Joyce had told me of how Yoneko Nishino had taken care of her elderly mother for years. After I got exasperated with some unpleasant situations and came to the end of myself, I hid in that area behind the stairs and asked God to remind the pastor's wife to pray for Joyce's sister who was watching her elderly mother--Yoneko would know how much wisdom I needed and didn't have! I felt like the fenced-in snail in that jungle-like backyard.
After graduating from high school, I remember another backyard with a clothesline to the side. I'd so wanted to go help with the outer island ministry that summer, but my mother said I couldn't go. I was out by the shed wanting to cry. God reminded me of the pocket Bible in my purse at the time and told me to simply trust Him.
It was after that, a letter arrived saying my home church had voted to pay all expenses for my university freshman year. I guess God wanted me to be on Okinawa when that letter arrived.
Missionaries aren't rich. Sure, my parents scrimped and sacrificed, and I'm extremely grateful for all they did. Of course, my sisters and I worked. But God cut corners in amazing ways, like U.S. military wives on Okinawa giving a generous scholarship to Janice, a non-military student; Joyce winning music competition prizes.
By the time all three of us graduated, God made sure we didn't owe the school any money. Granted, I am not saying He works this way for all His children; I'm just testifying this is what He did for us.
So, when the '11 Quake hit, and our family started over from scratch in Iwatsuki; I knew God would take care of us. He just takes care of each His snails differently.
