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Hello Loves,
Happy New Year and GOD BLESS
YOU. This is
my first newsletter for 2009 and I am busy doing what you and the Lord have been onto me about, for a long time, WRITING.
I am staying with Rev. Pam Uher and Christine Johnson, in Rowlett, just outside of Dallas, Texas. They have been
so very generous with their time and hospitality and above all, encouragement. This has produced an added incentive and
pushed me into writing, more than I have done since Sharon passed away.
Although I had felt I had written
almost enough for a book, on going over the material I have been made aware of gaps, that have to be filled, things
that are important and haven't been mentioned yet, and I realize that it will take some time to get it all together, in
sequence. I must then decide what has to be included and what should be put aside for now. It feels like a monumental
task but they have been encouraging me to press on, as there are those who will help us sort it out.
Christine, the editor, has poured,
laboriously, over the material already written. Pam knows the ins and outs of publishing (she has published two books
and is in the process of getting another one out). So, between us all and with God's inspiration and guidance, I
am sure the task will be completed.
I thank God for your prayers. I
have been able to literally dedicate myself to one task, sitting down and writing. Please bear with me. I feel as though
I am incommunicado. I promise you it is not personal, but an absolute imperative and I know you will be behind me in
this endeavor. Bill and Ken are keeping the home fires burning, with the help of Penny and Zach. They will be glad to forward
any E-mails or calls on to me. I miss hearing from you and speaking to you, but this time will pass and we will all be happier
for it.
This New Year reminds me of the time
that Sally came to visit us in Japan. My mother had mailed me a long letter telling me that a friend, called Sally, was coming
to Japan and Mom was giving her a tape recording to give to me. Mom missed me and she thought it would be nice
for me to hear their voices. She then went on to explain, explicitly and in great detail, that I was not to mention Jesus
and all about God to Sally, as she was not in the least bit interested in that stuff.
I was to say, “Hello", thank
her for the tape and let her, "get on" with what she was going to do in Japan, which was to study Karate or
some other martial arts. So like a dutiful daughter I went down
to meet the ship and Sally.
My friend Evelyn drove me to the docks.
We saw Sally, who looked like a very nice person, took the tape from her, thanked her and turned to say "Goodbye",
so that she could "get on" with whatever she had to do. Evie asked her if we could take her to the hotel, for which
she was thrilled. It looked like a "flea-bag" of a place. As we were leaving, Evie and I looked at one another and
decided we couldn't leave her in such a God-forsaken hole. So Evie asked her if she would like to come and stay with us
and she could make arrangements how to commute to Tokyo for her lessons. Shame! Her face lit up. "Thank you SO VERY
MUCH. I don't think I want to stay in this place". So off we went, into the country outside
of Yokohama, where our mission was located. I had warned Evie about not pushing the "God stuff." So we
were very sensitive about this.
Everyday was an experience. I would go
to language school, Evie would go to work on the Military Base and Sally would set off for her daily lesson. The first few
days she came home covered in bruises, but this did not deter her." I have to learn how to fall", is what she told
us. Some nights she would get on the wrong bus, walk through rice paddies, covered in mud and mush and arrive home with more
bruises and muck all over the place. But she pressed on and we gave her all the encouragement we could muster. I felt so sorry
for her; I may have slipped up and told her I would pray for her. Oops.
The martial arts lessons came to an end
and just before Sally left to go to the University of British Columbia, in Canada, we were all invited to a New Year's
mid-night service, at the chapel on the Base where my friend Iris worked. I was so amazed and pleased when Sally told
us she would like to come with us. It was a blessed service. I noticed Sally singing with all her heart and seemingly entering
into the spirit of it all. Then came testimonies. People stood up to thank God for a myriad of things. And, lo and behold,
Sally stood up. She began to weep and proceeded to thank God for sending her to us, for our kindness and for God's love that
we had shown her and for God's help in all that had happened to her, while in Japan. She was so grateful. She
hugged Evie and me and even Iris. Maybe she saw more of God in us than she would have in all of the words we may have
spoken to her. It is one New Year I will never forget. The last we heard, was that Sally was teaching at the University of
British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
We face many challenges in this year
2009, and my prayer for you is that God will bless you richly and that all of your needs will be met, through Christ
Jesus. Thank you again for all of your prayers, your love for me and your support. I know I could not be doing any of this
without your help.
Bill and
Ken join me in wishing you a Happy St Valentines Day. I love you, Joan
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