much love,
Dusty, Susan, Wyatt, Weston, Caroline & Warner
April 21, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Welcome back to cyberspace, Dieter! Who knew so many years ago when we were all at ISOT that we would rely on the internet so heavily! Did we even have computers? Yikes, I can’t remember! You and your family are so often in our prayers. Thank you and Val for the updates that keep us focused on your current progress and needs. I check it every day. It’s comforting to note the immense support you have around you. Recently I’ve been praying that you ALL can sleep peacefully with no fear, and that every time you go to the Word you are encouraged and comforted. Blessings on your entire household–Ron and Mary
April 21, 2008 at 6:47 pm
from Denver, CO, used to be in Long Beach, CA Dennis Baker’s son in law. We are all glad to hear your report. Many prayers from us all. David and Rachelle Trigueros
April 21, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Dear Dieter,
I sure hope that you get better soon. I hope you are able to do your vocal scales and sing. ~TJ Carson
Hi Dieter,
It was such a joy to see Val and Conrad last weekend. It was wild to see Conrad - he was my son TJ’s age, 8 years old, last time I saw him, and now he is off to college - Wow!
We have been praying for you regularly, and TJ especially for your vocal exercises. We care about you and your family deeply. Thank you for sharing your personal update, it means a lot that you took the time to write it yourself.
Peace,
Carol Carson
April 21, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Dieter, So good to hear from you personally. We continue to pray for complete healing. I know Val and the boys are a great source of support and comfort. We also will be praying for your strength and patience in the journey.
The notes that folks send to you are a source of encouragement to all of us who read them. A life well lived cannot be hidden.
Blessings,
Andrea and Rex
April 21, 2008 at 11:11 pm
We love you Dieter . . . you ROCK! Keep gettin’ better. You’re a true fighter.
- Johnny C
April 22, 2008 at 5:10 am
Dearest Zander Family,
We are praying for Dieter’s full recovery and stamina for all five of you in the coming months. Our kids count it a blessing to specifically intercede for you. Thanks for sharing so personally and regularly. God is at work!
In the East Bay,
Vivien for all Eight
April 22, 2008 at 8:23 am
Seeing the posting from you, Dieter, brought tears and a lump to my throat. God Bless you for staying strong and pushing forward. Your support crew is unbelievable and the prayers of the faithful have girded you and your family.
EVERY day I pray for you and the gang. On a recent long long race, you were lifted before the throne countless times. Prayers are the lifeline.
Keep up the good work!
April 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Dear Dieter and Val,
We want to thank you for your updates and let you know that we are praying for a full and complete recovery. May you hold tight to the many blessings during this time so they may help you find strength to keep fighting.
May God continue to give you guidance and wisdom during this journey.
God Bless You,
Mark and Kim Matzaganian
April 23, 2008 at 4:31 am
Dieter,
You don’t know me, but you have had a HUGE impact on my life and were a huge mentor as my wife and I stepped out to plant a church in St louis, Missouri. Today I am in Orlando speaking at the National New Church conference and I want you and Val to know that before the 3 sessions I teach today I will lead the planters to pray for your recovery.
Peace, brother
darrin patrick
April 23, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Dieter,
I continue to pray for your recovery. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you again soon.
bb
April 24, 2008 at 8:35 am
Dieter,
We were so glad to receive the update you sent! As so many others, we too check your website every day and keep you and your sweet family in our prayers. We celebrate with you all the progress that is being made…and continue to pray for your complete recovery.
Much love to you all!
Deb for the Shurtz Family
April 24, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Dieter -
My continued prayers are with you. May your improvement be faster than Karen Nelson’s version of “I’m Gettin Nothing For Christmas” (Carols and Candles, early 80’s).
- Kramer
April 26, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Hi Dieter,
It was very touching to read your own update. I think a lot about you and your family. I hope that you will continue to heal and recover and that you have the strength, courage and patience to go through this difficult and frustrating time. I continue praying for you and your family.
Love, Martine Vreeken
the Netherlands
April 26, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Dear Dieter, I think about you and your family everyday, and of course pray for you too. I have never written because I did not want to sound too full of myself. Of course I am not a doctor, but I KNOW you will be able to speak without effort, sing and be fully musical again. I know this because of my faith. My faith started with Val meeting me outside the Dominican site Bay Marin and welcoming me without being too religious. She simply greeted me and sat with me. I thought this isn’t so bad. I continued coming. There has been sooo much between then and now,as you know. I am ever so grateful for you two. You have changed my life for the better. In EVERYTHING in my life I know God does it for a reason. Dieter, you are his reason, for something, and something BIG. He would never take your voice of all voices without a plan. Patience, is taught to us again and again. I was so happy to see you.You still rock. I saw you and Val getting coffee, you two are truly a fabulous looking couple, that still has more love than most people could ever imagine. You are blessed, and I so greatly admire you.Love, Susan. P.S. don’t forget WEDNESDAY. P.s.s. YOU are doing great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 27, 2008 at 9:38 am
Dearest Zanders….
The Selvaggio’s think and carefully pray for you all often! Your impact for Christ through yet another chapter of your lives allows a hopeful light to shine for Jesus and grace to abound!
Thank you for choosing life while in pain, heart ache, and frustration, your time while on this earth is impactful for all of us watching and listening (once again).
We can’t imagine the intensity that life holds for the Zander family at this time; however, please know that you all are amazing today as you choose to act out your spiritual gifts, talents, and life skill sets with one another in order to “make it” and to “serve Christ”.
May God continue to bless you all in the little things that refresh you daily and allow you to keep perspective for the endurance of this long race that ultimately will take you to sit before your heavenly Father to hear, “Well done my child”!
Much love, care, support, & hope being passed along to the Zanders from the Selvaggio’s!
April 30, 2008 at 8:51 am
Dieter,
We are so thankful that you are doing well. Know that you are loved very much and in our prayers.
Blessings,
Eva
May 8, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Dieter,
Sorry I haven’t written sooner, but just wanted to let you know that we have been praying for you like so many others. It is amazing to look back over the names of so many people who have written in that you have greatly impacted over the years. We certainly count ourselves among them! I know that you are still influencing and inspiring people in what you are going through, but we are believing that this “setback” is temporary and God still has much in store for you which includes music and speaking! Thanks for the updates so we know how we can best pray for you.
Love In Christ,
Chuck & Barb