My Friend, Mariko

     I'm having a hard time writing the continuing story of my friend, Mariko, because of the recent tragedy in Japan. I have so many friends in Japan and don't know how to make contact with them.
I'm, of course, praying for them.


     The story continues after Mariko and her family moved back to Japan. We corresponded occasionally. She was growing spiritually. 
     The phone rang one day, Hedeki's voice was unmistakable! He was in town on business! Could we get together for a visit? He didn't have to ask twice! 
     I went to a shop to buy gifts for the family. I knew he'd have gifts for me! We met in the foyer of my church! He had attended the International Bible study class before they moved so he was comfortable meeting there.
     Sure enough, he had gifts for me so we had fun exchanging with each other. We had a good visit and he told me about each one in the family. It was so good to be with him! Then he said, "I must tell you that Mariko is a very good Christian!" I was thrilled. "She wanted me to tell you." I thanked him for sharing such good news with me. Then I said, "But, Hedeki, what about you? Are you a Christian?" 
     "Oh, no," he said, "not yet. Someday I will be, but I'm not ready to yet."
     I became very bold at that moment and said, "But, Hedeki, what if something happens to you, like an accident or sickness, and you were to die. Do you know where you'd go? I'll be praying for you that you'll believe in Jesus." He thanked me.
     A few years after that wonderful day with Hedeki I went to Thailand and had an over night stopover in Japan! I wrote to Mariko and another friend telling them I would be there on a certain day, staying in a certain hotel. I'd love to see them if possible. 
     I bought gifts to take with me and at the last minute bought three instead of two...just in case!
     After a long flight, I arrived in Japan and finally at the hotel. I was greeted by three entire families! I was so glad I bought that extra gift! One friend called another friend, that I had no address for, but I had tutored their children. It was so good to see them too! Even the husbands were there! I've never felt so welcomed in my life!
     What a great visit we had over a meal together! My students had all grown so much! 
     When it was time to say good-bye I took Mariko's hand and said softly, "I'm praying for you."
     She smiled, "Thank you."
     A few years later, I received a note in the mail: "Hedeki and our son are both being baptized!"
     What a thrill to receive that message! I'm still rejoicing! 
     

Climbing Mt Sinai

     Jerry and I were in Egypt. It was a dream come true. We were adventuresome and decided to climb Mt. Sinai! We were with a group of folks, which turned out to be so important and fortunate.
     It wasn't an easy, leisurely trip. We went by bus from our resort, at 1:00 AM! That was hard in itself. When we arrived at the base of the mountain, some went on camels, but Jerry and I enjoyed hiking, so we opted to walk. 
     An unexpected blessing was a full moon! We didn't even need flash lights...
     I'd better add here that neither Jerry nor I were in physical shape for climbing a mountain. But we were determined! A young boy, with a camel, was following us at a close distance. Every few minutes we'd hear him say, "Ride my camel?" We'd smile and say, "No thanks, we want to walk!" 
     Then the mountain began to get steeper. I was getting out of breath. I had to stop and rest every little while. Jerry patiently waited with me. We were at the back of our group...way at the back. 
     The boy with the camel came up every time I stopped to rest. "Lady, you ride my camel?"
     Then he began to get persistent. "Lady, you must ride my camel."
     Finally, he said, "Lady, you can not climb this mountain! You must ride my camel! It is too steep and too far. You can not climb this mountain! You must ride my camel!" I wonder where he learned English!
     Anyway, I knew he was right. I could not climb this mountain. I was exhausted, out of breath, ready to quit. Jerry told me to go ahead and get on the camel. 
     But Jerry still insisted on walking. He wanted to be able to say he walked up Mt. Sinai. The camel passed him and I felt so helpless. He insisted he was okay and not to worry about him. 
     A friend we met on this trip was also alone and she stayed behind to walk with him! I will ever be grateful to her. Just knowing he wasn't alone was very comforting to me. 
     It was the best thing I did on our trip up the mountain! The ride was so smooth, not bumpy like it might seem! It was very scary when the camel stood up, I felt like I was going to fall forward, right over his head! But the camel's boy helped me and once he was standing I was fine. To sit on the camel and be able to look out over the mountains, in the moonlight, is a memory I will never forget.
     Then when we got about two thirds of the way up the boy and his camel stopped. I was informed this was the end of the ride. There would soon be steps to climb and camels can't climb steps! I paid the boy and waited for Jerry and our friend to catch up.
     Then we began the last of the climb. A monk, years earlier, had made stone steps up the last part of the mountain! I became so exhausted again, I had to climb some of the steps on my hands and knees! I couldn't believe it. We finally made it! 
     Jerry has the distinction of saying he walked up Mt. Sinai and I say I rode a camel up Mt. Sinai!
     It was still dark, only the full moon giving us light. At the top of the mountain was a crude shelter where we could buy a hot drink. We didn't. We were allowed inside out of the wind. 
     Finally daylight began to dawn... We watched the sun rise over the mountains! It was beautiful! A sight we will never see again. 
     A group of folks from Germany, had also climbed the mountain and began singing The Doxology, in German. It was so beautiful! I stood in awe! 
     As we watched the sun rise in the east, I turned around and there was the full moon setting in the west. What a beautiful sight to see both sun and moon from the top of Mt Sinai! God is The Creator. How I praised Him. 
                

"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.

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! 
      
     

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

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.