Living by prayer has become a lifestyle for me since childhood. My parents were great believers in prayer. We saw God so many times provide and heal for us in our family. We always had prayer together in the morning after breakfast. Then at noontime, we prayed for the countries and peoples of the world after lunch: Monday - India, Tuesday - Africa, Wednesday - Southeast Asia, Thursday - South America, and so on through the weekend. We kids all took turns praying and so knew the names of countries and people we had never seen. Then each evening we had bedtime prayers together.
Dad and I also have always prayed together in our marriage and family life - and we still do. Through the years we have been comforted, helped, healed and amazed to see how our Heavenly Father has answered those prayers and the prayers of so many people who have prayed for us! We are rich in praying family and friends.... I have been thinking of the many times in our life when we had major needs, and prayer was our salvation to get us through difficult times.
When we had to send our first daughter off to boarding school - three days trip away from where we lived - I thought sometimes I just could not stand that separation. Maybe it prepared us for many more separations from you, Cheryl: off to college in the States, then off to Beirut as a missionary. I will never forget the terrible war in Beirut when we were waiting news of the birth of your first baby, Nathan. We could hear the gunfire when we talked to you on the phone. And then the phone lines were cut....this happened so often. The time you escaped in a boat with Rachel - we got the news at Council, the night I was giving the missions message. All communication was going through us by phone to Dave Moore...and finally I had to go to another hotel and concentrate on prayer and also my message while Dad took over the Lebanon message service.
I will never forget the morning you were so horribly burned, Debbi, falling into a pot of hot yogo. Or the time we got word that you had been sick for some time at ICA and we had not heard about it. Or the time we had to bring Elin home from ICA as she was so sick. In all of those boarding school situations, we had to depend on prayer to get us through. No one ever understands the anguish of a parent sending a child so far away unless you have gone through it! And pray we did - always.
Remember the rabies shots?? The night before you kids took off for ICA, Cheryl was bitten by our new little puppy, nd the very night that you had left, the little dog went rabid and had to be killed. That meant rabies shots for everyone who had been near the dog. We had to call the school and have you all have shots down there. John was pre-school and he hated going to the doctor each morning for those shots! I wonder who was praying for us when we went through that experience??!
Many people prayed me through my bad bout with hepatitis. When Dad took in my blood sample, the doctors wanted to know who this lady ws - the count was so high! Again many people were praying for me, and through prayer and obeying the nurses, I was able to stay right there and finally got back to normal again after almost two months!
When we got word, Cheryl, that you were being suspended from school in eighth grade, we were devastated, and all we could do was cry ad pray. And it was a good time for you, being home with us. Mark was born then and you were there - and he was always your baby.
Towards the end of our time in Burkina, we made that famous trip to Abidjan when I was driving along the paved highway, still in Burkina, and a child ran right out in front of me and hit the car and fell by the side of the road. I was terrified and just cried out to God. The child lay there lifeless but then started to move and to cry. It took us a long time to take care of the details of that accident and meant taking more time for the journey. We were headed for Abidjan to make corrections in our Bible manuscript and this seemed like one more trial in keeping that Bible from getting published! What an experience! Many people prayed for us in the translation of that Bible for the Bobos, and how thankful we are for them.
I think also of the months and years we prayed for our dear Jennie when she started her cancer. We prayed personally and with her and our friends and all of you prayed. And finally we had to submit to God's will for our dear daughter-in-law, and she went to live in heaven with Jesus. Prayer sustained us all during those times and especially you, John.
All of these incidents and expeienced remind us that our family has been bathed in prayer all of our lives. We continue to pray each day - praying together for each of you our children and grandchildren, and now great grands in the morning - and then many times during the day as you come to mind.
It is certainly true as the old saying goes - "More things are wrought through prayer than this world dreams of"! We are fortunate to be a praying family.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
DELIVERED THROUGH PRAYER.............
I was reminded recently of how our lives have been surrounded by PRAYER - our own prayers and also the prayers of God's people. At the time of my unexpected brain surgery and the aftermath of all that, Dad wrote a daily report of what was happening in our lives right then, and I found a copy of what he had written in a file just the other day. He wrote far and wide to ask people to pray for us at that time of our deep need, and people responded by praying and writing encouraging letters. God DID answer their prayers.
People who walked with us through that time of trouble see me now and cannot believe how well I am and what I am able to do again. I have always had a lot of energy, but during those uncertain days - weeks, even a couple of years - I wondered if I would ever feel normal again. But God answered prayer and it was nothing but a miracle. At (almost) age 79, I am able to do a lot more than some of my peers who did not have to go through the trauma I experienced during those three years. I just recently had a perfect doctor's report, and he commented on how far I had come. The first time he saw me after my brain surgery, I visited him in a wheelchair. A good doctor is a blessing, but without prayer I would never be where I am today physically.
The Bible tells us a lot about prayer, and as Alliance missionaries we have been abundantly blessed by the prayers of hundreds of Alliance (and other) people. The Apostle Paul had this experience of living by the sustaining prayers of God's people. He says, "(God) delivers us from deadly peril...and will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers." Like Paul, we as missionaries have been delivered from peril, trouble and heartache even as he was, and you children have also been the recipents of this deliverance many times in your lives. David tell us in the Psalms, "He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help."
I have already mentioned how devastated Dad and I were when our entire month's allowance was stolen out of our apartment in Bobo while we took you little girls out for a Sunday afternoon walk. What a shock for brand new missionaries. We soon learned that we belonged to a good mission which would advance us enough money to live on until we could pay back what we borrowed.. But God helped us to put all of that behind us, and not live in constant fear of robbery. In fact, during our years in Africa, we were robbed so many times that we lost track. But it did not deter us from the joy of living and serving in West Africa for more than forty years. Credit for this goes to those who prayed so faithfully!
During our first term, Dad was often sick with malaria - the old fashioned kind that lasts! But many people were praying for us in our missionary life and prayed for his health. In answer to prayer, Dad had less and less bouts with malaria and was fairly free of the sickness during our later years in Africa.
As a child, I had often had the old fashioned malaria and I can still remember the chills and the burning fever, and my mother wiping my face with a cool washcloth by the hour. But during those early childhood years I must have built up an immunity in my system, as I was seldom bothered by a malarial attack in my adult life as a missionary. We had a lot of praying friends who prayed faithfully for us during our long life of service in West Africa. Prayer support is so important for international workers in our day even as it was for the Apostle Paul who spoke of those "who helped me through your prayers" as he traveled and preached the Gospel. It has alwaqys been an encouragement for me to have someone tell me, "I prayed for you...."
And now WE are on the praying end. We pray for all of you children and grandchildren and now the "greats" every single day, and we also have a big photo album filled with prayer cards from workers all over the world for whom we pray faithfully. Prayer is a privilege for the one praying and a blessing to those for whom we pray.
to be continued...............................................
People who walked with us through that time of trouble see me now and cannot believe how well I am and what I am able to do again. I have always had a lot of energy, but during those uncertain days - weeks, even a couple of years - I wondered if I would ever feel normal again. But God answered prayer and it was nothing but a miracle. At (almost) age 79, I am able to do a lot more than some of my peers who did not have to go through the trauma I experienced during those three years. I just recently had a perfect doctor's report, and he commented on how far I had come. The first time he saw me after my brain surgery, I visited him in a wheelchair. A good doctor is a blessing, but without prayer I would never be where I am today physically.
The Bible tells us a lot about prayer, and as Alliance missionaries we have been abundantly blessed by the prayers of hundreds of Alliance (and other) people. The Apostle Paul had this experience of living by the sustaining prayers of God's people. He says, "(God) delivers us from deadly peril...and will continue to deliver us as you help us by your prayers." Like Paul, we as missionaries have been delivered from peril, trouble and heartache even as he was, and you children have also been the recipents of this deliverance many times in your lives. David tell us in the Psalms, "He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help."
I have already mentioned how devastated Dad and I were when our entire month's allowance was stolen out of our apartment in Bobo while we took you little girls out for a Sunday afternoon walk. What a shock for brand new missionaries. We soon learned that we belonged to a good mission which would advance us enough money to live on until we could pay back what we borrowed.. But God helped us to put all of that behind us, and not live in constant fear of robbery. In fact, during our years in Africa, we were robbed so many times that we lost track. But it did not deter us from the joy of living and serving in West Africa for more than forty years. Credit for this goes to those who prayed so faithfully!
During our first term, Dad was often sick with malaria - the old fashioned kind that lasts! But many people were praying for us in our missionary life and prayed for his health. In answer to prayer, Dad had less and less bouts with malaria and was fairly free of the sickness during our later years in Africa.
As a child, I had often had the old fashioned malaria and I can still remember the chills and the burning fever, and my mother wiping my face with a cool washcloth by the hour. But during those early childhood years I must have built up an immunity in my system, as I was seldom bothered by a malarial attack in my adult life as a missionary. We had a lot of praying friends who prayed faithfully for us during our long life of service in West Africa. Prayer support is so important for international workers in our day even as it was for the Apostle Paul who spoke of those "who helped me through your prayers" as he traveled and preached the Gospel. It has alwaqys been an encouragement for me to have someone tell me, "I prayed for you...."
And now WE are on the praying end. We pray for all of you children and grandchildren and now the "greats" every single day, and we also have a big photo album filled with prayer cards from workers all over the world for whom we pray faithfully. Prayer is a privilege for the one praying and a blessing to those for whom we pray.
to be continued...............................................
Sunday, May 6, 2012
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE ..........................
Dad and I went to college at the time that Billy Graham was getting started in his ministry and so we have many memories of the excitement in evangelicalism as this new young evangelist began to preach and rocketed to evangelical stardom. We had heard of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC, about three hours from us, and Aunt Jessie had often invited us to come visit her and she would take us to visit the Library. She is a volunteer there one day each week.
So last week we finally set up an overnight with Aunt Jessie in Charlotte so we could visit the Library. We had no idea what to expect. This is not just one library building full of books, but an enormous park which contains the original old Graham family stone home, acres of lovely park and beautiful flowers, the graves of those from the BG team who have gone to be with the Lord, including that of Ruth Graham, and then this huge building which contains all the mementos of Billy Graham history, including his enormous library, with his desk, etc.
What an atmosphere of both peace and excitement pervades the whole facility. We entered first into the original Graham home, perfectly restored with all of its (re-upholstered) furniture and original appliances in the kitchen. From there we went on to the main building which houses both the library and all of the oral and pictorial history of this evangelistic team who has influenced the entire world.
The entire building is electrically controlled and you go from room to room, being closed into each room to listen to the oral and electronic history of this evangelistic team. You hear Billy preach and Bev Shea sing, you travel around the world to Asia and Russia and Europe and of course the United States, watching and listening to what God did in these many countries. There is a whole room dedicated to the ministry of Ruth Graham who stayed at home to pray for the ministry and care for the children. She joined her husband when she could and often gave him advice about the ministry.
Giant videos show Billy Graham's time at Wheaton College and his courtship of Ruth, the many U.S. and world crusades. Billy being interviewed on US TV by well known personalities is all there to see. There are dozens of glass cases burgeoning with mementos of the Crusades and the people who made them possibe. In every instance, all glory is given to God for the success of this great ministry. Many Alliance leaders in the world - like Sami Dagher and others - are also pictured, and you hear their actual voices giving testimony to what God did in their countries.
For people like us who lived through that period of history, it was an exciting, uplifting experience, as we identified with so many of the people and events portrayed. It was well worth the trip! And we had the additional blessing of spending time with our dear friend, Jessie. We go back a long ways together!
So last week we finally set up an overnight with Aunt Jessie in Charlotte so we could visit the Library. We had no idea what to expect. This is not just one library building full of books, but an enormous park which contains the original old Graham family stone home, acres of lovely park and beautiful flowers, the graves of those from the BG team who have gone to be with the Lord, including that of Ruth Graham, and then this huge building which contains all the mementos of Billy Graham history, including his enormous library, with his desk, etc.
What an atmosphere of both peace and excitement pervades the whole facility. We entered first into the original Graham home, perfectly restored with all of its (re-upholstered) furniture and original appliances in the kitchen. From there we went on to the main building which houses both the library and all of the oral and pictorial history of this evangelistic team who has influenced the entire world.
The entire building is electrically controlled and you go from room to room, being closed into each room to listen to the oral and electronic history of this evangelistic team. You hear Billy preach and Bev Shea sing, you travel around the world to Asia and Russia and Europe and of course the United States, watching and listening to what God did in these many countries. There is a whole room dedicated to the ministry of Ruth Graham who stayed at home to pray for the ministry and care for the children. She joined her husband when she could and often gave him advice about the ministry.
Giant videos show Billy Graham's time at Wheaton College and his courtship of Ruth, the many U.S. and world crusades. Billy being interviewed on US TV by well known personalities is all there to see. There are dozens of glass cases burgeoning with mementos of the Crusades and the people who made them possibe. In every instance, all glory is given to God for the success of this great ministry. Many Alliance leaders in the world - like Sami Dagher and others - are also pictured, and you hear their actual voices giving testimony to what God did in their countries.
For people like us who lived through that period of history, it was an exciting, uplifting experience, as we identified with so many of the people and events portrayed. It was well worth the trip! And we had the additional blessing of spending time with our dear friend, Jessie. We go back a long ways together!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME..............................
Americans have many expressions about growing older - as we live in the "youth culture" of this century, like:
- The old grey mare ain't what she used to be!
- Old age ain't for sissies!
- Grow old along with me - the best is yet to be!
Modern American society tends to push aside the elderly, hoping that perhaps their children or the government will somehow take care of their needs. Special communities are planned where only people "over 55" can live, an abnormal kind of place where the voices of little children are seldom heard unless someone's grandchildren come for a visit.
In the United States, aging parents used to live with one of their children. Dad remembers his Pierce grandparents living in his home when the children were growing up. In other societies, the older generation is revered, looked to for advice, caretakers of the small children, storytellers and the repository for the family history. They remain very valued members of the family until their death. In our Bobo culture, an old person has a funeral lasting many days, and people come from other villages to greet the still living for the honored dead.
But American society has changed and homes and apartments are smaller, everyone works outside the home and life seems more complicatd. And so special provision is made for the elderly to live together. Older parents are perhaps more independant than they used to be. So those 55+ communities - and whole neighborhoods - flourish in our American society today, places where the elderly can live - and die - togther. It is a different world.
At this point, I need to add that you, our five children and spouses, have always had open homes for us, and even wanted us to live closer to you when we retired. We chose the home we live in, made friends here, and have never been sorry we did. You sons and families have long since moved away from the area, and we feel at home where we are. All of our children are good Africans and keep in touch with us and provide for many of our needs. We salute you for your love and care.
I remember an old friend - a former missionary from Africa - who was starting to lose her memory when we visited her in Carlisle. She tried to remember something and couldn't, and she said to me, laughing, "Don't ever grow old, Nancy!" Well, guess what? It comes to all of us. We still live a full interesting life together, but we do have to help each other remember dates and events sometimes!
We watched Grandma Kennedy's body and mind deteriorate each time we visited her in Carlisle. (The Lord mercifully spared Grandpa K. as he would not have aged gracefully. He was able to preach right up to close to the time he died suddenly, and he is now rejoicing in Heaven.) Some things seemed to be buried deep in Grandma's once keen mind. I loved to say to her, "Mom sing a song for me in Jula." And without hesitation, she would sing out lustily one of her favorite African songs, not missing a word! The Carlisle nurses did not know that she had ever known another language and one day I had her sing her song for them - and they were astounded! Grandma could remember those Jula words, but she had no idea what she had done yesterday, and it was a celestial deliverance for her when she transferred to Heaven!
Alliance pastors, Kenneth and Sarah Liu have started Caleb & Co., which is an annual gathering for retired Alliance missionaries. Each year we enjoy times of good messages, fun and laughter, and the renewing of lifelong friendships. We exchange stories of our pasts overseas, and enjoy updates from our Aliance leaders who also attend the conference. We pray together. This has become a much appreciated ministry to all of us "oldies" by the Liu's.
Dad and I have been most fortunate to be together as we age and live on our own in our own home. Our ministries have changed but we keep involved - in our local church, through prayer, and by ministering to needy people in the local jail each week. We love our connections with you, our children, and feel blessed to have so many wonderful grandchildren and even great grandchildren. Many people of our age do not have loving caring family members as we do. We are most grateful for your continued participation in our lives. Thank you!!
- The old grey mare ain't what she used to be!
- Old age ain't for sissies!
- Grow old along with me - the best is yet to be!
Modern American society tends to push aside the elderly, hoping that perhaps their children or the government will somehow take care of their needs. Special communities are planned where only people "over 55" can live, an abnormal kind of place where the voices of little children are seldom heard unless someone's grandchildren come for a visit.
In the United States, aging parents used to live with one of their children. Dad remembers his Pierce grandparents living in his home when the children were growing up. In other societies, the older generation is revered, looked to for advice, caretakers of the small children, storytellers and the repository for the family history. They remain very valued members of the family until their death. In our Bobo culture, an old person has a funeral lasting many days, and people come from other villages to greet the still living for the honored dead.
But American society has changed and homes and apartments are smaller, everyone works outside the home and life seems more complicatd. And so special provision is made for the elderly to live together. Older parents are perhaps more independant than they used to be. So those 55+ communities - and whole neighborhoods - flourish in our American society today, places where the elderly can live - and die - togther. It is a different world.
At this point, I need to add that you, our five children and spouses, have always had open homes for us, and even wanted us to live closer to you when we retired. We chose the home we live in, made friends here, and have never been sorry we did. You sons and families have long since moved away from the area, and we feel at home where we are. All of our children are good Africans and keep in touch with us and provide for many of our needs. We salute you for your love and care.
I remember an old friend - a former missionary from Africa - who was starting to lose her memory when we visited her in Carlisle. She tried to remember something and couldn't, and she said to me, laughing, "Don't ever grow old, Nancy!" Well, guess what? It comes to all of us. We still live a full interesting life together, but we do have to help each other remember dates and events sometimes!
We watched Grandma Kennedy's body and mind deteriorate each time we visited her in Carlisle. (The Lord mercifully spared Grandpa K. as he would not have aged gracefully. He was able to preach right up to close to the time he died suddenly, and he is now rejoicing in Heaven.) Some things seemed to be buried deep in Grandma's once keen mind. I loved to say to her, "Mom sing a song for me in Jula." And without hesitation, she would sing out lustily one of her favorite African songs, not missing a word! The Carlisle nurses did not know that she had ever known another language and one day I had her sing her song for them - and they were astounded! Grandma could remember those Jula words, but she had no idea what she had done yesterday, and it was a celestial deliverance for her when she transferred to Heaven!
Alliance pastors, Kenneth and Sarah Liu have started Caleb & Co., which is an annual gathering for retired Alliance missionaries. Each year we enjoy times of good messages, fun and laughter, and the renewing of lifelong friendships. We exchange stories of our pasts overseas, and enjoy updates from our Aliance leaders who also attend the conference. We pray together. This has become a much appreciated ministry to all of us "oldies" by the Liu's.
Dad and I have been most fortunate to be together as we age and live on our own in our own home. Our ministries have changed but we keep involved - in our local church, through prayer, and by ministering to needy people in the local jail each week. We love our connections with you, our children, and feel blessed to have so many wonderful grandchildren and even great grandchildren. Many people of our age do not have loving caring family members as we do. We are most grateful for your continued participation in our lives. Thank you!!
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