The family of a young Christian couple who died in a tragic car accident one day after getting married have said that while they are grieving, they are confident the two are in Heaven.
Austin Wesson, 19, and Rebekah Bouma, also 19, were married on Friday - and just one day later, their truck struck an embankment and crashed into a tree about two miles east of Clearwater, Kansas, according to the Wichita Eagle.
Wesson was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bouma was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She died Monday.
In a Facebook post, Bouma's mother, Rachel Byker Bouma, asked for prayers for her and Wesson's families and reflected on her daughter's faith.
"It is with an unbearably shattered heart that we inform you that our darling daughter, Rebekah Christina, went peacefully into the arms of her loving Savior at 12:32 am, Monday, August 7. She is with the Lord that she loved so deeply and so joyfully and she is with her husband of just one day, Austin Wesson, whom she loved with all her heart. We thank God that they are together while grieving their loss so very deeply. Please keep both our families in your prayers and especially that Austin's family would be able to be here quickly."
Earlier, Rachel asked for prayers for her family as they "walk through the "valley of the shadow of death." She later shared a link to the Keith and Kristyn Getty hymn, "He Will Hold Me Fast."
Rachel told the Wichita Eagle her daughter, who was homeschooled, met Wesson while on separate Christian missions this year and spent much of their time getting to know one another on FaceTime.
"They were very much in love," Bouma's father, John Bouma said. "There was no doubt whatsoever that their love was the real thing. They both loved the Lord - they wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus."
"I think her greatest love in life was to serve other people and invest in them," Rachel Bouma said. "Bekah was selfless. She loved to get close to people and help with whatever they needed."
According to the Daily Mail, the couple were planning to do more mission trips together after moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Rebekah was due to attend college.
A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money to help Austin's family travel to the U.S. for his funeral. As of Wednesday morning, the campaign had raised nearly $10,000.
