Larry's bio

Larry writes: I've been asked to post my resume, bio you might say. So here goes. I will only go back to the time I met Teri, but that covers 30 years.

Late 70' till the late 80's I taught dance (Jazz and Ballet) in dance studios and colleges in the southern California area. I performed in theatre productions and danced in "Staying Alive". I also drove a 18 wheelers to maintain a steady income. Teri was one of my dance students, She was 23 I was 28. Shortly after our marriage, I returned to school and completed a Bachelors degree in Psychology.

I continued my education and earned two teaching credentials. (K-12 multiple subjects and severely handicapped) and a Masters Degree in Education.

While working on my teaching credentials I worked as a teachers aid at a residential treatment center for adolescents with severe emotional disorders by day, and taught dance at various dance studios and colleges by night. 

After getting my teaching credentials I worked with students with autism/ severe emotional disorders in both residential treatment centers and in public school setting.

Then this happened. In the four years between the 1st trial and waiting for the 2nd, I worked various jobs. Landscaping, truckdriving (long Haul), sales whatever i could to bring in money. Mostly I tried to spend as much time with my family as possible. so thats It! 

March 9, 2009: Larry's testimony

To all the wonderful friends who have written in support of me and my family. Your words have truly lifted me up and held me. Many days when I am down I re-read them I am carried through the dark moments. I love you all and praise God that I was able to be a positive light in your lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

My Testimony/Message to my family and friends:

Up until a few weeks ago my prognosis seemed dim – I was stage four metastasized cancer. The doctors could not find the primary tumor there was no knowing if the chemotherapy was effective. My wonderful wife Teri and my daughters began the fight to have the prison system begin the process that would lead to my “compassionate release.” I could be release if I had six months left to live, not an easy or guaranteed process. I would have to be seen as a person who was no longer a threat to society, Teri talked to people all the way up to the governors assistant – my daughters helped write letters to anyone who might have a say in my release. Meanwhile I sat in isolation in the prison infirmary 23 hours a day in a little room. Just me, God, and our enemy. God was taking me on a journey. For months God helped me relive my life, repent of sins, renew my mind, by the living word of God. 

Teri’s fight for a compassionate release and my faith in God’s love led me to trust that God would lead me home to die with my family. I trusted in that because each day in the infirmary – or at one of the various hospitals I had been sent to, God showed himself to me and comforted me and my family.

A few weeks ago I asked the chemotherapist what my chances of survival were. He looked at me sadly but said I give you fifty-fifty. Immediately I thought of Deuteronomy when God said I give you life or I give you death, choose. I took this as a very serious offer from God, choose life or choose death – I will give you whichever you choose and I will love you either way. While I was in the infirmary – no, since before coming to prison- God had been leading me to trust in the truth of His offer: come home to Jesus – no more tears of pain no more loneliness- or trust in the life God had prepared for me. Perhaps in prison – perhaps not. Go home to my beloved family for a while or simply trust in Gods love – after many hours of prayer – I chose life. Two days later I was sent to a radiologist – he said that he found my tumor – it was on the base of my tongue, it was easy to see – he found it on an old CT scan then took a picture of it to show me. A Christian brother suggested that God had closed the eyes of the doctor to the location of the tumor – until God had led me to a place where I knew who I was in His eyes – to a place where I could trust in His word. The doctor gave me an 80% chance of being cured – as far as I am concerned I’m cured God has continued to bless me and my family. I invite you to pray and meditate over Leviticus 25:10 – It’s a promise God made to me a few nights ago, through my cellie, praise God. Thank you for writing to me as I battled cancer your letters gave me strength and hope. May God continue to bless you all.

Larry

About the Vanderbergs - by Larry Vanderberg

Teri and I have been married 28 years. We met at a dance studio. I taught jazz. Teri was a new student who didn’t seem to like me very much. (ha-ha)! I was 28, she was 23. It took me a month to work up the courage to ask her out for a date; and I asked her a month in advance – I figured a girl as pretty as she was had to be all booked up. Three months later I asked her to marry me. We were married a few months after that. In the eight years between our wedding day and the birth of our first, Madison, Teri helped me go back to school to get a bachelor in psychology and two teaching credentials. I became a specialist working with kids who had severe  behavior disorders.

Madison (Maddie) - The moment Maddie was laid in my arms my heart grew 1000 times its size. Maddie is one of the most delightful, sweetest people anyone would want to know. Maddie was 13 when this started, since then she finished high school with a 4.5 GPA and more awards and honors in math, science, dance, and more than I can name. She is now finishing her second year at UCLA, where she has achieved accolades as a member of “Company” a “SNL”-like sketch comedy company. She is an accomplished dancer/actor/choreographer well respected in the Los Angeles area dance community. All the while, maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Her Facebook profile proudly states that she is a Christian. I am proud to state that she is not only my daughter but my friend, she makes me laugh and I miss her very much.

Lexington (Lexi) - Lexi was only in the 6th grade when I went to prison, she has just finished the 9th grade. She was 7 when this started and will turn 15 soon. For half of her life her family has been living under this cloud. She hasn’t seen me in almost 4 years. Before that we were inseparable, swimming, skating, bike rides, or just hanging out we were buddies. God has allowed us to talk to each other by phone several times a week. She proudly says that even though we are apart, we are closer then some of her friends are with their dads. While I don’t know if that’s true…I still like to hear it. Lexi is an Actress/singer she has had the lead role in several musicals. But what is most important to her is her real ongoing relationship with Jesus. When asked recently how she can look so calm and peaceful with all that she’s been through she answered, “God promises me my daddy is coming home, I believe Him.” Lexi is our little “Lucy” (hint Narnia).

Teri - Well I have a whole section written just for Teri, look for it because it’s all about how much I love her.

We have found ourselves moved and changed in unimaginable ways by this tragedy. Even though I’m not home yet –This is all turning into a blessing. For God causes all things to be turned to the good for those who love him and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28). By his tender mercies we have been gathered together by his spirit – we will be together for eternity, praise our Lord for his faith, love endures forever Amen. I was reading my trial transcripts the other day – All the people who testified on my behalf – kids and their parents agreed on this - I was a big kid, the dad who was involved with his kids – the dad who liked to play board games, piggy back rides, tossing kids from one end of the pool to the other – “who is having more fun, you or the kids.” The D.A. succeeded in making that into something dirty. Punishable by life in prison. Pray for him.

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Blessings

I will make each of my mountains a road (Isaiah 49:11)

Blessing 1

One of the most important things we tried to do for our kids was to give them a normal life. But how could we do that when their dad had been falsely accused? Since well before my conviction God blessed us. Here are just a few examples of how God knew we needed “normal.” A few weeks after I began my jail/prison term I discovered that my neighbor Ralph knew about our situation. We had to sell our house in Riverside County to pay our legal bills – and because my teaching credential had been suspended – I had no income. We moved into Teri’s dad’s house. Teri grew up in the house; some of her neighbors knew her as a little girl. We kept the whole thing a secret for Lexi and Maddie’s sake – we wanted them to have friends – within a few weeks Lexi had a new best friend who spent hours a day at our house – within a few months kids were coming and going in our house just like always. Including our next door neighbor Ralph’s granddaughter and great granddaughter. They spent countless hours at our house, there were no piggyback rides but board and computer games were big on the agenda – arts and crafts and make believe, tetherball and basketball. A regular house with a dad who was, who had, been involved in his kids lives. Then some guy who had grown up in Teri’s neighborhood and had moved to Riverside County came back into the neighborhood for a party. He had a field day telling anyone within earshot about “Teri’s husband.” Several of the parents whose kids played at our house got together and talked to each other and their kids. They concluded that their kids where safe at our house. They never told us they knew. They just let us keep our lives as normal as possible. We were covered by Gods favor Amen. As a shield you will surround them with goodwill (pleasure and favor) (psalm 5:12)

Blessing 2

After I was accused I was unable to continue teaching. I was a probationary teacher and the school district could have fired me on the spot. Instead, because of my reputation as a teacher I was allowed to be paid till the end of the school year. They also agreed to renew my contract for the following year, while I may not get the money for the second year. The vote of confidence by my peers was and is a priceless blessing. This also comes from the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 28:29).

Blessing 3

I worked at odd jobs for a few months, shortly after the accusations. One job was with a landscape contractor. He was a rough man prone to cursing, he had lived a rough life. We spent a lot of time just talking about life, our families, and stuff like that. I finally had to tell him my name may soon be in the newspaper and that I would be accused of some horrible crimes. I suggested that if he wanted to let me go before the newspaper articles came out that would be ok. I didn’t want his small company to be hurt by my presence. I told of the accusations, he told me he would support me. He felt in his heart I was falsely accused. The police came to arrest me while I was working for him. I was wearing big rubber boots pouring cement. The police took off the boots and were pushing me into the squad car not caring whether I was wearing shoes or not. My boss asked them to stop. The man then knelt down in the dirty gutter, put on my shoes, and with tears brimming in his eyes told me God loved me. God will take care of you. When I was released on bail – after all the newspaper coverage – he called me up and asked me to work for him. I continued working for him until I moved to Orange County. Love on another just as I have loved you. (John 13:34) For as many who are led by the spirit these are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14) The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16)

Blessing 4 – On the need to feel normal

Those of us who are falsely accused desperately want to feel normal, to go about our regular lives. Yet a great many of the things we do will be viewed with suspicion, from smiling at a baby to taking our kids to the bus stop. My next door neighbor Ralph’s great granddaughter, Bree, lived with him. She was about two when we moved in. The day I met her, she had escaped the confines of her house and was running as fast as she could down the driveway onto the sidewalk, her mom, Crystal, was in fast pursuit. Bree’s face was a picture of pure joy, then she spotted me. She came to an abrupt stop, eyed me up and down, and calculated what it would take to bring me to my knees. Before my accusations I would have waved and smiled, and walked over to say hello. Now I was terrified and heartbroken. I called my wife over, in spite of her sadness and exhaustion, she too was immediately taken up by this mischievous little imp. We introduced ourselves to Bree and her Mom. I was reserved with Bree, Bree had other ideas. She decided that I was to be her friend, and I thank God for that. Bree wanted to visit me everyday according to her mother and Great-Grandmother. She always knew where I was and what I was up to. This may seem like nothing to you, but to me, a man who discovered at the birth of his own children, the extraordinary blessing of raising a child, this was a blessing God knew I needed. She loved me, a man that some considered a monster. I remained reserved with her and literally kept her at a distance as best I could. One day I heard a small knock on the door, there stood little Bree with her Mom. Bree said, “Biss Biss Warwee.” Crystal explained she was asking to give me a kiss. I knelt down, she reached her arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek. A little kiss on the cheek from a baby, for a moment I felt normal and thanked God for such a blessing.

Blessing 5 Carl

I had just finished mailing out my appeal to the US Central District Court. My appeals had been turned down by all the lower courts, I was basically doing my own law work. I know nothing about law. I had no idea what I was doing, and I wrote out my appeals in longhand; my handwriting is horrible, barely legible. Yet when I asked God for direction, His living word said for me to act; he would bless my stepping out in faith. So I continued to act like I knew what I was doing by going to the “so-called” law library here and mail out my latest attempts at an appeal.

I was returning from the library, I was alone on the yard except for one other person. That never happens. That person called out, “Hey I see you coming back from the law library, are you working on your appeal?” Oh Great, I thought to myself, another Jail-house lawyer, wants to rip me off and tell stories of my alleged crime. He had the biggest smile on his face, he had a calm presence about him. Still highly suspicious, I gave him a vague answer and hoped he would go away. But as it turned out, he had just moved into my building from the level 4 yard. Everyday he would ask me about my case. I prayed, what should I do, I needed help but I had no money to pay him and I didn’t want some guy blabbing my case all over the yard – not safe, not safe at all. Then he began to talk about Jesus. He said we are all God’s children, and that we needed to use our gifts to help each other. I told him I was tapped out. We had no money, I couldn’t pay him anything. He smiled even more. He felt that he could help me. He didn’t care about the money, he said, this was what he had trained himself to do, this is what God had trained him to do. I put my trust in the Lord and took a step in faith, I gave him my trial transcripts and my appeals. The next day he said that I really do have a case. He took over my appeal and did all the work for me. He typed up 30 page documents, he researched the laws for me, and he knew when to use black ink and when to use blue (believe it or not, those things are important). His knowledge has given me peace, because I know God sent him – his powerful faith in God has given me and my family hope. While I don’t put my faith in men, I do put my hope in the people that God sends my way (Romans 8:16). Trust in the Lord. Lean not on our own understanding, rest in the Lord for He will fight for you.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve submitted my appeal to the 9th district. I have heard of several people who have been turned down within months of submitting their appeal. I truly believe that if God hadn’t sent Carl my way, I would have been one of them. But now by trusting in the Lord and stepping out in faith, God continues to bless us and one day God will have touched the hearts and minds of the judges to deliver me from those who have plundered me (Judges 2:16). And I will be restored to my family in joy and prosperity (Psalms 68:5-6) I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me…and he sat me feet upon a rock and he established my steps (Psalms 40:1-2). Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalms 37:7). Be pleased O Lord to deliver me, O Lord make haste to help me (psalms 41:13-14).

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First Day in Jail (FDIJ)

The huge doors to the side of the courtroom began to slide shut without a sound, I looked out at the tear stained faces of my sister, Sunny, my next door neighbor, Ralph, and my father-in-law, Ed. These three were taking me to the Riverside county Jailhouse to start my sentence. My wife of 25 years, Teri, and my two girls, Maddie and Lexi, were just too overwhelmed with grief to be there. I wondered how Ralph knew about my trial, never letting on ,that was very important to me. I wondered about my sister who has seen more than her fair share of tragedy, her daughter Laurie, was killed at the age of 14. My sister arrived from Washington just to help me and my family get thru these few days even though we had spent almost no time together during the past 4 years. I was concerned for my father-in-law, he had his fair share of tragedies, and his wife of over 45 years had been on life support for 8 years. I thanked them in my heart as the door slammed shut. Somewhere deep in my heart I wondered would I have the strength and compassion to help another as they were helping me. Three days prior I had been convicted of a crime I hadn’t committed. I faced a life sentence. My wife would be left alone to care for our children, then 11 and 16. I had spent nearly every moment I could with our kids from the moment they were born, at least they had that. They would remember I was a good dad. Our marriage was crumbling, but not crushed, the pressure of 4 years and two trials tension and fear had taken its toll. Teri still loved me – I knew that – but I had retreated to the safety of my familiar shell. Don’t let the loss of love hurt you again. So shut it off first, pull back before you get hurt, and avoid hurt at all costs. The guard strip searched me, put me in an orange jumpsuit and shackled my wrists and ankles. They placed me in a very small holding cell with two other inmates. “Oh you’re Vanderberg,” one said. O God, here it comes! I began to pray the only scripture that would come into my head. “If God is for me, no be can be against me.” Two, three, four times I repeated the words. As fast as my mind could think – I prayed, would God hear me? I’d only been to church a few times in the last thirty years, Christmas, Easter, and just recently – two months straight. Each Sunday for two months I learned about David a man after God’s own heart and Saul, a man who had turned his own back on God. Would God really listen to me?

The other prisoner’s head jerked up and he stared at me intently –over six feet tall and a beard down to his chest, missing teeth – If God is for me, who can be against me – “It’s going to be ok Mr. Vanderberg, It’s going to be okay.” Huh? That’s not how it goes in the movies – I was relieved, confused and relieved. And where did that scripture come from? I was not much of a Bible reader either.

The cell door opened and the nice man walked out, leaving me alone with the large hairy guy and my thoughts. My thoughts returned to 3 days earlier.

During my last few days of trial, I was in the hospital. The trial went on without me. The only thing I remember was that my Teri was lying in my arms when my lawyer walked in – looked out the window and said that I had been found guilty. Teri began to sob uncontrollably. I began to say to myself, “No, no, no!” A small, very small, still voice said, “It’s going to be ok.” I felt a strange peace.

Because of a weird quirk of law, I was allowed to go home for the weekend. Lexi said later, “God must love us very much. He gave us two more days with Daddy.” To pay for lawyers and bail, we had to sell out house, we lived with Teri’s dad. As I drove down the street to Ed’s house, I noticed my next door neighbor Ralph standing out front with his wife, Glenda, and his great granddaughter Bree, and her mom Crystal. I was too numb to think about it much. We had lived there for four years. We were always back and forth between their house and ours. Little Bree, 4years old, was over to our house as often as she could. She considered me one of her best friends (I was grateful and proud of that friendship).

Trying to pull it together I was stunned to hear Ralph say, “We know what happened. How can we help you?” I asked Ralph to drive me back to Riverside to turn myself in on Monday. Fighting back tears, He agreed. Finally after four years, Teri could share her pain with someone in the neighborhood. But when did they find out and how?

A guard came to get me and the large hairy guy. He walked us down dirty corridors covered with peeling paint. We stopped in front of a 21 man cell. The front wall made of bars. The inmates eyed me as two large men immediately jumped down off their bunks and walked to the slowly opening door. “If God is for me, who can be against me,” over and over those words ran through my head. My eyes zeroed in on the swastikas’ tattooed to their necks – I took in large arms with barbed wire inked on their biceps, “white pride” running down their forearms. “If God is for me, who can be against me?” They came within inches of me and they stopped, “There will be no politics in this cell.” “Okay” I responded. I had no idea what that meant. These guys didn’t really seem to be poli-sci majors. “We will enforce that. There will be no taxing, and you will take a shower once a day.” Okay, now I just had to find out what politics and taxing meant so I wouldn’t do it by accident and get the crap beat out of me. (Later that night they beat the crap out of some guy they suspected of taxing me!) As they turned to go back to their bunks, one guy turned to me and said softly, “It’s ok ‘OG’ (old guy)” you will be safe in here,” If God is for me, no men can be against me. I found out about a month later that psalm is from psalm 118. Blessed be the Lord, His enduring Love lasts forever.

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Teri

Writing about Teri and her love for me is like trying to describe the vastness and beauty of the heavens to a man who only just now has stepped out of a dark cave and into the light. I don’t quite know where to begin, I feel that no matter what words I use or how many I write, I will not be able to do that love justice. But, here goes.
Teri’s love is like reading the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit: Each time I accept her love I come away blessed and the better for it. Teri’s love is of God because He loved her first (John 4:19). Lucky God! I don’t think I could live without her love. Love is, patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful, or proud or rude…Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. (Corinthians 13:4-7). The passage from 1st Corinthians describes God’s perfect love. Teri is a walking, talking, breathing example of love. Of course she is not perfect, if she were, she’d be in Heaven and selfishly, I want – No- I need her here with me! I really do, Then the Lord God said, ‘It us not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him (Genesis 2:18). I needed Teri’s love to unlock the love I had hidden away in a vast stronghold of hurts and scars. She never gave up on me, she never lost her faith in me, she was always hopeful and she very defiantly endured through every circumstance. Now I pray that our lives together will not be to fill emptiness, but to share, to know fullness. Now, I pray, that I can take up my part of our love, our marriage, our covenant. A covenant is made to give to someone else, what the other person needs. Through Teri, my love, my wife, God showed me that He exists and I am loved. Teri loves me, Teri loves me, I say it, I write it, I believe it, I am at peace. A covenant is a promise to give, to help, to restore, to love until it is too good to be true. But it is true. Through the accusations, the loss of my job, the loss of our house, the loss of everything material she endured. Even more remarkable, even more unbelievable, when I in my selfishness retreated back into my stronghold of hurts and scars and turned my back on her, unable to receive or give love, Teri’s love for me endured!! And she has forgiven me. If she isn’t the model of God’s love and covenant with us, I don’t know what is. Now I pray that our marriage, the model, by God’s love through Teri, the body of Christ, be a light unto others. I pray, oh how I pray, that by Gods Grace I be allowed to supply Teri with her needs to hold up my part of our love, our marriage, our covenant, powered by the endless supply of God’s grace, mercy, and love. “What God has part together let no one tear apart” (Matthew 19:6) God has promised that a man who finds a wife (like Teri) finds a treasure and receive favor from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22). Day after day, month after month, year after year (7 years now) Teri has been the heartbeat of our home. She has been the single mom raising our two remarkable, talented, children. 12 hour days, worry, exhaustion, followed by more hours fighting for me. Calling lawyers, doctors, friends, friends, friends. Telling them do not forget my husband, do not forget Maddie and Lexi’s dad, do not forget your friend. Teri Loves.

Lord may I be as great a gift to her as she has been to me – Lord let me love her as she has loved me – Lord fill the empty places in our hearts, arms, life with each other. In Jesus Name Amen.

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Preparing Us

This is the way; walk in it (Isaiah 30: 21). Throughout the Bible, it is evident that God prepares us for the battle ahead. Especially when we don’t know for sure if God is personally interested in us. I was a lot like Gideon; afraid to trust God due to my own personal limitations so, step by step, He lovingly quieted me. The first step for me was to learn about David, “…a man after God’s own heart.” Lexi had a friend who was probably the most persistent kid I ever met; the word “No” was definitely not in her vocabulary. While a bit of a trial for her parents (and teachers I expect). God put this stubbornness to good use. She wanted Lexi and my wife and I to come to her church. Nearly everyday for weeks she pestered me with “can Lexi come to church? Can Lexi come to church? Both Teri and I were deeply suspicious of organized religion – for all of the usually cited reasons. My heart craved God, I knew it, but I wouldn’t give in to it. But this kid would not give up. Finally I asked her mom for directions to their church. My spiritual journey back to God had begun. And teaching me why He loved David so much. I was on the mind of God. It came as a shock to learn the God loved David, not because he was especially good, but because David trusted and leaned on God for everything. Even without his sins. Saul on the other hand, lived by his own understanding. Sometimes he gave to God; sometimes he kept it all to himself. I felt God asking me: Make a choice. Are you going to be like David or Saul? Let me trust you Lord, I don’t know how, but let me trust you. I believe that right then I was born again.

The first Bible lesson I led was about David. It was the only one I knew, and a man gave his life to Christ that day. All glory to God. In Jesus name Amen.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us…for the spirit pleads for us, believes in harmony with Gods own will (Romans 8:26-27).

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Update on Maddie and Lexi

As Larry says in his letter to you all, it is important and crucial to our life as an intact family that Maddie and Lexi maintain a normal healthy life. We are very proud of them. Click here for current pictures of Maddie dancing and performing and Lexi acting and singing in musicals. They are what keeps me going, as I am the parent that is present to help keep them strong, as any loving parent knows. They are what sustain me and help me get up every morning to keep on fighting for justice to bring their father home. Our family needs to be together in our home, guiding and helping them find their way, know their purpose and help them know how much they are loved!!

Through it all, they are so loved by Larry and I, we are very blessed to have such resilient young ladies !!

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Larry’s health - by Teri Vanderberg

Larry has had Valley Fever almost from the beginning of his sentence, it is in his lungs, and he has had many bouts with pneumonia. Just this week, July 2008, he was hospitalized for a swollen lymph node in his throat that has been apparent for months now. They biopsied this week and it is cancer, it hasn’t traveled and he will begin chemo soon. I ask for your support and prayers. Please drop Larry a line, he would smile on opening more mail. Contact me for his mailing address or click here.

My special thanks go out to Joy for making this website possible as the girls and I are pretty maxed out. Without her passion for helping the falsely accused this would have been impossible.. I apologize to all of our friends and family that were not mentioned in this website. You all know who you are and I am indebted to your constant support and prayers!

Thank you,

The Vanderberg family

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