A Missionary Goes Home

By Dorothy Post

A typical boy

In some ways he was just a typical boy. Roller hockey and hunting were his favorite sports. He was proud of the Arrow of Light Award he earned as a Cub Scout. He delighted in camping trips with his parents Jeff and Terri Olson and Taylor, his younger sister. He loved Taylor and she loved him, but that didn’t stop them from arguing now and then. He played Nintendo, watched hockey with his Dad and even got to see a few Chicago Bulls games. And while Josh loved to play cornet in the church youth band, he didn’t always love to practice.

A not–so–typical faith

 There were other ways, though, in which he was not typical at all. Within 48 hours of his birth, Josh underwent emergency life–saving surgery. Then he was diagnosed with diseases so rare most physicians do not know they exist. By the time he was three, his doctors determined that his primary problem was Pseudo–Obstruction Syndrome, a gastro-intestinal disorder for which there is no cure. At that time, there were no known survivors beyond age six.  

Josh spent almost as much time in hospitals as he did at home. Last April, he received a transplant of part of his father’s intestines. Because his body rejected that transplant, he received a second transplant last October. After that surgery, he remained in Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago until his death three months later. 

Josh’s family is not typical, either. His Salvationist parents possess deep faith that influences everything they do. During Josh’s final hospital stay, Terri and Jeff never left his side. Terri says, “We had some rough times but we tried to witness to all the people. Everybody was well aware that the Olsons were born–again Christians.”

 Terri and Jeff nurtured that same faith in their children during Josh’s many ordeals. They surrounded them with their love and continual reminders of God’s love. When doctors performed painful procedures, for instance, Terri held Josh’s hand and sang “I’m in His Hands” and other songs of faith. Eventually, medical personnel themselves asked Terri to sing during these procedures. 

When they were first married, Terri and Jeff both played in the church band, taught a high school Sunday school class together and led a teenage youth group. Terri worked as a CAT scan technologist. Jeff graduated from college and began work as a printing salesman. He is currently a business management consultant.  

Their idyllic life was shattered within hours of Joshua’s birth. His colon ruptured and he was rushed into surgery.  He spent the next three months in an intensive care unit.  Nine months later, just as Joshua seemed headed for recovery, Terri discovered she was pregnant again.  

Neither Terri nor Jeff knew how they would cope.  Joshua required a great deal of attention and his hospital bills had brought them to the brink of financial disaster.  Worse yet, because Terri had been taking medication for severe migraine headaches when she became pregnant, doctors could give no guarantee that this baby would be free of disastrous health problems. They suggested abortion as one solution. Terri remembers, “We didn’t know if there would be deformities. All we could think about was, ‘How can we afford this? I can’t handle another baby.’ But I knew there was no way I could abort my baby. No matter what was wrong with it, I knew that was not what the Lord intended for me.” 

This second pregnancy was so difficult that Terri was forced to spend the last three months in bed. But when their daughter Taylor was born, she was completely healthy. Terri often prays in gratitude, “Oh Lord, how could I have ever doubted You? You gave me such a beautiful little girl!” 

Almost a dozen times in his twelve years, doctors informed his parents that Josh would not survive until the next day. These constant critical health concerns did not prevent them from providing a full life for their son. Terri says, “We had a lot of laughter, along with the tears. We tried to keep everything pretty upbeat.” Though it meant days of preparation and a van or trailer overflowing with medical supplies, they gladly gave Josh and Taylor many happy moments during family camping, hunting and fishing trips. 

Josh’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins added to his spiritual environment. Ed Homer, a soldier of The Salvation Army Norridge Citadel and special friend of the young boy, recalls a scene in a hospital room before Josh’s first transplant surgery. After Josh's minister, Lt. Colonel Marvin Dahl prayed, Josh’s cousins said to the adults, “Now would you please leave us alone?”

“We went out,” Ed says, “and they closed the door. But we could see that the cousins surrounded his bed, held hands and prayed for this little boy.” 

The thing that set Josh apart most, though, was his relationship to Christ. Terri cannot pinpoint the day he became a Christian, but he was about three. Even in those early years, his grandmother Sherri Cox says, “He had a mature spiritual depth most adults would love to have.” 

Josh’s relationship with Christ was intensely personal. At a Sunday meeting Josh attended at last summer’s Central Territory Music Institute, Terri noticed tears streaming down his face. When she spoke to him, Josh said, “I’m OK, Mom. I’m just getting blessed!” 

In spite of great suffering, his faith remained firm. “From Josh I learned to be bold in the face of fear,” says Ed Homer, “and to trust in God completely. He taught us more about faith than any series of sermons.” And Commissioner Pauline Shoults (R), Josh’s great–aunt, recalls a conversation he once had with his doctors. “You have really helped me,” he said, “and I appreciate that. But I know that what has happened is really because of God and because lots of people are praying for me.” 

The last verse Josh underlined in his Bible sums up the message he yearned to carry around the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). His grandmother emphasizes his zeal. “He had a longing for other people—anybody—to know Christ.” Ed Homer says, “If Josh could speak to you today, he would ask you, ‘Do you know Jesus as your Savior?’ If you told him yes, he’d be happy. If you told him no, he’d always follow up with, ‘Why not?’”

A Missionary Goes Home

 More than anything else, Joshua Olson wanted to be a missionary. His concern, however, was not limited to the people of the world. He wanted to be a missionary so he could take care of people and animals because animals held a special place in his heart. Especially his dog Bodo.

 He never got to visit other lands. At age 12 his life on earth ended. But Joshua, a Norridge Citadel, IL junior soldier, was a missionary just the same. After his promotion to Glory, Sri Lankan missionaries who had been praying for him wrote to Josh’s former minister, Major Eugene Anderson, “Joshua was a missionary. We feel he accomplished as much mission work as if he had lived overseas.” 

Mission accomplished  

It may seem to some that Joshua died without achieving his dream of becoming a missionary. But almost daily his parents hear about people who have been brought to God because of their son. 

Those who knew Josh were drawn by his winsome personality. Major Anderson says of Josh, “He had a special charm that was magnetic. He was gifted with charisma that just attracted people.” He greeted each day joyfully and, even with his limitations, lived every moment fully. 

Church members grew closer to God because of Josh. Early in his life, they supported the Olson family and that support continues today. They provided meals, cleaned house and raised funds to defray the enormous medical expenses. And they prayed for him. In the process, their own faith grew. 

Medical personnel were deeply touched by Josh. During his last days, a physician who cared for Josh most of his life revealed the impact of the young boy’s faith. Though he did not share that faith, the doctor stood before Josh’s bed during his rounds and said to the rest of the medical team, “Once I declared Josh hopeless, that this was a futile effort, that we weren’t going to save him—now that I’ve done that, look at him. His kidneys have come back! I now realize that this is not anything you or I can do. This is truly between Josh and his God.” 

Even the service that celebrated Josh’s life led people to Christ. At the conclusion, his father spoke to the crowd of over 600. Jeff is not given to public speaking, but said, “This was something that fell on my heart a long time ago. Someone said to me one day, ‘If God ever takes this child, I’ll never forgive Him.’ I felt the need to stand up and say what God told me to say.” With passion and conviction, he urged his listeners not to use Josh’s death as an excuse to turn their backs on God. Instead, he said, they should make it a time to seek the God Josh loved. 

Afterwards, two people asked to speak to Jeff further about Christ. Several days later, other people testified that they had become Christians because of the service. 

The circle of people influenced by Josh has widened far beyond those who knew him personally. Terri’s brother Randy Cox maintained a web site with a progress report on Josh during his last year. As Randy wrote about Josh, he shared prayer requests as well as answers to those prayers. He received email from all over the world. Some assured the Olsons of their prayers. Others testified that their own relationship with Christ has been restored or renewed because of Josh. 

As Commissioner Harold Hinson, Central territorial commander, observes, “Josh was quite a young evangelist. He wanted everyone to know he loved Jesus. His funeral would have pleased him. No one could have left that funeral without knowing of Christ’s love and His gospel.” 

Commissioner Pauline Shoults (R) prepared daily voicemail updates about Josh. In one month over 4,000 calls were received. She included Scripture verses and a message of comfort. Some people who reached that n umber by mistake called back to say they were so moved they had to listen to the message in its entirety.

Home with his best friend

There is no question that all who loved Josh, especially his family, are saddened to lose him. Yet they rejoice that he no longer suffers, that he is whole and well. They know that he did not fear death. He once said, “Mom, I’m not afraid to die because Jesus is my best friend.” He paused, then added, “But I sure wish you could come with me.”

For most of his last months, Josh was unable to communicate. But twice in that time he said to his father, “I want to go home.” Like Joshua of old, Joshua Olson fought his battles bravely. He completed victoriously the work God gave him to do. And now he is at home. 

Sidebar  

Josh Olson gave the following testimony at a youth night at Norridge Citadel two years ago. His minister, Lt. Colonel Marvin Dahl discovered the page on which Josh had written it and shared it during Joshua’s funeral.

“A couple of months ago I got very sick. Sicker than I usually do. One night I was having trouble falling asleep because I was afraid that I wouldn’t wake up. So I asked my Mom if I was going to die. And she said I might, but that I didn’t have to worry because if I didn’t wake up Jesus would be there to take care of me. That night I trusted in Jesus and fell asleep.

“As Christmas approaches, I think of how important it is to me that Jesus was born. I hope He is important to you.”

Josh's Hope Foundation is a not for profit 501 (c) 3 organization and does not discriminate against any type of disability, race, gender or religion.