One Short Life

One Short Life is the story of Jewel, who went to a remote area of Africa at age 7 months with her missionary parents in 1954. They began to learn the Yalunka language and culture while adapting to life under a grass roof. It was a time that later helped birth Jewel's own call to the mission field - a call, however, like that of her parents' missionary service, was tragically cut short. But it is most of all a story of how faith in the providence of a loving God, hope for an eternity with loved ones, and love for God and others can overcome disappointment, loss and grief.

Jane was born Leona Jane Ford on March 13, 1929 to Audrey and William Ford in Rosewood, Ohio, a small rural farming community northeast of Dayton, Ohio. Her mother had taught school in a one room schoolhouse and her father ran an auto repair shop, selling Chevrolets on the side. Later in life he was called into the ministry. Jane graduated from Rosewood High School as valedictorian of the class of 1947 and graduated from Fort Wayne Bible Institute in 1950. At Fort Wayne she met her future husband Harvey E. Ache. The were married in 1951. In addition to being a missionary in Africa, she served alongside her husband as a minister's wife and retired from the Painesville, Ohio school system after a career as a bookkeeper and secretary. She enjoyed sewing, playing the piano and prayed every single day for her family and foreign missionaries.