I came across this photo of Dan this morning. When I took this picture, one afternoon in Kabul, I remember thinking that it captured pretty well the essence of the man who was Dan Terry. There is a youthful, almost boyish grin on his face, coupled with eyes that look for every opportunity to seize the day. I remember Dan once telling me that “Afghans live in a soup of ambiguity.” Dan loved that soup as well, and was especially wired to withstand a steady diet of it.

In our conversations about how to best love the people of Afghanistan, Dan would speak of a “disciplined opportunism” … a way of moving through the chaos of life looking for ministry touch points that present themselves, especially within the unorganized margins, even in the short periods of boredom in life.

Dan gave himself permission to “be” with the people of Afghanistan, and he suggested that within the CURE hospital, we adopt this practice as we seek to know and love our patients and their families.

Our brother Dan opened himself up to being an expression of God’s love amidst the people of Afghanistan, the same love that compelled Jesus to walk the way of the cross, a cross that Dan also embraced daily.

God so loved Afghanistan, that he sent Dan Terry, a man compelled by that divine redemptive love, passionate to serve its people in the remote areas where few would go.

Dan’s life was not taken away from him in Badakhshan… he freely laid it down daily for the people of Afghanistan, to bring honor and glory to his God.