328 – Welcomed by Dan’s Good Friends

328 – Welcomed by Dan’s

Good Friends

October 31, 1988 Wheaton, Illinois

As Dan and I prayed against hopelessness, he got a picture: he saw an old weathered train station. Even the tracks and buildings were gone. He felt God was saying: don’t go back there (your old way of thinking) for information about self and life—God has a new station—He’s conforming you into the image of Jesus.

Daniel, age 5, said: you have 4 sons and if you have one more baby you’ll have 5 sons—but it’ll be a girl, and you can name her Georgann.

November 1-2 Des Moines, Iowa to Grand Island, Nebraska

November 3 – 15^th Castle Rock, Colorado

Dan’s friends became the kids and my friends!!! Dr. Jim and Sugar and their children welcomed us in and very happily gave Dan handyman work so he could earn money for the remainder of our trip. The work kept him busy every day for almost 2 weeks. There were animals (chickens, goats, dogs, cats), lots of open spaces, and hills for the boys to climb, and a boy Steve’s age who they all enjoyed.

I proclaimed in my journal: NOTHING IS GOING TO GET ME DOWN. I WILL NOT BE OVERCOME. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH.

Proverbs 31:15 She can laugh at the days to come.

NIV note: she is free of anxiety and worry!

Every day I read Lloyd Oglivie’s book, You are Loved and Forgiven. I received encouragement every day. I had time to rest, and I took lots of notes.

November 16 Cheyenne, Wyoming

It snowed often when we were in Castle Rock, and it snowed the day we left in our wobbily motor home. Dan’s friends Del and Florence were excited to see Dan and meet the family. We were loved and welcomed again.

327 – Going Out, Not Knowing the Details

327 – Going Out,

Not Knowing the Details

October 25, 1988 – I had JOY ALL DAY!! All glory to God!

TRIALS:

*We are going out NOT KNOWING our itinerary—by faith in God—praise Him.

*We are going out with Timmy miserable with a cold –praising Him in all things.

*We are going out with $250. Gas expense alone to Denver will be $200, so we are depending on the Lord’s provision. Praise to our God who is faithful.

*We are going out tomorrow.

Judges 12-21 was only distressing…. I got no encouragement…

October 26 Ohio

As they sent us out with loving goodbyes and prayers, the Pletcher family gave us snacks and popcorn for the journey.

Hidden inside the popcorn container was a small refrigerator magnet that said:

YOU CAN DO IT – Philippians 4:13

[We kept it on the refrigerator for years.]

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Our first night stop was a surprise visit to some Elim friends who lived in Ohio. We had connected with them so well at the school, but our visit was strained. I guess 6 of us appearing late afternoon was a bit overwhelming to the newlyweds!

Ruth – the book of Ruth in the Biblee – AMAZING NIV notes are so appropriate for us!!

NIV notes in my Bible:

Ruth’s and Naomi’s self-giving love FULFILLS GOD’S LAW:

Leviticus 19:18 but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

NIV Bible footnotes: The Hebrew word for redemption occurs 23 times in various forms in the book of Ruth.

Naomi moves from emptiness to fulfillment through the God-blessed acts of Ruth and Boaz.

October 27- 31 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois

Dan’s mom, Beth (Bebo to the kids), and her husband Al, were HAPPY to see us in Wheaton, Illinois.

I had been able to pray in the Spirit one hour. I had also been asking God for encouragement, but I was caught off guard by this opportunity for prayer and love as we met Luann and Dennis at the Vineyard church on Sunday morning. We received the word: for the trip–rest, don’t try to teach. I decided give in. As the boys continue to take turns sitting in the front with Dan, he can exhort them, teach them about the passing geography and all manner of things. I will continue reading aloud to them as we bump along.

OH! Gramp Al, Bebo’s husband, gave Dan a VISA bank card to pay for our gas for the remainder of the trip! We used it for gas, giving thanks every single time and sent it back to him as soon as we got to Reno.

326 – Good Words from the Lord

326 – Good Words

from the Lord

October 23 – Sunday

It was a day of great encouragement!

The excellent message at Elim on God’s guidance confirmed for us that God often gives us our CHOICE of what we want to do. That’s what we felt when we decided a couple of weeks ago to continue in our plans to move to San Francisco versus staying in New Jersey. Praise God!

The estimated two hour trip to see our friends Wally and Debbie in Oneida, NY, took four hours. We went out of our way to get on the turnpike but dealt with BAD roads that shook up the motor home so we had to travel r-e-a-l-l-y slowly.

Debbie’s ‘word’ for us CONFIRMED AND ENCOURAGED US TOTALLY: The Lord is directing you day by day and face to face.

This refers to Exodus 33:11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

We believe we can trust God for the weather we need, for the finances we need, in order to continue our journey west.

October 24

MORE TRIALS:

*We stayed overnight in Oneida last night and left after breakfast. All the kids had great fun as if there had been no interruption in their friendship. BUT the roof of the motor home leaked on our mattress.

*There was no money in our Livonia mailbox to send our 50+ boxes home.

*We were embarrassed to come back to the Pletchers because it meant more wear and tear on their yard, etc. But we had no where else to go. AND I felt that we had just gotten confirmed that we are IN GOD’S PLAN, and so I decided not to be worried or embarrassed. This is a personal victory.

*Timmy is getting a cold.

*Later: tonight the Pletchers took us in and fed us a delicious dinner.

I counted my trials ALL JOY!!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2

325 – Many Trials to Challenge Us

325 –Challenged by

Many Trials

October 18, 1988

TRIALS!!

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12

*Dan’s tailbone is painful

*we all have raunchy homeschool attitudes

*a mix-up with Dan’s driver’s license

*cancellation of motorhome insurance effective Oct 25

*Steve has hives

*boys are desperate for shoes

*we are back at Pletcher’s but we feel awkwardness

*Daniel was due for shots, but we missed getting to the doctor in time, by one hour

October 19

You gave me another blessed day today! Rejoicing attitude.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph…please make sure I am always following You in Your triumphant course.

October 22

TRIALS:

*SNOW!! We are freaked! The weather has turned wintry and we haven’t begun the 3000-mile trek west!

*mailbox disappointment: we received $40 instead of the $400 we hoped for so that we could mail our boxes

*frustration at not being sure of our plans

ENCOURAGEMENTS:

*Walter was thrilled to have Dan DONATE the trade school plans he had drawn up

*got to share my heart with Cheryl M

*dinner at the Carey’s

*visited McAloons and got a word from the Lord and prayer

324 – On the Road Again

October 8, 1988

Boy, can I identify with this:

Judges 1 The tribes did not completely conquer their enemies and because of it they were unable to follow God’s commands.

NIV note: God was giving Israel, as His army, the opportunity to develop her skills in warfare and testing her faithfulness to obey his commands.

I see that MY enemies of impatience and anxiety are continually interfering with the peace and love that are God’s commands for me.

Colossians 3:15 Let peace rule in your heart.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.

He wants me to annihilate impatience and anxiety. With them in my personality I am not able to follow His commands. I am not able to be the person I want to be..

Looking to you TODAY for the victory, Jesus!

October 9 Canton, NC

Aunt Flossie, my maternal great aunt, and her husband, Uncle Al, were so glad they had decided to welcome us to their home. She had worried that it was in disrepair, but all her concerns melted away as love prevailed! [My high school graduation present, back in 1963, had included a plane ride to NC to visit with her.] We were surprised when Al directed us down to the basement shower and there was a huge gigantic spider in it. We didn’t say anything about it, Dan just took care of it.

October 10 Gaffney, SC

Aunt Freda lavished southern hospitality on us, and brought in more relatives to meet us.

Judges 2:2-3 ‘And you shall make no covenants with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’”

It is disobedience to fail in taking a complete victory when that is God’s command. He does not want me making covenants with other gods and taking into my nature what He has dealt with by the cross. Impatience is not a fruit of the Spirit. Anxiety is sin and is not trusting God with my whole heart, which I am expected to do. And they are thorns in my side!

October 11 Rock Hill, South Carolina

Dan’s maternal grandfather, Vernon Grant, had invented the cartoon figures Snap! Crackle! Pop! back in the 1930’s. He was wheel chair bound, and after we were there a while seemed to have some recognition that we were family. His wife Libby and son Chip were very hospitable. We stayed overnight on their property in our motor home. We were so glad we had made the effort for the boys to meet their great grandfather.

October 15 -we are back in Livonia, NY

I did not record the journey back to our Livonia home base!

321 – And…Our Journey Begins!

321 – And …Our Journey Begins!

September 25, 1988

Stevie helped Wayne make breakfast. I got a cute picture of it. Last week Tim helped Cheryl and Darlene can peaches. We love it here. It’s like family.

We were anointed with oil at Livonia church. It was humbling. Pastor George and Judy Davis and all of the congregation there are such a wonderful group of friends.

September 26

I gave Leslie some scriptures. I will miss her and pray for her as she grows in her faith. Greg and Cheryl called. They are forever friends. I talked to Judy and Jane. We sent in our absentee ballots.

Costa Dier, a missionary from Elim, prayed for guidance from the Lord as to whether we should go to New York City or San Francisco. He prayed God would provide for us “so they can minister without strain.”

Joshua 3:3 …You are to move out from your position and follow the ark. Then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before.

v 5 consecrate yourselves, for TOMORROW the Lord will do amazing things among you.

God is so good! We are going out to begin our journey TOMORROW! Pretty amazing, I think, that I would read this in my devotions today.

September 27

We left the Pletchers and headed for New Jersey!

Joshua 4:8 This story shows me that the Israelites did as God commanded EVEN THOUGH IT MUST HAVE SEEMED FOOLISH.

v 15 The Lord gave commands and Joshua obeyed.

v 24 God did this: that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

What is ahead? We will listen and follow the Lord.

320 – God Gives His Girl a Splendid Sign

September 23, 1988

Tim made heart-shaped sugar cookies. I made heart-shaped biscuits for Cheryl’s birthday dinner.

This is Dan’s last day of work at SouthCo.

I kept focusing again, as yesterday: love the Lord Your God with all your mind, strength, heart and soul.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving!

*We are Elim missionaries!!!

*I have not had pollen or cat allergies!

*The rain stopped so I could walk.

*The sofa room in Pletcher’s IS GETTING SORTED!!

*Cheryl was home yesterday in time for me to go for my haircut—by one minute!!

*God has filled my heart with purpose and confidence for this day.

*Larry Nobles can help Dan get seatbelts at the junk yard (so the boys will be belted in at the table in the motor home), and maybe fix the tape recorder.

*I was relaxed about the kids eating sugar last night (God help them and me in this!).

After dinner, exhausted, going out to motor home—looked up—3 long pillars of cloud across the entire sky. BLESS GOD. He is with us, He loves us—and here we go with our God!!!

Pillars of cloud was a sign of God’s love for me and His presence with me for many years

318 – What? Lay Down our Plan?

318 – What? Lay Down

Our Plan?

September 12, 1988

My parents sent $100 for the motor home trip. Life Center Church sent $220. Praise God!

What we know so far about our excursion is that we will follow up on the contact we made with Phyllis Rhinehart at the Elim Camp Meeting a few weeks ago. She is in a small church in New Jersey and works with Japanese who are new to the US. She is retiring and asked us to come to see the work she is doing in hopes that we would take her place and live in New Jersey. From there we will go to North and South Carolina to visit my Mom’s relatives. That’s what we know so far.

I have been praying about foods because I felt we were eating a lot of meat and that it was not good for us. In my devotions today:

Deuteronomy 12:15 However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God….

I heard, Georgann, don’t worry about eating all of this meat. Bless it and go for it.

Deut 12: 18 and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.

Always a good reminder,Lord.

Dan’s brother Aug called. Al called him. Al is the man whose family God used to draw Dan to the Lord. He got saved while living with them in Colorado. Al wants to see us, has been thinking about us. Praise the Lord. Perhaps we can stop at his place on the way West.

September 13

After my walk Dan and I prayed our regular prayer list which we haven’t prayed together for weeks. I felt I heard very clearly, as it was my turn to pray for Japan: Lay down your plan.

Our plan for Japan? Our plan for traveling to the east before we head west?

Our plan for getting back to Reno to see Dan’s grandmother? Aug said she wants to see the boys one more time.

We prayed but got nothing definite. It remained a mystery for another year or so.

316 – God Keeps Encouraging Us

August 26 – 30, 1988

The Livonia church had a dinner for us. They were especially thankful for the Vacation Bible School that Dan headed up for the children a few weeks ago. The Pletchers came home from vacation and we moved out into the motor home. We went to the Skiff’s house (fellow Elim students) for dinner and they gave us $40 toward our vision for Japan! I called Aunt Flossie and she wants us to come and visit after all. My friends and I kept praying for one another, getting together as much as we could. I will miss my prayer partners: Barb Pray, Sue, Barb Harrington, Cheryl M, Tracey.

Numbers 21:34 Do not be afraid of (the enemy), for I have handed him over to you and his whole army and his land!

God is working with us in all of this planning. And God is working through us. We are to obey and believe and go forward without fear.

September 1

Deuteronomy 1:29 Do not be terrified. The Lord your God is going before you to tell you (where to camp and how long!). TRUST HIM.

September 2

Psalm 101:5-6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they may dwell with Me.

NIV note: the faithful are those who maintain moral integrity.

Dan and I worked on the application to be missionaries with Elim Fellowship. I typed it. We now wait and pray. Later in my devotions I got: Deuteronomy 3:2 Do not be afraid…v22 The Lord your God Himself will fight for you!

September 5

Labor Day—we went to Pittsford to see the Erie Canal. The locks are so interesting. There was some activity and we were fascinated. It was a real day off –we had Dan with us the whole day and we got to take a field trip.

315 – He is Lord and I Have Faith in Him

August 24, 1988

Mark 11:22 Jesus said, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

v 24 Whatever you ask for in prayer—believe you have received it , and it will be yours.

*I believe our possessions (50 boxes) will be shipped by the Lord’s provision to a friend or family’s place and not be a burden.

*I believe God will change Aunt Flossie’s heart and she will allow us to come and visit her (in North Carolina).

*I believe God will provide Markie’s Calvert materials – $245.

*I believe we will get along well with the Pletcher’s when they return from vacation.

August 25

It just occurred to me that we are HOMELESS!

It was a bit of a shock! But it doesn’t hurt, and I am not going to be afraid. I will praise and give thanks and keep my trust in the Lord.

It helps that I just read this about praise:

Destined for the Throne – by Paul F. Billheimer, page 121 –

To be most effective praise must be massive, continuous, a fixed habit, a full-time occupation, a diligently pursued vocation, a total way of life.

Numbers 15:41 I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGYPT TO BE YOUR GOD: I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.

Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

NIV note:

As His subjects, His covenant people are to render complete submission, allegiance, and obedience to Him out of gratitude for His mercies, reverence for His sovereignty, and trust in His continuous care.