My Dad

Today is father’s day and I have been thinking about my father….who is now living in heaven!!!  I know he is still having a good time, smiling and enjoying every minute of his time there  but I MISS him!!

Dad was so much fun and  when I was a child he was the greatest!!  He loved the Lord, loved my mom and his family!!  Time after time he would surprise us by taking us to a restaurant or he would spend his last few dollars on an ice cream cone YUM,   …we would get home and my practical  mom would smile and say, Donald!!    He would take us to the beach, get all excited about the surf, jump,the waves with us and always made me feel very safe!!  We would build castles in the sand and then watch them wash away with the surf.  I have so many fond memories of our time at the ocean.  Thanks, Dad for teaching me to love the ocean.

Our kids still remember the times he took us to the zoo, to Coronado Island, and then walk into the hotel and act like we owned the place…Dad, I LOVED it!!    He would tell us that we were children of the KING and that we owned any castle we came too so we could just walk in and enjoy!!

In 1951,  my parents decided that God wanted them to go to Brazil as missionaries so off we went…..Dad knew that somehow God would provide for us…and HE did!!   He made sure that we were normal kids and made us feel secure by showering us with his love.  I am sure he had times of worry  but as far as we were concerned we knew that God would provide!!   As I look back over the years of growing up I saw God’s faithfulness to us over and over and over again!!  We left CA when I was six years old (yes I am the dark haired little one on the right) heading for Brazil and on the way HE provided as we stopped at Winona Lake.  I am so thankful for my Dad, he taught me how to love the Lord and also to trust in HIM for all of my needs!!   Time and time again we have seem HIM undertake in sickness, health, travel and finances.

I have Dad’s journals and what a priveledge it is to read them, they are full of  his favorite verses and wonderful ways the Lord has answered prayers for our family, mom and for Dad’s ministry.  Maybe someday I will get them all into the computer and then get them published!!!  His dream was to write a book someday!!   Heh….I should work on it for him!!   Dad was  amazing and is still amazing!!  

So on this fathers day I am thankful for my dear Dad…..thanks Dad for everything!!

God undertakes once again

I wrote about our trip to the Northwest….we flew on our frequent flying miles, thanks Delta!!  But didn’t have the money for all of the extras along the way….like the rental cars, motels, etc but somehow felt like God wanted us to GET on the airplane and trust HIM!!     We have been in mission work for over 40 years and have had to just rely on HIM  over and over again for all of our needs but for some reason this time I wondered how in the world were we going to make it financially, we definately didn’t want to go in debt and wondered how God  was going to provide???

After all the economy isn’t the best at this time, so many people are out of work, our monthly support has been lower the last few months, some of our faithful supporters have had to drop their support altough our GOD has NOT changed  sometimes have wondered how is HE going to provide??

B UT we got on the plane and just trusted HIM to undertake…we arrived in Sacramento, saw the kids for a couple of days, picked up the rental car and  drove up to WA   Dale’s brother had arranged for us to have a service in  a small church on a Wednsday night and had a wonderful time with old friends and making new ones.  At the end of the service GOD started providing for us….the pastor decided to take a love offering for us and in that one service we were given almost enough for our rental car…..WOW!!  God did IT….time and time again as we traveled HE provided.  We were away from home for 6 weeks visiting prayer partners, churches and family and once again we were amazed at HIS faithfulness.

So even though the economy is bad, people are out of work, we don’t know when things are going to turn around but we do know ONE thing GOD is still in CONTROL and HE answered our prayers as we met others and told them about our ministry, what a blessing!!    I was once gain reminded that HE does undertake and does answer prayer!!

What an awesome trip!!!

Spending time with my sis, Donna

Time with our California grandkids, Shane & Braden