VINYL TREASURE FORT

It was a large vinyl rectangular package sealed up with so much masking tape it would make you wonder if there was something top secret contained inside, and enemy spies were being discouraged from finding it or something...I know. I'm being dramatic. But that's what happens when you end up staying in a chair for an hour just peeling and peeling layers of tape.

But I began seeing bulks of what looked like packets of photographs and then large envelopes of documents. But the inside vinyl showed a certificate...a bright yellow-orange diploma attesting the completion of a special wartime teaching degree...DADDY FOUND THE OLD CERTIFICATE! That was 1944! One of the first things that fell out were 2 sheets of paper. I'd been working on a family history back then and had asked my Dad to look for 20  documents and about 30 photos.

He had gone and looked for all of them--including the program of the evangelistic rally the night he was saved--and carefully taped every document, article, photograph, onto construction paper measured to fit just right in the vinyl package he prepared. He'd measured them so carefully to have them fit so well, he managed to have them all fit and stay in so good condition I was almost afraid to touch them. The outside had been protected by stiff cardboard layers, so that there were no folds or wrinkles, and the vinyl and layers of masking tape had made everything virtually waterproof.

I was noticing on the back of the Rudy Atwood "Old Fashioned Revival Hour Quartette" program put out by the Alberta Youth for Christ, its Missionary Emphasis states: "We have felt the burden to bring the Gospel to every creature in this generation around the globe--even unto the uttermost parts of the earth." I wonder if the person who designed that program knew there was a boy who left Okinawa in 1932--this is his passport picture--who would get saved at their evangelistic rally 12 years later, go to Bible school; and return to the island taking that Gospel with him?

Tying Up Loose Ends on Sept 29

"We've been here a month already." Kinya and I looked at each other. We could remember thinking we had only a month to pack for the move...but we've been here in Okinawa a month?! Transforming the photo museum into a home has made the 4 weeks zip by.

This post is going to be a hodgepodge of loose ends, because I just want to report things I know you want to know about, and there's no way to keep them connected.

First, I want to say a big thank you for praying God help me keep my head on straight, that I not lose sight of what's important. There've been days I've almost forgotten, and the Father has had to yank me back with a "Where do you think you're going? Haven't you forgotten something? I can't afford to start the day without gazing into God's Face...any more than anyone could start the day running outside without his clothes on! Tomorrow, I'll be working on learning the last verse of Rev. 4--yes--my goal was to do chapters 1-5 this year!

While clearing out my Dad's study, and taking down all the photos around the house, I was able to compose 5 different types of "slide shows" with them to display on the monitor in the study. I did an experimental slide show just to see if it could be done; a short tour of the house BEFORE taking down the pictures; a longer one showing Missions in Okinawa; a detailed one giving Roy Oshiro's history; and a family one for relatives or any who might be interested.

Oh yes--I mentioned my Dad's beautiful Canadian clock had wreaked havoc on my foot when I dropped it last week. But it's doing nicely, see? My Dad, when he was making the photo museum, fell off a ladder and hurt himself--his hand got all black such he phoned us in mainland Japan, and my husband and I flew down and finished the construction work at that time. I just thought about it. Doesn't that mean there are some places Kinya actually dismantled the very things he built years ago?!

My stepmother's sewing//reading/room, we were going to let Keima use, but since it doesn't have AC, it can get uncomfortably warm in the summer, and my son opted for the dining area near the AC, moving the tables and chairs into the main living room area and bringing his mattress and computer desk and equipment in where it gets cooler. The smaller room will be my private workplace to write, draw, translate, read...of course, later in the evening, when it's cooler..

Yesterday, with the bulk of the cleaning out of the way and everyone pretty much set on where they wanted to sleep, I decided to get out my colored pencils and watercolor markers. I haven't done any serious drawing for about 3 months now--please pray it come back to me smoothly. Of course, God may want me to forget all the bad habits I picked up in Iwatsuki and do it right this time!

Unexpected Blessings Dotting the Islands

On Sunday, we sang "Little Village Church" (Little Brown Church in the Wildwood) in Japanese, remembering God's raising of the first few churches in Okinawa. Brian was then asked to share with the Gushikawa Baptist Church believers--many of them finding themselves teary-eyed listening to Sherri's glowing testimony of their son.

An unexpected visitor that week was Rumiko, a second cousin who came when she heard my sisters and the Waala siblings (she knew us from high school) were coming. During our fellowship session afterwards, she shared her testimony too.

When it was discovered I'd never been to the outer islands, Brian and Sherri invited me to come along; I jumped at the chance. Here are a few drawings from those few days. When we got off a ferry at a small island called Taketomi, we had to request a shuttle bus. The elderly driver responding to the call had known Missionary Russel Waala, and his heart leaped when he heard the name; he took us to his family lodging and his friend's eatery; drove us to a believer's grave; took care of all transportation while we were on the island. Ohama-san's two sisters are believers, but he still hasn't found Christ. Please pray He find Jesus to be His Big Brother soon.

Brian and Sherri let me stay with them for 2 more days on the island of Ishigaki. We went to a fish shop and immediately recognized family members of people Brian had grown up with. The person shown speaking to Brian on cellphone in yesterday's post took us out to eat then treated us to a glass-bottom boat on which we were flabbergasted to see a deep-sea turtle on the reef altho' it was low tide. Thank You, Father! 

Would a vestige of the old house still be there, we wondered, and went to the place where Brian's first home used to be. The person who seemed to be a gardener outside turned out to be a person who loved and had bought the property from his dad when asked to keep it going. That night, we had dinner with a friend of mine, not realizing God's number one reason for having us meet was the absolute encouragement her husband would be. In some ways, he and Brian acted as bright and free as young boys.

That night, we talked of how sometimes God blesses us but treats us like trained dogs who have potato chips placed on their noses. The master no doubt gives treats, but the dogs don't dare gobble them up until given the ok. All these ways God worked the past few days, we mused, are like yummy potato chips which we are to ponder in our hearts as Mary did until He gives the ok to fully enjoy them. I wonder when and how that will come.