Enduring love against all odds- a 42-year testimony against odds and faith
ROSELYN VAN DYK’S STORY
I’ll keep it in my voice and focus on my memories and feelings. Well, I am glad to write this time, in my honest way, with tears I pray. “Thank you, Lord, that we went through. But I know you are leading my life journey with Faith.“
The Tragedy at Mossman River-This is the storytelling of my husband after the accident. He had an accident already when I got married to him IN 1984. His first wife bore the brunt of the problems at that time while caring for him.
They had two younger children when it happened. A few years after that, she left for many reasons I can’t discuss here for privacy reasons. So, life became tough due to temptations and many other factors.
As you can read in the other chapters, it further explained that relationships with a person, wife, husband, partners, or anyone that is closest to you are very vulnerable. It’s not for us to judge. Life is very complicated.
When you read further in my book, it’s explained there. There are so many things to learn in life as we journey through it.
When I came to marry my husband, there were two persons involved, as I called it, destiny and purpose in life. And I can tell you the result of this tragedy: to have a moral lesson; the mess becomes a message; the test becomes a TESTIMONY that I can tell you NOW! There are so many bad outcomes that affect children and vice versa. I know the Lord wanted me to write these articles to share with others, giving them hope and encouragement. It’s not the end of the world. You will survive with prayers.
When my husband was telling me stories about his life, he thought it was resolved. There were so many more discouragements, and in despair that he didn’t expect to happen to him again, the hurt not only physically but emotionally, maybe mentally. Another blow in his life. Moreover, the children also become involved with so much trauma that they do things they’re unaware of. Children of divorced or separated parents tend to bear the brunt. They develop alcoholism, get into drugs, the wrong crowd of friends, and are thus influenced by other similar issues in life. I can understand why they’re like that. Some are coping, while others become vindictive, rebellious, and revengeful towards the leavers. It may be dramatic to say that the others may have turned to crime. I called them broken families. I would say some are adapting their lives to accommodate both parents.
One of the stories is when his ex-wife left him with his daughter and son. They were young; they got confused and hurt again. They thought it was alright, but it wasn’t, for many reasons.
Every time my husband mentioned this, tears welled in my eyes. When one left, the mother wanted to leave with their children. How can he stop this? He couldn’t do anything without help and support. However, this lady asked social services, such as a nurse and Meals on Wheels, to care for him and feed him.
When I heard more of these stories, it was terrible to think about it. How come? So, they’re about to leave. But the son was adamant about not going. He was 12 years old at that time. “Whatever happens, I will stay here to look after Pa.”When I came to think of it, when I arrived here in Australia, he couldn’t brush his teeth without help, let alone other needs to take care of.
It took me a while to decide whether to write this in my manuscript. I am not pointing the finger at anyone. But I was shocked. I couldn’t contemplate thinking such a thing. Is it because I have a conscience? I believe in God. I have Faith. But it’s complicated beyond my comprehension.
So, when my husband and I were sitting in the sitting room every afternoon, we usually drank coffee. I read him the Australian and the Bulletin newspaper as part of our routine, which we both liked for news about the outside world. He asked me to write books again in September 2020. He said, “I want you to write books again; it’s crystallized now what you’re supposed to do.” You see, I started writing books about the “Word of God” in 2016, but I was not ready. It was not anointing and apointing time.
Now, I can tell you! What my husband went through. I pray for those people, rather than for readers who happened to pick up these books. It’s for YOU. I have written 43 spiritual books since 2020. There are still more to come.
When I was posted and blogged about “The Fulfillment of Marriage, The Power of Love Graced Relationship, and There Are Ten Love Languages. The WordPress.blog (Jesus Book Ministry) https://roselyn-van-dyksat-amazon.blog. Resonated to reach 9.4 million viewers. The Marriage books I blogged about outperformed non-Christian and Christian denominational books worldwide. One of those countries is Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and more. Usually, the United States is ranked number one. Actually, I don’t open the analytical tools for social media. Still, I happened to open X-Twitter in April 2026, which resonated and reached 71 million viewers in the Christian faith community.
The Power of Love, which is similar to this “
For all those dramas, so to speak. You can read some of my chapters to see how the children became deeply involved in their souls, which need healing and deliverance from hurt and pain. I prayed for all of them. I believe they’re doing well, for I believe God touched their hearts. When I prayed in the heavenly language, God heard my prayers. Can you see how the others went through? That’s the reason why I decided to write a very touching story. My husband and I have been married for 42 years this year. I asked the Lord, “If you give me Ernst as my husband to help me, please lengthen his life.” So, be it; he turned 85 years old this year, at peace with himself. His children, I prayed, I hope they also have it. They have their own partners in life, as I prayed for them. But I have to say it’s not easy for them, as the others who have also had bad experiences in their life will go through these emotional and mental issues.
Suppose I think of it now: if the first wife hadn’t had an affair with another man. I would not have married Mr. Ernst Van Dyk. After all, she moved on with her life and remarried another man. I wouldn’t write now or have any testimony on our side. God is good. I still have a manuscript to finish, entitled “God is the Master Plan of My Destiny.” So, that’s exactly what God wants me to do: to write a book to heal the hurt of marriage, and many more. Suppose I thought of it now. I came from the Philippines, met a couple pleading to help this family who are in trouble; that’s called DESTINY AND PURPOSE. Read Psalm 139. This is about the “BOOK OF LIFE,” that’s my next book to write. We all have our journey! I will invite you to read my books about “Word of God.” There are answered prayers; the Word of God-Bible Scriptures are God’s Word. They are available on Amazon.com (Kindle store) and Amazon.com.au (Australia Kindle Store.
Did I regret it? No, not at all. Ernst helped me in many ways, lightening my household tasks: doing things I can’t do, making decisions he’s smart to make, handling phone calls, and daily tasks I don’t want to do. Before, I used to sew for people with so many customers for socializing and gardening, and I still couldn’t believe I did the 2 acres. Doing maintenance. I am still working in the garden here on our small property, surrounded by flowers. Most of all, I am writing books for you to read. If you read my anointing books, you open your eyes and spiritual understanding. You will know how to pray. Please read at the back of my books about “Salvation Prayer.” Jesus is Lord. Your life will change.
So, I later filled the gap to be a wife and carer. When I listened to my husband, he told me what happened to him and his family. He remembered, told me, and I listened. However, I also read about the Reader’s Digest dated 1982. You can read this message. In Chapter 3, I expanded my story.
Ernst Van Dyk’s story:
The story of the Mossman River is, for me, not just an event from the past. It is a wound, a turning point, and a chapter that changed the course of our family’s life. When I think of that day, I do not see headlines or magazine pages. I see my family caught in a moment that none of us could ever have imagined.
It began like so many ordinary days. There was nothing in the air to warn us that our lives were about to be divided into a “before” and an “after.” My family set out as he often did, confident and capable, never suspecting that the Mossman River, so familiar and beautiful, could become the place of such deep tragedy.
The accident itself happened quickly, but its effects have lasted a lifetime. I remember the phone call, the shock in the voice on the other end, and the way the room seemed to tilt as I tried to understand the words. There is a kind of silence that comes with terrible news – a silence inside the heart, as if time itself has stopped.
When I finally reached the scene, the world around me felt unreal. The river that had once looked peaceful and inviting now seemed fierce and unforgiving. People spoke in low voices. Some tried to comfort the family, but there are moments when no words can truly reach me. They’re hoping, somehow, that this was all a mistake.
I survived the accident, but nothing was ever the same again. The injuries, the pain, the long days and nights of uncertainty – they all became part of our new reality. I watched a strong, active man learn to live with limitations he had never known before. I also watched his courage. Even when my body was weak, his spirit refused to surrender easily.
For our family, the Mossman River tragedy brought grief, fear, and many questions. Why did this happen? How would we manage? What would our future look like now? Yet amid all that sorrow, we also discovered unexpected strengths. Friends and relatives stepped forward to help. Our Faith was tested, but it also became a source of comfort. We learned to be grateful for small improvements, for one more day together, for every moment of laughter that still managed to break through the heaviness.
ROSELYN AS CARER-WIFE SUMMARY
Years later, my husband’s story was published in a Reader’s Digest magazine article in May, 1982. It described the accident in detail and highlighted his resilience. I was proud of him for sharing his experience with the wider world. But this chapter is not a copy of that article. This is my version – the story as I lived it, through the eyes of a second wife.
When I look back now, the Mossman River is more than a place on the map. It represents the fragile line between ordinary life and sudden disaster. It reminds me how quickly everything can change, and how important it is to hold our loved ones close. It also stands as a symbol of survival – not perfect or easy, but real. We did not come through untouched, but we did come through.
The tragedy at Mossman River remains one of the hardest chapters of his life, yet it is also one of the reasons I continue to write. By telling this story in my own words, I honor my husband, acknowledge the pain we carried, and give thanks for the strength that helped us endure and patience. Are we struggling or facing hurdles? Yes, but I can see the eyes of Faith in my own faith journey.
Leave a comment