Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A Christmas Memory From My Childhood

   My family moved from Des Moines, Iowa to Covington, Oklahoma in 1946. We only lived there for two years. I'll never forget our first Christmas there. My daddy traveled all over the United States and Canada as an evangelist so Mother and the four of us, children, could hardly wait for him to come home for Christmas. Maybe he could stay home a little longer this time. 
   Richard-12, Lorraine-10, Billy-4 and I-8 had been pouring over the Sears catalog for weeks. We knew Mother and Dad didn't have a lot of money to spend. A baby doll for me was out of the question. 
   In the catalog I found a scooter that looked like so much fun! I could almost feel myself riding down the sidewalk! This scooter was red and white and even had a brake! Oh, I wanted that scooter.
   Well, Daddy came home. Christmas day arrived. I didn't see a scooter under the tree. But there were two long boxes, along with other presents! A beautiful doll was in each box, for Lorraine and me! Lorraine named her's Nancy. I named mine Claudia.
   Aunt Lou, Mother's sister, had bought the dolls for us and even made several outfits, so we could change their clothes, and mailed them in time for Christmas! 
   Aunt Lou had a daughter, Judy, a year younger than me. Judy and I loved to play together when we were in Iowa.
   Judy didn't like dolls though. She loved horses! Aunt Lou, knowing my parents didn't have a lot of money, and having only one child herself, bought these dolls for us! She knew we would love them...and we did!
   Billy, age four, had received a little boy's three wheeled scooter. He was happy! 
   I didn't see a scooter for me but I was so happy with my new doll!
   We finished unwrapping all our presents and then Daddy suddenly said, "Anita, look behind the davenport." I went over and couldn't believe my eyes! There was a red and white scooter! Oh!!! Just what I wanted!
   Well, I don't like to tell on my little brother, but...when he saw my scooter... Oh dear, he threw his down and said, "Bad scooter."
   I don't remember if I let him ride mine, but I'm sure I must have...
   Oh...what wonderful Christmas memories...
   

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Memories #4

       Pam was married, Ted was in college and working during vacations. The other three children were still at home. 
   Ted was working at a home for troubled boys. One day shortly before Christmas he called to tell me he had to work on Christmas day!
    My reaction was one of disbelief! "No, Ted, you have to come home! It's Christmas...we can't have Christmas without you! 
   "Mom, I'm sorry, I want to come home, but my boss said I have to work."
   Well, you just tell your boss you can't, your mom wants you home!" I insisted.
   "Mom, this is a home for boys in trouble, someone has to be here. I'm just part time, so I'm the one to stay with them over Christmas." 
   Oh, I felt so bad. I felt bad for the boys who couldn't go home; bad for Ted, because he couldn't come home; and bad for me, because I wanted my family together. It was hard enough without Pam here and now Ted? 
   Well, Christmas day arrived. Grandma had stayed all night with us so we didn't worry about her driving out early in the morning.
   Tim, Christy, and Rob got up at 6:00 to sing to us. That was a wonderful tradition.
   Suddenly we saw headlights coming up the driveway! Who...Grandma is downstairs! Who is here? We ran downstairs and turned on the lights. 
   Ted came walking in with, a big smile on his face, his arms loaded with gifts! 
   "Ted, oh Ted, I'm so glad you're here! How come? I thought you couldn't come?"
   Then he explained, "My boss came in last night and told me to go on home in the morning. He'd stay with the boys!"
   Knowing our tradition of the kids singing to us early Christmas morning, Ted had gotten up around 3:00 AM in order to be home by 6:00 AM!
   Such a wonderful morning...such a wonderful Christmas...such a wonderful memory. 
   

Friday, December 10, 2010

Christmas Memories #3

     One by one the kids were growing up and leaving home. Pam, our oldest, was married in 1983 and living in another state. Christmas morning wasn't quite the same any more but the kids, still at home, got up at 6:00 AM to sing to us to wake us up! It was tradition.
     Six o'clock on December 25, 1984, things went a little crazy! The kids were singing, Grandma was waiting for the door to be unlocked, and the phone started ringing! 
     Jerry got up as I reached over to answer the phone. "Merry Christmas," I said groggily. Pam began singing "We wish you a merry Christmas!" 
     Then she said she had a special message to tell us. "Gene and I are going to have a baby!" 
     "What?" Yes, she had to tell me twice!
     Our first grandchild! What a wonderful, exciting gift! The following August our first grandson, Andrew, was born. 
     That's a Christmas memory forever in my heart. 
     

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas Memories #2

     Christmas is the season for memories...among my favorites is Grandma coming every Christmas morning in time for the gift opening. 
     She was an early riser every morning so for her to be at our house by 6:00 AM was no problem. In fact some years she was there before we were up! When the kids woke us up at 6:00 with their singing, we'd find her sitting in her car in the driveway waiting for lights to be turned on and the door unlocked! 
     Yes, that was Grandma. We all loved her and were thrilled that she wanted to come for the opening of our gifts. Before we opened any presents Jerry would read the Christmas story from the Bible. 
     We always made sure we had gifts for Grandma to open, too. She'd be so surprised when a gift was handed to her. 
     After breakfast she would drive to Betty's house (daughter) for Christmas dinner.
     The last few years of her life Jerry drove into town to get her. One or two years Jerry picked her up on Christmas Eve and she stayed all night with us so morning would be a little easier.
     Then the very last year, she was in a nursing home. Opening gifts just wasn't the same without Grandma. But we all have the most wonderful memories of her being with us on the best day of the year: Christmas!
     Grandma's birthday was also on December 25! 
We had a double celebration. A lot of years the family got together with her, earlier in the month, to celebrate her birthday.
     But I wanted to have a party for her right on the day! So one year I invited everyone to our house on Christmas afternoon for a birthday party for Grandma. 
     Our next door neighbor had a Santa Claus suit so I asked him if he'd help me out at our family birthday party for Grandma. Of course, he'd love to!
     I did some extra shopping that year and bought a Christmas present for each of our nieces and nephews and our own kids, under teenage. I wrapped each one and delivered them to our neighbor. He put them into a big bag to be delivered by Santa at the party! 
     Everyone arrived and it was a house full, but we had lots of food. Things were kind of winding down, when the door bell rang! I went to answer it and there stood Santa Claus with his big bag of gifts! 
     What a surprise to everyone!!! He read off the name of each child as he handed out the presents! No child was left out. Such excitement! 
     The last gift was for Grandma...a kiss from Santa Claus!
     

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Christmas Memories

     One of my favorite Christmas memories is of our children getting up at 6:00 AM and singing to Jerry and me, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." They thought they were waking us up...but if you can, imagine five excited kids out in the hallway, trying to be quiet! We were awakened by the noise of whisperings, "Shhhh, be quiet. Don't be so noisy, Shhhh! You're going to wake them up!" Then suddenly, they would burst out, altogether, with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy new year!" Jerry and I would pretend to have been sound asleep and being awakened by their beautiful song!
     One year, Teddy, our oldest son, just couldn't wait for the other four kids. I don't remember if he tried waking them up... But, Jerry and I were awakened by one voice singing at the top of his lungs, "We wish you a merry Christmas...!" We woke up and looked at the clock...it was about 3:00 AM! I went into the hallway and convinced Teddy that it was still in the night, everyone was still sleeping, and he needed to go back to bed and wait for 6:00 o'clock and the rest of the kids! 
      6:00 AM came a little sooner that year! But what wonderful memories of Christmas. The most blessed time of the year.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

"I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked"

     About twelve years ago Jerry and I went on an incredible trip to Israel! We had talked about going for years and finally it became reality. Now doing my Christmas decorating has made me recall this trip and wonder, again, at the special feelings we experienced while there.
     I loved seeing shepherds watching their sheep on the hillsides, just like in Bible times. 
     While in Bethlehem we bought a Nativity set made of Olive Wood. It's very special to me.
     But the little town of Bethlehem, itself, was more of a disappointment. You see, the population has grown there, just like here. It's now like a suburb of Jerusalem! 
    There are lots of stories I can write about our time there but there was one day...I'll never forget Jerry...
     We were in Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding. You know the story. But that story really has nothing to do with this story! 
     Jerry and I were walking down a street and marveling that this is actually where Jesus had mingled with the people. 
     Suddenly...Jerry began singing, "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked." For others this wouldn't have been much, after all, probably lots of folks have sung this song walking through the streets, but for me...it was beautiful. So spontaneous, so beautiful, so special. This was just for Jerry and me. I still get a tingle when I think of it. No, I need to make a correction...it was just for the Lord and Jerry and me.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Work at Home Mom

     When our children were small Jerry and I both agreed I should be a stay at home mom. With five children I had plenty of work to do right at home! As the children began to grow up I began to need more money just to keep up with school supplies and extra things teenagers wanted and sometimes needed. It just seemed there wasn't quite enough money to go around. 
     I began to pray about this. "Lord, You know I need more money. It's too hard with our children to say no to extras. I can't go out and get a job, that would be against what Jerry and I had decided on years ago. Isn't there some kind of a job I could do at home to make some extra money? I know that all things are possible with You."
     A couple of days after praying this prayer one of my neighbors called on the phone. She explained to me that since her youngest child was now in school all day she was going to go back to work in an office. Then she said, "I have to quit my home job...my boss asked me to recommend someone for it. I immediately thought of you!" 
     What was her home job? She called the substitute teachers for the secondary schools in our city and she did it from her kitchen!
     When Jerry came home I told him about it and he thought it sounded interesting. It would mean getting up early every morning. The time for teacher's to call was 6:00 to 6:30 AM and 3:00 to 4:00 PM. I was not a morning person! With determination I could do it!
     With the Lord's help I did do it. I was the substitute caller for about 13 years! What a wonderful and direct answer to my prayer! I was home every day so my children didn't come home to an empty house and we had that little bit of extra money needed for extras! 
     Sometimes when a teacher called me I would be a listener to a problem and I had the opportunity to say, "I'll be praying for you." I always received a surprised, "Thank you!" 
     Does God care about our small problems? Does He answer prayer? There is no doubt in my mind: Yes, God cares and God answers prayer. 
     

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Pounding in the Night

     Late one night, Jerry was sleeping, I was watching TV upstairs in the loft. Suddenly I heard pounding on the front door! My heart stopped. It came again...pounding
     I tried to think, who was pounding on our door? Could it be Rob? No, he wouldn't pound like that and he usually called first before coming over. Who was it and what should I do? There it was again...pounding
     I grabbed my house coat and putting it on, started down the stairs. I could see a light shining through our door window. As I went down farther, I could see a man shining his flashlight and holding it like a policeman does. That gave me a little courage...
     I prayed as I slowly went down the stairs. Should I open the door? Oh, help me, Lord. 
     I knew he was watching me walk toward the door so I slowly opened it a crack. He had a uniform on but it didn't seem like a policeman's. He asked me if _____ lived here. "No," I said. "I don't know who that is." He questioned me some more and then seemed satisfied that he had the wrong house.
     I went back upstairs, got Jerry up, (he had heard commotion and talking but assumed it was Rob) and we both watched the man, through the window, walking half way through our property to his car! He had parked away from our house so we wouldn't know he was coming to our door! He was seriously looking for someone!
     We now suspect it was the U.S. Army or other branch of service, looking for someone who had gone AWOL. 
     The next day Jerry went shopping at Lowe's and bought motion lights for our yard and house. If anyone comes again, after dark, the way will be well lit for him or her! No more surprise visits late at night!
     
     

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Snakes

     One hot summer day I laid down on a lounge chair in our back yard. I relaxed and was soon sleeping. When I woke up a little later and started to get up out of my chair...I saw, through the spaces of the ribbing, something that made me freeze! Two snakes twisted up around each other were directly below me!!! 
     I hate snakes! What were they doing under my chair? How long had they been there? How could I get up off my chair? What kind of snakes were they? Oh, it was bad. I didn't know what to do...
     Where had they come from? They didn't look like garter snakes. They actually had an interesting design on the backs. But that didn't help me any. 
     We had a rock garden beside the sidewalk going from the driveway to the patio by the back door of our house. Lately when I had walked by I thought I heard some rustling among the rocks. But I could never see what it was. Now I suddenly knew...these two snakes!!! 
     Now, don't ask me how I did it, but I got out of my chair and I killed those two snakes! I still wonder if they had any babies in the rock garden! I'll never know. I didn't see any more and we don't live there any more.
     I looked up snakes in the encyclopedia (no computers back then) and by the pictures, these two were Milk Snakes. I also discovered they like to live near buildings. Well, those two just got a little too friendly. 
     Yes, I'm the person who loves all of nature. Animals, birds, lakes, flowers, mountains, oceans, trees, stars, you name it, I love it... Well...not snakes...cockroaches...stink bugs...skunks...slugs...

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Driving Alone

     Several years ago Jerry and I were selling and delivering our car to one of our sons. It was a trip that would take three days for us to drive. Jerry drove our pick-up truck pulling our 5th wheel trailer. I drove our Buick. 
     I wasn't quite ready to go and he was chomping at the bit. Finally Jerry said he'd go on ahead because he drives slower with the 5th wheel and I'd surely catch up to him before too long. 
     I finished whatever I was doing, probably last minute house cleaning. (I never go on a trip leaving the house messy!) I was driving right along wondering when I would see our camper up ahead of me.   
     Driving north in Michigan is beautiful. There are sections of highway where there are so many trees you can't even see the other highway. I was driving along admiring the scenery when I saw, kind of hidden between the highways, a patrol car! Oh no. I glanced down at my speedometer...85 mph! Oh no... Then I saw the car pull out onto the highway. Oh no... I slowed down, of course. Oh, Jerry was going to be so mad at me... When the patrol car caught up to me...low and behold...he went around me!!! I couldn't believe it. I was guilty. He was after someone, several cars, ahead of me! I wondered if he would stop me too?
     Oh, what should I do? I was guilty and I felt so guilty! I decided as I drove past them that if the patrolman looked at me I would stop. I drove past slowly and kept my eyes on the patrolman. He never looked my way...I kept going. I kept my car at the speed limit from then on. 
     I reached the Mackinaw bridge and still hadn't seen our 5th wheel camper ahead of me. Jerry had told me he would stop for lunch at a certain park, in the Upper Peninsula, so if, for some reason, I hadn't caught up with him yet he would be in the little park. 
     I kept driving... We always go north, from highway 2 to highway 28, to save time and miles. There are two different highways going north. Sometimes we take one and sometimes we take the other. Well, I never did see Jerry or the little park! I guess I took the other highway north! Oh dear. Well, we'd both end up on highway 28 so it'd be okay. 
     I kept driving... I was always straining ahead to see if I could see the back of our 5th wheel camper. How could he have gotten so far ahead of me? 
     I love driving across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Highway 28 is a two lane highway but there's not a lot of traffic. We'd gone this way so many times I knew my way...
     Around the middle of the afternoon I was admiring the lake I kept seeing. It was so beautiful...until I suddenly realized on highway 28 there's no lake! At least not a big lake like I was seeing! I drove on wondering where I was and what I should do. I finally turned around and started back. I came to a gas station with lots of cars and trucks so I pulled in. I had to stand in line to get up to the cash register person. Finally it was my turn. "May I help you?" the pretty young woman asked. I couldn't talk. I stood there. "Mam, may I help you?" I still couldn't talk. "Mam? Is something wrong?" she asked. 
     I burst out crying! The man behind me moved up to see if he could help. Finally I managed to say, "I don't know where I am." 
     The woman asked, "Well, where do you want to be?"
     "I'm supposed to be on highway 28. My husband is waiting for me. Where am I?" 
     She smiled and said, "Oh, that's easy. Lot's of folks make this mistake. Just keep going south and you'll come to a fork. You missed the sign that told you to make a turn, you kept going straight and, so, changed highways. Now you need to go back and make that turn to get back on # 28." 
     I was so relieved. As I was driving back down to #28 I was reminded of a trip we were on a few years earlier with three of our children. Tim was driving, I was sitting in front with him. Jerry was taking a nap in the back seat. We were driving along and all of a sudden saw a sign that made us know we weren't on #28. Jerry woke up and we looked at the map to see where we were. Porcupine Mountain State Park was not too far ahead! We decided to keep going and stop off at the state park. We've never forgotten the beautiful mountains and views in that park! 
     But on this day I just needed to find Jerry. When we make this trip we always stay in a nice campground on a nice little lake close to the western border of the U P of Michigan. I was sure he'd be there. 
     It was getting close to supper time and I hadn't had anything to eat, except a candy bar, since breakfast. I was sure he was wondering what had happened to me, or at least, when I'd be arriving.
     I finally saw the little lake and campground. Oh such relief I felt. "Thank You, Lord. I'm here." Oh, but is Jerry here? Or is he out looking for me? 
     Sure enough I could see our 5th wheel camper across the lake! I had almost arrived. I drove around the lake, into the park, got out of the car and ran to the camper. It had never looked so good...and neither had Jerry! 
     Jerry had supper all ready! Steak, baked potatoes, vegetables, etc. Wow! My timing was perfect! 
      
     

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I Love You...

       I was talking, on the phone to my parents. We were ending our conversation when my mother suddenly said, "I love you, Anita."
     Dad quickly added, "Yes, we love you."
     I was silent for a moment...what did they say? "Oh, okay, I'll talk to you soon." We hung up and I just stood there. Did they say I love you? Yes, I think they did! It was the first time I'd ever heard them say that to me! 
     Oh, I knew they loved me, but they had never told me before! 


     Even as a child I knew Mother loved me. She had a way of showing me, I guess she thought she didn't need to tell me. I'm guessing that was the way she was raised.
     She worked so hard as a young wife and mother to provide clothing and food for her family, a husband who traveled and four young children.
     Money was so scarce. She sewed pretty dresses for Lorraine and me. We'd go to the seed store and pick out the feed sacks with the prettiest patterns. She always added lace around the sleeves and collars, making our dresses so special. She loved us.
     Sometimes she was allowed to go through the missionary box of used clothing, because Daddy was an evangelist and traveled most of the time. One time she found an adult coat that still had some good wear in it. She took it all apart and made, for me, the prettiest and warmest coat I'd ever had! I loved it and can still see it today! My mother loved me.
     She raised chickens and rabbits so we'd have meat to eat. 
     There was a children's evangelist who came to town and we loved going to hear him. He told us his life story. He had been left on a door step in a basket, when he was a tiny baby! He had no idea who his real parents were. One thing he told us, children, was to always give our parents a hug at night before we went to sleep. I took him seriously and tried to always give Mother a hug every night. She hugged me back. I knew she loved me.
     
     Now, I was in my 60's, they were in their 80's, and they both said, "Anita, I love you." I thought about it all day and all night. Could I say I love you back? I love them. Why shouldn't I say, "I love you."
     I told my children, "I love you," every day as they were growing up and now when we talk on the phone we always end our conversation with I love you. Why couldn't I tell my parents? 
     A few days later we were talking on the phone again. We loved talking and sharing with each other. It was time to hang up and Mother said, "I love you, Anita." Dad added, "I love you, too."
I swallowed hard and said, "I love you, too. Both of you." 
     After that it became the thing to say. "I love you." I'm so glad we can say it now, after all these years. I don't know what happened to make them realize they needed to say it, to tell me. 
     Dad is gone to heaven now. Mother and I talk on the phone about once a week. We always end our conversations with "I love you." 
     I love you!
    

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Jesus Loves Me

       I was at a Winning Women Retreat in London, Ontario, Canada. The speaker was excellent. the work shops so relevant, the music was beautiful. What a wonderful weekend away for me and for the other thousands of women who were there. 
     One of the singer's was an outstanding soloist. The last day as she began to sing her solo, Jesus Loves Me... a hush fell over the entire arena. This I know... for the Bible tells me so...
     Suddenly, from one of the balconies, sobs were heard. They became louder and louder. I, along with all the other women, turned to see who was causing this disturbance.
     Sitting alone, was a rather robust black woman sobbing uncontrollably. She, alone, identified with the black soloist, as the words penetrated to the very depths of her soul:  Jesus Loves Me, This I Know...For The Bible Tells Me So. Little Ones To Him Belong, They Are Weak, But He Is Strong...Yes, Jesus Loves Me...
     

Monday, October 18, 2010

Upon Being Available Part 2

     The neighborhood Bible study was going well. Robby was still nursing but the women didn't seem to mind and he was a good baby.
     One day the phone rang, the voice on the other end said, "You don't know me but I heard that you have a Bible study and I'd like to know if I could come..." 
     Not even knowing who she was I said, "Sure, we'd love to have you."
     She then told me a little about herself. "My name is Lu. I'm a grandmother and a retired school teacher. English was my subject in a middle school. I've attended church all my life but I don't know anything about Jesus! I recently had a cardiac arrest and I was afraid to die! May I, please, come and learn about Jesus?"
     Was I hearing correctly...was I dreaming? No, this was real.
     Lu came the next Tuesday morning. She was delightful and so eager to learn.  She came every week that year and came back again in the fall when we started up again for another school year.
     One day, as I was picking things up and getting ready for the women to start arriving, I had a strange feeling come over me. Only one person would come today...it would be alright. 
     Sure enough, one person came...Lu. We began as usual with a short prayer. She shared with me more about her personal life. She had been a smoker since her teen years and now had emphysema. She was on oxygen most of the time. She didn't know how to approach God. She feared Him. She wasn't sure what to believe. We read the 23rd Psalm and I gave her the book, God's Psychiatry by Charles Allen. Then we read the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of John, about how to receive eternal life. 
     The next week she came back with a new countenance about her. I asked her if she had prayed her own prayer. Her answer, with a big smile, was "Yes, I did!" 
     Several months went by, we continued meeting every Tuesday morning with the whole group. We all became very good friends.
     One morning the phone rang again. Lu was in the hospital. We had special prayer for her. 
     On Mother's Day of that year, Lu went to be with the Lord. She had another cardiac arrest and died of emphysema. Her husband and children said she died peacefully.
     There is no doubt she is with Jesus. What a privilege was mine to have known her. How I thanked God for the privilege of having a Bible study for women. 
     Oh, what I would have missed out on if I had not obeyed His promptings. Now, don't take me wrong. I believe she would have found the Lord by some other means...but, because I was obedient I had the privilege of being instrumental in her spiritual journey. 
       

Saturday, October 16, 2010

On Being Available

     I was feeling so useless as a Child of God. Yes, I was wife to a great husband and mother to five fabulous kids. We were very active in our church. But I had never led anyone to Christ. Jerry and I had been to Haiti where I had felt needed and used. But here at home I was just me. 
     I began to pray about this feeling of uselessness. Neighborhood Bible studies were springing up all over. Maybe...no, I couldn't do that... But the thought kept coming up in my mind. Finally I prayed and asked God if that was what He wanted me to do. The answer seemed to be yes. 
     How would I go about starting one? Who would I invite? What if they all said no? I'm not a forward type person. Why am I even thinking about it? All these thoughts flooded my mind. 
     Finally I prayed and asked God to please make it clear to me, if a neighborhood Bible study was what He wanted of me. He seemed to say yes.
     Okay...but I didn't know most of my neighbors very well. What would they think of me? I didn't want to be considered a religious fanatic. 
     I finally said okay to the Lord. I would go, if He would go with me. Then I made an ultimatum... If even one said no...I would be all done. I can't take rejection.
     I chose a neighbor that I knew was Catholic...she would probably not want to go to a protestant Bible study... So then I could forget it.
     We were enjoying a cup of coffee when I finally got up the nerve to ask if she'd be interested in a neighborhood Bible study. Her answer was, "Oh, I've always wanted to study the Bible with friends of my age and learn what other folks believe. Yes, I'll come!"
     Well, her response gave me courage go on to the next neighbor. She also said yes! In two days I went to 10 of my neighbors and each one said yes! "Okay, Lord, I guess I'm committed now." 
     We met once a week for the entire school year! The different denominations were Episcopalian, Nazarene, Catholic, Baptist, Free Methodist, and Methodist! 
     My new prayer was for Him to be with us. We studied the Gospel of Mark with a study book. It was very rewarding for all of us. We always began with prayer and as we became closer to each other, some began giving prayer requests. 
     What a privilege that was and how close I was to not obeying. It pays to be obedient to the Lord's calling.
     There is more to this story but it'll have to wait for another day and another post. Stay tuned...!
     

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Back to the Beginning Part 6 1942

       World War II was raging over in Europe and now Asia. Men and women were leaving to serve their country every day. 
       Glen was 31 when he went before the draft board. He was told that in these traumatic times ministers were needed at home because morale was low. His classification statis was changed. He was needed at home! 
       Glen continued to work on his ordination and did complete the preliminary course of study, so he could join the Iowa conference of the Free Methodist Church on probation. 
       Corina wasn't feeling well and soon discovered she was pregnant again. Their fourth baby was expected in October. The responsibilities of being a mother to three young children, with another one on the way, and a pastor's wife was not easy, but as a faithful wife and mother, she kept going... 
       Pastors in the Free Methodist denomination are appointed to circuits and Glen was told they might be moved to another small church in a different town! Another man would take over Fairview Free Methodist Church.
       This news added to the stress Corina was already feeling. Together they made the decision to request that they be allowed to remain at Fairview as assistant pastor under Pastor Walls. 
       Then news arrived that Pastor Walls had been elected as conference superintendent! What would this mean for them? A new pastor would be appointed to First Church and he would probably want a different assistant pastor...
       Neighbors and church folks were good to help out when Corina wasn't feeling well. But, when she was about six months along in her pregnancy, serious problems developed. 
       Glen came home from work one day to find her having convulsions. He called for an ambulance. Lorraine remembers him kneeling beside the bed, praying for God to touch Corina. 
       Neighbors had taken Anita home to care for her but Lorraine remembers the ambulance taking Mother away. To this day, whenever she hears an ambulance siren her mind goes back, all those years ago, to when the ambulance drove away with Mother.
       A memory of Richard's is the ambulance backing up over the curb, through the front yard, smashing his scooter, and stopping at the front door of the house! He watched as the men put Mother onto the stretcher while she was in the midst of another convulsion, and into the ambulance. This was a very scary time in the family and the church.
       Neighbors kept the children over night. Corina's mother came the next day to stay with the family.    
       Corina was diagnosed with Uremic Poisoning and was very near death. The baby, not yet born, wasn't expected to live either...
                           To be continued...
       


       
       

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My Raccoon Family

       I was relaxing in the living room. No one was home. I glanced over to the fire place...there sat a raccoon staring at me! Oh, my goodness. What should I do? I didn't want it to get out, into my living room and the rest of my house! Thank goodness we had glass doors on the fireplace. Suddenly the raccoon turned and ran up the chimney! What a relief...
       The next day I was in the basement and heard noises. We had a wood burning stove down there. The flue went up the same chimney as the living room fireplace. Something or someone was in there!
       That sly raccoon! She simply ran up one flue and down the next! Yes, SHE. I could hear lots of tiny squeaks! She was having babies!
       Luckily, we didn't have a fire going in the wood stove!  She wasn't in the stove but was, apparently, in a crook of the stove pipe.
       Everyday I'd go downstairs and listen to those baby raccoons! Their squeaking got louder and louder, as, I'm sure they were growing bigger and bigger! We felt helpless.
       A few weeks went by. Jerry went on a missions trip to Paraguay, so only Rob and I were home. One night after I'd gone to bed I was awakened by noises and commotion. What was going on? Was someone breaking into my house? Or...could it be the raccoon and her babies? 
       I, slowly and quietly, got up and went into the bathroom to look out the window. There, by moon light, I could see on the roof of our screened-in porch, mama raccoon with a baby hanging from her mouth! She was finally moving her babies! She ran across the roof, down a trellis to the ground, deposited the baby and ran back up the trellis to the roof. Then she had to jump across a span to the living room roof, go down the chimney, and get another baby!
       I went downstairs to look out the family room window. I turned the light on and there were the darling little baby raccoons running all over! She would deposit one and run up the trellis to make her trek again, but...the playful babies started following her up the trellis. She'd turn around and go back down, they'd follow her. Then she start back up again...they 'd follow her up. She'd turn around and go back down, they'd follow down... I felt so badly for her! Where was their daddy? He needed to help out here! 
          Finally, she got five babies down. Somehow she got them to line up behind her and away they went down the driveway. I assume she had a new, roomy, home for them.
       All of a sudden I heard loud crying! It was coming from the basement! I ran down, thinking one of the babies got out of the nest in the chimney. I searched the whole basement. It was so loud. I couldn't find it and finally decided she must have missed one! The poor baby. What should I do? It was so pitiful.
       Then, just as suddenly, the crying stopped. I caught sight of mama with a baby hanging from her mouth. She had come back. 
       So...she must have known she couldn't keep control of her babies any longer and took them to their new home. She nursed them to sleep, and then sneaked back to get the last one!
       The next day Rob put a screen over the chimney so no one could go down it again. 
       Six babies in our stove pipe! Did I ever have a neat story to tell Jerry when he came home from Paraguay. He had lots of stories to tell me too...and lots of pictures. I couldn't take any that night because he had the camera with him in Paraguay! But I'll always have the picture in my mind of those baby raccoons running around and giving their mother problems!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Back to the Beginning Part 5 1941

     Glen and Corina moved the family into an old house that was the parsonage of the Fairview Free Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. As pastor, it was rent free and that was a blessing. The church paid him no salary and his job as chef of a downtown hotel was just sufficient for the families needs.
     Glen felt the need to be an ordained minister to fulfill his duty as a pastor, even if it was such a small congregation. In fact, it was mainly a Sunday school followed by a morning service. Families drove to the big church on 22nd and Clark Streets for the evening service. Glen occasionally filled in for the pastor at the First Church and was becoming more confident in his preaching.
     He was told he could earn his ordination by taking correspondence classes. He dove right in and enjoyed studying again. In four years he could be ordained.
     ----------------------------------------------------
     Glen had graduated from high school in 1928 and had lofty plans for the future. Law School looked fine. He was a good student and loved debating. He enrolled at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Glen enjoyed Debate Club and was on his way to a bright future as a lawyer.
     No one, especially not a bright, energetic, young college student like Glen, expected the crash of 1929, which spread across the entire country. What a shock and disappointment. Glen had no money and neither did his parents. He, like so many others, had to drop out of college.
     ---------------------------------------------------- 
     Now he was studying to become an ordained minister in the Free Methodist Church.
     Richard and Lorraine were enrolled at Phillips Elementary School for their beginning years of education. One day they were running late and were afraid of the consequence's. They had about a mile to walk to school! The church had an outside toilet and they decided to hide in the toilet until time to go home. Somehow Daddy discovered them hiding. He didn't get upset very often but when he did...you didn't want to be the one he was upset with. Well, he was angry! He took both of them by the back of their shirts and marched them straight to school! Lorraine was fortunate and had a substitute teacher that day!
     Anita attended a preschool at the Salvation Army. One day a guest was invited to the preschool. A puppet sat the the man's lap and talked to all the children. Anita was fascinated and asked her mother if she could go up. Corina thought she meant she had to go to the restroom and said to be sure to come right back. (Now days we wouldn't dare let our children go to the restroom alone!) But Anita didn't go to the restroom...she walked up on stage and over to the man and his puppet! They took time to talk to her for a couple of minutes, to the delight of the audience, and then told her to go back down to her mother! No one was more surprised than Corina!
     This year, 1941, was a year of unexpected events in the lives of nearly everyone. December 7, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. That was such a shock and ushered the US into active duty. So many young men and women joined the armed services, including Corina's younger brother, Rich.
                      To be continued...


     

Monday, September 27, 2010

Granddad

     The phone rang at 7:30 AM. Granddad was not expected to live more than a few hours. My heart cried out to Jesus to take him by the hand. 
     Granddad was a wonderful person, so in love with life. He was born in Ireland and came to the US as a young man. He never lost his delightful Irish brogue. After retiring he and Granny moved to 17 wooded acres which bordered a river. Deer roamed freely and birds ate from his outstretched hands! The garden vegetables and flowers thrived under his tender loving care. Winter times one could find Granddad and Granny in the most remote corners of the world as they become 'world travelers'. Now Granddad was about to go on his very last journey.
     Alone in my kitchen I cried out loud, "Jesus, don't let Granddad die alone. Please, take him by the hand." How I longed to join the family gathering to be with him during his last few hours.       
     But...I wasn't a member of the family. My heart ached. You see, Granddad did not know Jesus personally. 
     For months now I had prayed for him and with him. Surely my prayers were not in vain. Surely he would not die without acknowledging Jesus as his personal Saviour.
     Granddad and I had a special kind of friendship between us. A smile formed as I recalled my first hospital visit to him several months earlier when he was in 'just for tests'.
     Granddad lay sleeping with his hands folded across his chest. Without making a sound I slipped into the room. Granny and I smiled. I knew she was happy to see me. Suddenly, without opening his eyes, Granddad said to his wife, "Mam, do you suppose Anita will come to visit me?" Granny and I looked at each other in surprise and I said softly, "Well, I thought I might come to visit you today." His eyes opened and then closed. As they opened the second time a big smile spread across his face. His hands reached out for mine as my heart reached out to God.
     The tests were completed. Granddad had cancer and could expect to live six months. Over the years I had asked God to give me the opportunity to talk to him about Jesus. But I knew there were opportunities that I had let slip by. So the next time I went to visit him I asked God to allow me to see Granddad alone and to have him be awake and alert. My prayer was answered. 
     We visited a few minutes and then I asked if I could pray with him. He took both my hands in his and held them tightly as I prayed a short prayer of thanksgiving for such a wonderful friend as Granddad and to please relieve his pain and to reveal God's love to him. I smiled shyly at Granddad. Neither of us spoke. He simply looked intently into my eyes and an even deeper bond of love formed between us.
     Weeks went by...then months. My concern and prayers grew stronger with each visit. I always prayed with Granddad and always there was that same intent look deep into my eyes. But Granddad was getting weaker and the pain was becoming more intense. Time was running out. I knew Granddad would have to pray his own prayer, but I didn't know how to tell him.
     I shared this with a minister friend. "What am I to do next?" I asked. "I feel so inadequate." He listened and then ever so kindly said, "Anita, you've got to be aggressive. Don't worry about what others will think. Just do what you know you must do. God will take care of the rest."
     Our talk was on Saturday. My next visit would be on Monday. I was determined to have a good talk with Granddad on spiritual matters and introduce Jesus as his personal Saviour.
     Now it was Monday morning and I had just gotten the phone call saying Granddad was not expected to live through the day.
     What is time? Even though I had known he was dying, my mind couldn't comprehend the finality of death. In my scheduling I needed more time. Why today? In fact, why did he have to die at all? Why, God? Why? In my humanism I began to question God.
     Then I felt God's presence surround me. Suddenly I felt compelled to go to Granddad! What was it the minister had said on Saturday? "... be aggressive." Never mind that I'm not in the family. Never mind that it's not visiting hours. Don't worry about his family being in the room. Just go to Granddad.
     I tiptoed into the room. Family members smiled at me. I put my hand over Granddad's. I told him who I was. I didn't know if he could hear me. Death was so near. Could he see? Could he hear? Was he aware of those in his room? This was my first close contact with death. My heart ached.
     I began to pray...aggressively, out loud. "...help Granddad to repent and believe that Jesus is his own personal Saviour. Please, take him by the hand." 
     I looked at him again. Reality began to strike me. I had failed. It was too late to introduce him to Jesus. Too late to offer him the most wonderful gift of all, the gift of eternal life. I had tried...but I had failed.
     It was time for me to leave. Yet I lingered holding his hand. How I longed for some sign that he had prayed his own prayer, some assurance that he had asked Jesus to be his own personal Saviour. There was nothing more I could do. I must leave now. I felt so empty. I looked at Granddad one last time...
      He was looking at me! Yes! That same intent look, deep into my eyes! The same look he gave me every time I prayed with him. Perhaps I had failed but Jesus never fails.

     Granddad died at 4:30 that afternoon. While death always leaves its sting, there is reason for rejoicing. No more sickness. No more pain. And he did not die alone. For I believe Granddad reached out and put his hand into the Hand of Jesus.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Sincerely Wrong

       We were in Cairo, Egypt. Jerry and I were sitting in our bus waiting for the rest of our people to join us. There are so many interesting sights to see but as we sat there, one young man captured my attention.
       He had walked back of a small building where there was an outside faucet. He was nicely dressed and had a plastic bag with him. When I first noticed him he was brushing his teeth very vigorously at the faucet. He finished his teeth and took a small bar of soap out of his bag and began scrubbing his face and neck! He had a towel hanging on a bush! Next he shampooed his hair! After rinsing it he put in some kind of treatment and brushed it to perfection. Then he rolled up his sleeves and washed his arms as high as he could without getting his shirt wet. I thought he must be clean enough now for whatever his reason was...perhaps lunch with his girl! But no, he took off his shoes and socks and washed his feet! 
       He then took his towel, laid it on the grass, and stood on the towel in his bare feet.
       I watched in awe as this young man, oblivious to the hustle and bustle of traffic and people, faced toward Mecca, knelt, bowed his head to the ground, and began his prayers. (I will never again be embarrassed to bow my head in a restaurant and thank the Lord for my food!)
       This young man was so sincere. He even cleansed his body on the outside before worshiping and petitioning Allah. But, he was so sincerely wrong!
       There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
       Jesus answered, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

Friday, September 17, 2010

Back to the Beginning Part 4

Part 4  1940
       Glen and Corina loaded their car and a four wheeled trailer with their meager belongings and along with their three children got a morning start to a new life in Des Moines. What did the future hold for them?
       They had only been on the road for an hour when a strong south wind came up. It tugged at the trailer, whipping it if Glen drove much over 20 miles an hour! Each slight grade had to be negotiated in second gear. They soon knew they'd never make it to Des Moines in one day.
       The small town of Marshalltown was about half way and became their goal. By late afternoon a bank of black clouds came blowing in. Lightning began streaking across the sky, followed by peels of thunder.
       Gas was getting low but Glen knew of a gas station about eight miles before they would get to Marshalltown. If only they could make it...they did. But alas...the gas station was closed! 
       Glen measured the amount of gas by sticking a ruler into the tank. The end of which barely got wet. Oh no. He began to think they'd never make it to Marshalltown. It was a hopeless situation. But Corina...was not giving up so easily.
       "Hasn't God called you to preach?" she asked. "Aren't we doing everything we can to answer that call? I've been praying every mile, and I believe He will see us through."
       "I know you have," Glen replied. "So now, I'm going to explain our anxiety to the Lord in minute detail. He already knows it, but I'll tell him anyway."
       "Dear Lord," Glen began. "We're in trouble." Now in the 30's and 40's most folks, including Glen and Corina, prayed using King James vocabulary. But on this day, Glen approached the Throne of Grace with intense, mid-western English. "We must reach Marshalltown before dark on account of this open trailer that has no lights. Our load of furniture must be under cover before the rain. If we have one flat tire, we'll never make it. If we run out of gasoline, we'll never make it either. All we're asking is that our tires hold up, out fuel holds out, and we beat the darkness and the rain to Marshalltown. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen."
       They began slowly moving on their way. "God is answering our prayers," Corina whispered as they passed the city limits.
       "Yes," Glen answered. "We've barely beat the darkness and the rain. I see a garage where maybe we can get under cover." Glen turned into the drive and blew the horn. A mechanic opened the big door just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Moments later there was a torrent of rain!
       Inside the garage, the mechanic told them they had a tire going down! He could hear it!
       "Sir," he said, "If you'll move your car to the back of the shop, I'll change it for you. I'm the night man."
       "Thank you," Glen said gratefully, as he began driving the car to the back. The motor suddenly sputtered and died! They were out of gasoline!
       Glen and Corina were in awe... "Be still and know that I am God." Psalms 146:10a


       Does God answer prayer? Well, not always this dramatically. But, yes, God always answers prayer; not always the way we want, but God does answer prayer.


       So began life for the young family in Des Moines, Iowa, in the early years of the 1940's.
                                         To be continued...

Back to the Beginning Part 3 1940

Part 3  1940
       Glen had a gift for public speaking. The pastor, at that time, recognized this and often used Glen to fill in for him. He was granted an Exhorter's License by Pastor Walls. Then the pastor was moved, by the conference, to Des Moines to pastor the church there and also a small church on the east side of town called Fairview Free Methodist Church. He asked Glen to consider moving to Des Moines and taking over the small Fairview congregation. He would have to have a job besides the church, because they couldn't afford to pay a salary to the pastor.
       Glen and Corina prayed about it and Glen applied for a chef position at a hotel in Downtown Des Moines. He was hired! The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1940.
                                     To be continued...

Back to the Beginning Part 2 1939

Part 2 1939   Anita and Lorraine both contributed in this chapter.        
        Life as Glen and Corina knew it, made a complete turn around. The two biggest issues had been drinking and smoking, but now, whatever they felt was pleasing to the Lord they were willing to do. 
       For three days Glen struggled with quitting smoking after their conversion. He prayed earnestly for God to help him...and He did. Wednesday evening he suddenly knew he was delivered of smoking. Glen felt he now was truly a child of God.
       Corina soon felt, because of the other women in the church, that plainness was pleasing to the Lord. She didn't have much, but the little jewelry she had, she threw away. She began to let her hair grow, braided it and wrapped it around her head.
       The little family enjoyed going to church and Sunday School and rapidly grew spiritually.
       Family members and friends soon saw a big difference in Glen and Corina and weren't sure what was happening, but they knew they didn't like it. Tension built up but Glen and Corina were determined to live for Jesus.
       Praying together became a special time of closeness for them. They learned to give their concerns to the Lord and their faith in God grew by leaps and bounds.
       A whole new concept was introduced to them: tithing. Oh...the Lord wanted 10% of their income? How could they give that much? They had so little now and the money they no longer spent on beer and cigarettes was helping them tremendously. Could they give 10%? Well, the Bible said so. So, they began, by faith, to tithe 10% of their meager income. True to The Word, the Lord honored them as they honored Him!       
                                        To be continued...

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

What More Could Any Little Girl Want?

       Through most of my elementary school days it seemed that Daddy was gone away more than he was home. During those years he traveled as an evangelist.
       As I look back, I remember the warm, secure feeling I experienced when he was home for a few days, after having been gone for two or three months---a feeling all warm and cozy as I went to bed at night. After all my Daddy was home! What more could any little girl want?
       Always, on the day of his arrival home, excitement ran high. And always, after things settled down to a fairly normal pitch, he would open his big, black suitcase and take out a present for each of us. He never forgot!
       It's a natural thing to want to share all the days events with the ones we love. I used to store up in my mind all the wonderful, exciting things Molly, my best friend, and I discovered as we played. But, somehow, I never seemed to have a chance to tell Daddy all the things that are so important to a little girl of seven. I still remember the day when it all came to a head.
       Daddy had come home again. My little brother, Billy, was sitting on his lap; my older brother, Richard, and sister, Lorraine, were competing for his attention. I waited for my turn as long and as patiently as I could, but suddenly I could wait no longer. I stomped my foot and shouted, "It's my turn to talk to Daddy!"
       Everyone stopped talking and looked straight at me in complete surprise. I'm still not sure whether I or the rest of the family was more startled. There was complete silence for a few seconds, then Mother came to the rescue.
       "OK," she said. "Everyone be quiet now and let Anita talk."
       But in that very moment, all those big, important, wonderful things I had stored up in my mind to share with Daddy, suddenly became small, and I found I had nothing to say at all. Everyone was waiting to hear what I had to tell, but all I could do was stand there. Two big tears began to trickle down my cheeks. Then Daddy's long arms reached out and folded around me. I began to sob. Tears flowed freely. Then, as he held me close, I stopped crying, and that warm, secure feeling spread through me again. After all, my Daddy was home! What more could any little girl want?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Back to the Beginning

Today I'm going way back to the beginning… 1932.

        Corina was visiting her Aunt Pauline and Uncle Tony in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Uncle Larry was also there with his Indian Chief Motorcycle! Well, he invited Corina to go for a ride, and she, being an adventuresome teenager of 17 years, accepted his offer!
       Both Uncle Tony and Uncle Larry worked in the kitchen of the President Hotel in Waterloo. As Larry and Corina were riding Larry decided to stop off at work for some unknown reason. A young man, Glen, was working there at the time.
       "Wow, Larry, where did you find such a beauty? What is she doing with you?" Glen demanded!
       Larry grinned and quickly introduced Corina as his niece.
       It didn't take Glen long to make his move! He and Corina spent some wonderful days together before she returned to La Crosse, Wisconsin to finish her last year of high school. They corresponded that year and got together occasionally. Corina graduated in June. She got a job as a hired girl for a very wealthy, prominate family. She learned many valuable lessons that came into use in the years to come.
       Glen and Corina were so in love. Glen proposed and to his delight and surprise, Corina accepted! On Thanksgiving Day, it was decided this would be the day. Glen began calling pastors in town, but being a holiday few were home. Finally he tried Rev. Mark __, pastor of the Free Methodist Church.
       Yes, he would marry them but they’d better hurry because he was going hunting! Larry, Corina’s uncle and Glen’s co-worker, and Larry’s, friend, Marjorie, stood up with them. So they were married in the parsonage of the Waterloo, Iowa Free Methodist Church on November 30, 1933.
       Life went on, but times were tough, they made a couple of moves, wherever work could be found. Two children were born, Richard Glen in 1934 and Lorraine Roseann in 1936. Then another move was made, back to Waterloo. Their third child, Anita Gail, was born in 1938.
       One day Glen was reading the newspaper, when he suddenly laughed out loud! “Corina,” he said, “Guess who’s singing in a church? My old buddies, JK __ and Oscar __! I can’t believe it! They’ve always sung in bars! In fact, they’d throw a hat down, I’d walk up and toss in a fifty cent piece, as bait! Other folks would then, also, toss in a few coins. Later we’d go to another establishment, they’d give me my half dollar back and we’d repeat the scene! What are they doing singing in a church?” Then he read that the Free Methodist Church was having a revival and his friends were providing special music!
       “Corina, let’s go tonight! I’ve got to find out what’s going on here. The minister who married us was pastor of the Free Methodist Church!”
       That evening they made their way to the church and discovered that Glen's friends had made a life changing decision to follow Jesus! They went to church every evening during that revival, became under conviction by the Holy Spirit, and soon prayed for forgiveness of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior! Glen first and then Corina.
                                            To be continued...



Sunday, August 29, 2010

Between Teacher and Pupil

        Growing up I was very interested in other countries and people from far away lands. So, as a young mom, one of my favorite things to do in our church, was to promote missionaries and mission fields. I used various means of getting the kids to become interested in people of other lands.
        One year, in particular, I promoted a reading contest, among other things. The child who read the most 'mission' books would win a prize. There were two age groups. At the end of the time period I asked the kids to report to me the number of books or pages (I forget which...it was a lot of years ago!) they had read.
        I'll never forget one little girl in the younger age group who came to me and shyly said she had read ...!  I was very surprised and questioned her: "Are you sure it's that many?" She nodded yes.
       My mind went into a, not knowing how to respond, mode. Should I ask her mother? No, that would show I didn't believe her or trust her. Should I ask if she was telling me the truth? No, that would show I didn't believe her. Should I question her again? No.
       I looked at her. She was looking up at me with determination in her little sweet face. I decided to believe her, even though, I doubted her number.
       When the prize winners were announced, my little friend came forward so proudly. She had won first place in the younger age catagory...and was way, way ahead of the second place winner!
       Her family moved away and I lost contact with her. She grew up, went to college, got married, and finally one evening at our family camp, as she and her husband were out walking, she saw me.
       They came over to our camp site and, after introducing her husband to us, asked if she could talk to me. We walked a short distance away.
       "You may not remember this," she started. "But when I was a little girl and you had a reading contest for the kids, I won."
       I nodded and said, "Yes, I remember."
       "Well," she said, "I didn't tell you the truth. I lied about the amount I had read. I knew it was wrong but I wanted to win so badly."
       "Yes, I remember that too," I replied, "I knew you couldn't have read that much, but I didn't know what to do. So I decided to believe you."
       "I need to ask your forgiveness, even though it was a long time ago."
       "I forgive you. I actually forgave you at the time." We hugged then, knowing all was right between God and us.


       Now some of my readers may think I did the wrong thing in letting her get by with a lie. But there is something about a relationship between an adult and a child that is very fragile and can affect the child for the rest of his/her life. I would rather have her know that I trusted her, believed her, even loved her, than to show her my distrust by questioning her, going to her mother, or accusing her of lying.
       Today we are very good, trusting friends.
      
      

Thursday, August 26, 2010

My Mission Field

       In 1971 Jerry and I had the privilege of going to Haiti with a work team from Dearborn, Michigan. It was an amazing three weeks. Friends kept our four children, I missed them soooo much.
       I had always had a deep interest in missions, but my knowledge and interest was always across the ocean. I had no idea a country, with such a backward culture, was so close to the U.S.A.
       Therefore, I went through culture shock, big time, for several days. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, hearing, smelling, etc.
       I loved the people! Jerry named it: The Land of Smiles! Everyone smiled, yet we knew they were hungry, sick, poor, and more.
       I made some very special friends. A young teenage girl and I worked together around the mission, hanging out laundry, sweeping floors, preparing food for the working men, etc. I missed doing these chores with my oldest daughter, Pam.  Laroche, a young boy, never left my side except to go home at night. His bright smile brought a smile to my face, even though I was missing my own sons, Ted and Tim.  One day I wasn't feeling well; a young mother and her children came to the mission house to sing and pray for me! One was the age of my youngest daughter, Christy.
       A young mother, who lived next door to the new church Jerry was helping construct, let me hold her baby. We discovered we both had the same name: Anita!
       There are so many stories I could tell you about this trip. I felt the needs of the people and my heart ached for them. I couldn't wait to see my children again and hug them and love them. But at the same time I wanted to stay right where we were in Haiti. I wanted to bring my children down with me.
       When we arrived back home in Michigan I went through another culture shock! We had so much...food, clothing, big house, luxuries, money. Why?
       I missed my new Haitian friends and prayed for them every day.
       I wanted to take our family and go back to Haiti. Life had meaning there...
       I began to pray for God to send us back as missionaries. Oh I knew we weren't prepared and educated for ministry or medical work, but that wouldn't be a problem to God. He knew all about us and our weaknesses...and  our strengths. He could use us. It didn't matter that we had four children. He just needed willing hearts and I was willing.
       As the days went by, and the family was busy with work and school, life was soon back to normal. But I still had an ache in my heart for my friends in Haiti. I still prayed every day for God to work out a plan for Jerry and me and our four children to go to Haiti as missionaries.
       One morning as I was going about my routine I didn't feel quite right. I hoped I wasn't getting the flu. As the day went on I felt better but still something wasn't right. This went on for some time and we finally decided I'd better go to the doctor. Well, you've probably guessed it. I was pregnant with our fifth child. I took this as God's answer to my prayer. No, we were not to go as missionaries to Haiti.
       Finally the day came when we brought our new baby home from the hospital. I was sitting on the sofa with my new son, Robby, in my arms. Pam, Ted, Tim, and Christy were all looking at him with wonder and awe. At that very moment God spoke to me, "Here is your mission field:  your beautiful children."

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Traveling Alone

       Jerry and I had driven, with our 5th wheel camper, from our home in Michigan to our son's home in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was so good to be with Tim, Shauna, Annie, and Kaleb! But then, I left Jerry there and flew from Regina to Vancouver, British Colombia. Friends, Ray and Nancy, met my plane and drove me, while we visited, to the bus depot, so I could take a bus down to Everett, Washington. Friends, Tillman and Gwen, met me in Everett and drove me to Stanwood, Washington, where my parents were living and were waiting for me to arrive.
       The flight to Vancouver was a normal flight. I had a long, several hour wait for my bus ride to Everett. I people watched and chatted with a few. Time passed.
       There was a man near by, who never came over to talk, but who, I noticed, glanced my way every now and then. He was a friendly looking person, who even looked somewhat familiar to me. In fact, it seemed like we were friends. He was probably close to my age. We would smile, as though acknowledging each other, but never spoke.
       When it was finally time to board my bus, the man glanced my way as he also boarded. It was after dark when we left and drove toward the border. It took time when we got to customs but we were finally on our way once again, this time in the state of Washington. 
       It was very late now and I slept until we stopped at a bus station...somewhere. Was this my stop? I didn't know where we were! I needed to talk to the driver to ask where we were...if this was my stop. But he was already off assisting other passengers. I stood up and looked around, not knowing what to do. I suddenly saw the man, my silent friend! He was looking at me and mouthed the words, "This is not your stop." 
       Oh, okay. Somehow, I believed him. I smiled and said, "Thank you."
       I sat back down and looked out the window. How did he know it wasn't my stop? We hadn't talked. He hadn't seen my ticket. 
Who was he? He looked so familiar...
       Finally we arrived at Everett. Three of us got off the bus, two men and myself. 
       The bus depot was closed!   It was now the middle of the night, like two or three A.M. This was not a friendly, well lit neighborhood. It fact, it was kind of a run down section of town. I had planned on waiting inside the well lit depot until morning when Tillman and Gwen would pick me up. Now what...I couldn't sit outside, on the curb, in the dark.
       My new, familiar, yet unknown friend, came walking over to me. "What are you going to do," he asked? "You can't stay here. It isn't safe. Is someone picking you up? I have a cousin coming to get me, then you'll be by yourself."
       Looking around I saw a well lit 7/11 convenience store about a block away. I said, "I think I'll go to that 7/11 store and wait inside until daylight, then I'll call my friends.
       He nodded his approval. His cousin arrived...not in a very good mood. But my friend insisted they wait for me to walk the block to the store and was safely inside before they left me.
       As I walked in the store, I turned and saw them begin to drive off. He was smiling and waving. I smiled and waved good-bye.
       I never saw the man again. I still wonder who he was, why he looked familiar, why he was watching me...
       Do you believe in angels? I do...


     I'm not even going to think about what might have happened if I hadn't had an angel watching over me all the way on that bus ride.