Mary Jane Sandahl, age 71, a resident of LaGrange, Georgia, passed away suddenly on July 20, 2020. She was born December 6, 1948 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania to Robert W. and Dorothy D. Michener.
Mary Jane grew up with her two siblings in suburban Philadelphia. She was raised in a Christian home that often hosted visiting missionaries. At a young age she decided she wanted to live overseas and share Jesus with those who did not know him. She graduated from Marple-Newtown High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Wheaton (Illinois) College. She met her future husband, Phill, her first week on campus at Wheaton College. They married after graduation and spent nearly 50 years together serving Christ in various countries.
Mary Jane lived her life to its fullest and took nothing for granted. She enjoyed music, reading, food preparation, and learning about other people and cultures. She especially enjoyed doing and teaching handcrafts, with a special passion for quilting.
She accepted Jesus as her Savior as a young girl and considered it the most important decision of her life. She shared the Gospel through a life of love and service to others. When opportunity presented itself she also led Bible studies.
In her youth she played music in a young people’s radio program with her sisters. She served with her husband in Ecuador in missions, filling a variety of positions: radio DJ, program producer, writer and actress in dramas. She also taught other women the crafts she enjoyed doing for recreation. She made several trips to Spain to teach quilting and open the door to share the Gospel with women while they talked about their craft.
In Guatemala she worked with short term teams providing medical, construction, and teaching support n rural villages among indigenous communities with medical, construction and teaching. Often, she was called upon to help with translation.
Most recently she has worked alongside her husband with Global Intent, preparing professionals to become tentmakers. She helped wherever needed. She was the hostess for onsite courses, planning the arrangements, and preparing and serving international meals for the whole class. She also supported Phill with transcription, writing and editing books, and preparing training materials.
With her husband Phill she raised four sons who are all following the Lord and serving Him. She had to wait for daughters until her sons found lovely wives. She took them in as if they were her natural children. Together they have given her thirteen grandchildren who she delighted in loving on and teaching life skills.
Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Phillip Sandahl; her four sons and their families: Kevin and Jennifer Sandahl and grandchildren Keiryn, Iyan and Elyana (Malaysia); Nathan and Cory Sandahl and grandchildren Bryan, Cynthia, and Natalie (Nicaragua); Scott and Candice Sandahl and grandchildren Rochelle, Aurora, and Isaac (Georgia); Daniel and Stacie Sandahl and grandchildren Kendra, Joshua, Andrew, and Anna (Wisconsin); her sisters Betty Anne Ernst (Arkansas) and Caroljoy Spensley (Illinois) and their families.