373 – Challenges and Benefits

August 30 and 31, 1989 San Francisco

Humiliation: no convenient laundry facilities, fridge works sporadically, our kitchen boxes are still in NY (as is 95% of our worldly goods); drippy faucet; soap smell; boys still sleep in their sleeping bags on the floor (one year); SMD have never been to the dentist; DGT need to go also; overdue rent; car blinker not working; hair is unmanageable; Dan needs work; small living quarters; few conveniences; no money for home school materials order; Steve needs eye appointment; my glasses are broken and I need a new prescription; we have no storage—our boxes and Dan’s drafting table are in the hall.

BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US JOY AND CONTENTMENT. We are SO grateful for this place of refuge in this city.

THE LORD’S BENEFITS, I FORGET NOT: (Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits.)

*the boys’ were witnesses of the men’s and women’s servant hearts at the crusade, and they were involved and needed in cleanup, passing leaflets. Tim showed leadership abilities. We are very proud of them. God is showing me that this is fruit from our parenting and His added grace.

*Dan and I can communicate to each other and are one flesh

*God’s mercy has given this place to live; it is perfect in so many ways

*everyone is in good health and has a sound mind

*boys are in agreement with our values and are content

*the Lord has given us a solid-ness that others see

*Dan is valued by Pastor Mike at our Foursquare church

371 – Time Off, Job Prospect

August 24, 1989 San Francisco

We took the afternoon off and went to the Presidio Museum and the Fort Point Museum. We had a ½ hour tour led by an interesting guide, a history lesson for us all. We sat on the beach and watched the sailboats and windsurfers. After dinner we went swimming at the Bridgemont pool.

August 25

Dan went to the morning chapel at the school to hear Art Katz and in the evening I went to listen to listen to him.

August 27

We went to the Cow Palace to set up. We had car trouble so Howard could help us! A stranger who stepped forward.

Four hundred people came forward tonight.

August 28

Dan and Timmy went to the Crusade. Auntie Bev called and will be arriving this week.

August 29

Dan has an interview as a result of newspaper ad. It is for drafting job north of here in Petaluma. One hour and 10 minutes away. We would have to move. He would be a company man, full time, with benefits, 3 weeks vacation. This would mean no abacas class, no Japanese language lessons, no SF Foursquare church, no 19^th Avenue Japanese Baptist church. What is your will, Lord? And the boys would be restrained again, and not be able to go outside and play. This property is fenced and has play equipment. It has space and an inside swimming pool. Lord!!

August 30

Last night at the Cow Palace God healed cancer, arthritis, open heart surgery, crooked leg, diabetes and more. He is so good.

367 – A Party, Abacas Class, a Crusade

367 A Party, Abacas class,

a Crusade

August 19, 1989 San Francisco

I had asked God to encourage me and He did, by counting my blessings: Timmy can read! Stevie can read! Both read very WELL!! Markie is diligent and interested. I received the Alpha Omega homeschool diagnostic test. It is not fearsome. I will make my order for fall.

Daniel is a bright and loving boy since several weeks ago—summer with no school stress!

God has allowed me to see my heart. I am ecstatic and He is helping me greatly!

Later: We went to Nana and Mike Watanabe’s home in Half Moon Bay for Jojo’s birthday. Great fun for all.

Nana has invited us to her abacus class for all the boys for free! They will use borrowed abacus’es (?). There will be a testing and booklets fee. May God give our boys the strong deslire to learn and the ability.

Later, we went to the Japanese church, the 19^th Avenue Baptist church.

And then to the Mario Murillo crusade. We sat in the front on the right side. The boys were all totally attentive and had excellent attitudes. We were there 6-9 pm. Tim’s jaw healing has begun!

344 – Conflict in the Home Soon Resolved

344 – Conflict in the Home

Soon Resolved

March 4, 1989 Sunday at church

Joyce came up to me: “Are you pregnant? I woke up thinking about you.” She prayed for me.

March 14, 1989 Tim, Steve, and Danny have had Chickenpox for a week. Mark was the first to come down with it and is now well.

Two days late. I opened up my Bible randomly, seeking the Lord.

Isaiah 66:7 Before she goes into labor, she gives birth, before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.

What are the odds that I would see a verse about birthing?

Dan laughed when I shared all of this: “This is the third month in a row you have thought you were pregnant. I’d rather laugh than take it seriously—of course you may have the last laugh.”

Sting!

This comforted me:

Isaiah 44: 25-26 who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense…who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of His messengers.

I had great sorrow from my conversation with Dan. In order to focus on my glorious God, I put my Bible on the counter and kept going back to it, highlighting truth about God, keeping my focus on HIM.

I had a wonderful prayer time with Akiko and Reiko.

Reconciliation with Dan this evening and the next morning he said is excited about the possibility of a pregnancy.

Dan and I are of one mind, waiting on the Lord.

March 15

I had a good prayer time this afternoon. I laid the pregnancy possibility out again before the Lord along with all off the thoughts in my deceitful heart as well as my heart’s desires.

It occurred to me –what if people thought I had fooled around and gotten pregnant, since I have such a checkered past. A verse I memorized years ago jumped out at me:

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him.

I believe Your word is alive, and that you just spoke to me!

Fear is gone!

338 – New Digs

338 –New Digs

January 28, 1989 Bridgemont, SF

The blessings of this new apartment:

*We have access to a phone (downstairs).

*It is Japanese size (we are identifying with Japanese living).

*The boys are in their sleeping bags taking turns on the floor and the two couches. They love it! It feels like more adventure!

*$450 rent rather than $750 (this also includes all utilities).

*We have a Japanese neighbor.

*There is a missionary to Japan down the hall!

*The Red Room on the main floor of this wing is available for our use for entertaining and for the boys to play in!

*We have access to the indoor swimming pool.

*We will be able to have fellowship with our neighbors; the previous apartment had its own entrance and was isolated, and very dark.

*This deal may include the room and bathroom across the hall, which would answer our prayer for guest accommodations.

We were invited to be on staff at the SF Foursquare church. Praying about it. Our pastor, Mike Woodman, has spoken with Pastor Dave. We were asked to be the Missions Coordinators which includes having a care group and meetings with Mike and Joyce.

February 1

As we were beginning our day, Dan mentioned that his friend, Delmus, was born to his mother at age 53.

Also as I was looking in my concordance, the word PREGNANT electrified on the page and jumped out at me.

337 – Nighttime Fears

January 27, 1989 Bridgemont, San Francisco

Yesterday the news was that there was a strange person on the grounds.

The day before that it was that a person desperately needing a place to spend the night.

Then last night a lady’s screaming woke us up. Fear gripped me as I lay awake…and then guilt at not helping any of them.

This morning I was disappointed and angry at myself, and still fearful.

But God’s Word totally erased all of it. There is power in the Word.

Luke 10:18-19 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Hallelujah!

I happily went alone on my morning prayer walk with the Lord.

Trial: Apprehension about our new apartment. We are moving today and sleeping in the other apartment tonight. Dan, bless his heart, cleaned the stove, the fridge, and fixed the gas leak. Our bed will be in the bathroom. Weird. This old building is strange. Very strange. We cleaned, we thanked God that we are inside for the winter.

January 28

We moved everything in two hours and had the old apartment cleaned. The boys were a tremendous help. We got them to bed (after a Mexican treat) and GRACE came like a flood. This is the Lord’s blessing for us, and we love it.

Later: There is not enough space, even for our very meager possessions. There are a few cupboards in the kitchen but we have no dressers. So we set our eyes on the seen rather than the unseen, and trust the Lord.

We went to Babu’s and Asceda’s for lunch.