Word from the Woods

Introducing our Family

Our website would not be complete without introducing you to our children (and grand-children!). Even though they are grown, our children will always be a vital part of our lives and ministry.

Valerie Maye

Our daughter Valerie was born on September 28, 1975, in Anchorage, AK. We were pastoring in the Indian village of Kake, in Southeast Alaska at the time. But our village had no registered nurse, much less a hospital, so Dianne had to look elsewhere. Since her parents were living in Anchorage at the time, they were delighted to have their first grandbaby born there.

Valerie graduated from high school at Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia. At the time, it was a boarding school primarily for MK's (Mission-ary Kids) based in Asia, and run by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. While boarding school is wretched on the parents, it was a wonderful experience for Valerie, giving her friendships that will last a lifetime.

Valerie graduated from Evangel University in Springfield, MO with a degree in Accounting. She worked at Assemblies of God World Missions headquarters in Springfield for 4 years as a missions account specialist.

Then life took a turn for her, and Valerie moved to Olympia, WA, to be closer to our extended family. She worked as an accountant for several years, then felt the urge to travel. After a short course in teaching English as a foreign lang-uage, Valerie spent one semester working in Kiev, Ukraine, and one entire school year in Istanbul, Turkey.

While she would have loved to continue living in Europe, Valerie decided teaching English was not her primary gift. So she relocated back to WA, where she has an excellent accounting job for an international company with offices in Federal Way, WA.

Jason Darrell

Jason was born on March 17, 1977 in Petersburg, AK while we were pastoring in the Alaskan Indian village of Kake. Petersburg was our nearest "city," a town of 2,000 a 4-hour ferry ride away.

Jason graduated from high school at Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia, a boarding school for MK's (Missionary Kids) from the Asia region. Jason was very involved in sports and especially loved playing soccer.

Jason is married to Amy, a native of Lacey, WA that Jason met while attending Youth for Christ in WA. They were married on July 2, 2004 and have made their home in Lacey ever since. They are the proud parents of two of our gorgeous grandchildren.

The economic downturn of America has hit our family as well. Jason lost his job as a corrections officer, but God opened a door for Amy to work for a pest control company. Jason has become an outstanding househusband while seeking God's direction for their future. He has a heart for ministry and is open to wherever the Lord should lead them. Jason, Amy, and kids attend Evergreen Christian Community, a vibrant church reaching out to the population of Olympia, capitol city of the state of Washington.

Benjamin Aaron

Ben was born on November 10, 1979 in Bellevue, WA while we awaited our visa for Indonesia. He was 10 months old when we arrived there, so Indonesia is the only "home" Ben knew growing up.

Ben also graduated from Dalat School, a CMA boarding school for MK's (Missionary Kids) in Penang, Malaysia. In addition to loving sports, Ben also played the trumpet in a jazz band and for the worship team. And the biggest blessing of all that Dalat gave Ben was ... his beautiful wife Melissa! Melissa's parents are missionaries in Thailand.

Ben and Melissa currently make their home in Phoenix, AZ. Melissa is a high school English teacher (also knows TEFL), and Ben has worked for 4 years as a counselor with troubled kids. After a long hiatus, Ben is back at school, working to get his degree in psychology to prepare him for a career in counseling.

Ben and Melissa have a heart for serving God as missionaries sometime in the future, however the Lord directs them. In the meantime they are active in ministry at their local Baptist church, Ben teaching two college-age weekly Bible studies as well as Sunday School, and Melissa taking a hiatus from ministry to junior-high girls. And currently their lives are very full with newly arrived little Cora Jane.

 Grandkids!

 Rieley Jason Wood

Rieley (pronounced Rye-lee) was born on May 22, 2005 in Olympia, WA. His parents are our son Jason and his darling wife Amy. Rieley has Daddy's deep dimples and Mommy's pretty almond-shaped eyes. Rieley loves Sunday School, loves baby sister Cheyenne, and loves to talk with Oma and Opa (Grandma and Grandpa) on Skype! He'll be starting 1st grade in September. How is that possible?!

(Rieley calls us Oma and Opa at Jason's request, since these are Dutch terms that are also used for grandparents in Indonesia.)

Cheyenne Erica Lynn Wood 

Cheyenne was born in Olympia, WA on December 11, 2007, Darrell's sister Marilyn's birthday. Daddy and Mommy are our son Jason and his lovely wife Amy. Cheyenne has Daddy's deep blue eyes and Mom-my's happy, laughing disposition.

Cheyenne's two middle names are in memory of two very special ladies: Erica was Amy's grandmother who came from Germany, and Lynn was a nickname for Darrell's sister Marilyn. Both ladies died a couple years before Cheyenne's birth, and Jason and Amy chose to remember them in this way.

Cora Jane Wood 

Cora Jane Wood was born on May 2, 2011 to our son Ben and his beautiful wife Melissa. At Cora Jane's 2-month checkup, she broke every percentile for growth. So my prayer has become, "Oh Jesus, if she has to be big like Daddy... please make her beautiful like Mommy!" So far, my prayer has been answered!