At home, with a Filipino babysitter, while mom and dad were out with other missionary couples, she led me to the Lord as I told her of the conviction of the Lord on my life.
I remember one time we saw the hand of God working as an airplane pilot called over the radio. His engine had quit in flight. He was near our location. The radio was turned on at the time we normally had it turned off, but because it was on we were able to receive his call, clear the airstrip of people and cattle. It was a time of day we weren’t expecting a plane. The pilot was able to glide into our landing strip without incident.
Once when a friend and I were playing a King Cobra struck at my playmate. He normally would have been wearing only a loin cloth, as was the custom in that missionary setting. He just happened to have been wearing a pair of old Cub Scout pants that were too large. When the Cobra struck it hit the pants and not the boy's skin. My parents and other adults came and killed the Cobra which was over eight feet long. If he had been bitten he would have died. We had been playing catch in that very spot a few minutes earlier. Again, we saw God’s protective care in our lives. I came close death several times.
I have had a lung removed because of cancer. I love the outdoors. I love farming, but because of the restrictions of my respiratory system, I can’t do that stuff. I have to be content with where God has me. Right now I work in the public school system in Dalton, GA as a Para-Professional. I love it because I am able to minister to young children.
One of the biggest scriptures in my life is in Jeremiah 29:11. “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” I trust in that. My dad loved the Word of God. He was a great example to me. He always had his bible with him, whether in the grocery store or hunting. One of my favorite stories is about a time when we were home on furlough. Someone called into the newspaper saying they had seen my dad reading his bible while waiting in line at the Post Office. I replied, “That’s my dad.” He instilled in me a love for the Word of God. Each morning I rise early and the promises of God’s Word ring true to me even though I’m in a difficult situation and I feel like I’m missing out on some things God is faithful. His promises are true.
Discussions