In Memoriam of Papa John

In Memoriam of John G. Willoughby

When I graduated Seminary, I immediately wanted to get started on what I believed was God’s call for my life. I was making all the preparations to move to El Progreso, Honduras as a single 21 year old missionary.  I sent out newsletters and prayer cards and believed that God would touch the hearts of those who would help me go. My grandfather, John G. Willoughby, whom I have always called Papa John and my grandmother, Mimi were some of the first ones to partner with me.  I remember opening that first envelope with tears in my eyes not being able to believe his generosity for me and for the people of Honduras. In fact, I think that is one of the terms I hear people use who talk about him. He was a generous man and today I want to honor that.

He has given faithfully through the 16 years that I have been a fulltime missionary. From the time the newsletters just said “Kim McWhorter- Missionary” to when they changed to “Support Pablo and Kim in Honduras” to now that we are Grace4Nations. A few years ago, when he and Mimi were moving out of their apartment in Birmingham to move down to Daphne, she found a folder full of every single newsletter I had ever sent. He had even printed emails I sent him from when I was in Nepal and India and had those filed too. If you know my grandfather and his organization skills, I’m sure you’re not surprised he had it all neatly filed and organized by date. When I began to look at each newsletter, I noticed that he had written different comments on the pages. Some were encouraging and some were challenging. Things like, “How will you accomplish this?” when I wrote a big promise of what I was planning to do with the mission.

He always pushed us to be better and to be more knowledgeable. When we’d be home for a visit, he would quiz me about Honduras facts, geography, population and current events. It was his way of showing me how interested he was in where we lived and what we did. And honestly, how he was concerned for our safety. He knew about every dangerous incident that happened and understood the ends and outs of the coup d’etat that we lived through in 2008.  I would always study a bit before a visit with Papa John because I wanted to be able to answer all his questions.

I like to imagine him in Heaven today, running into different people, mostly Hondurans, who come up to him, hug him, and say, “Thank you for having a part in my salvation.” I can only imagine the stories they are sharing with each other.

Thank you Papa John for being hands down my biggest supporter during this journey as a missionary. I hope to make you proud and my heart is so full that you decided to make Jesus your Savior. I look forward to seeing you again on the other side.

Lovingly,

Your eldest granddaughter, Kimberly