GOD’S AMAZING GRACE EXTENDED THESE 91 YEARS.    3-9-17 -- 3-9-08

 Home telephone calls.  Frank /Val rejoicing in His goodness.  In His goodness Frank now transformed our internet site,  Adding sound and color and variety.

Ken Cross. Associated at Strathalbyn pre-war. We worshipped our Lord- and played football.     Sent me copies of letters from Middle East 1942, urging him to walk with the Lord. My former football friend promised me to read Psalm 91, ( dwelling in secret place ) as I suggested.

Ira Henkel Slavic worship-leader, mother of five children. Posted some cookies. Soul-winner.

Win Carson. She and Cec ( now with the Lord ) prayed for us from Java onwards. Win met our daughters, all of whom she had known from early days. Many laughs.

Overseas. Ruth rang from Corpus Christi.  Distinctive card with-loving, comforting greetings.  

Ming from Singapore- kind reference to ‘ Camp Daddy OCF ’ in early days.   OCF 50th next year.

Judith sent a bunch of roses by E-mail.   Color gripping.  I detected no fragrance- nor any thorns.   Telephoned NSW to joyfully confirm details of day.

John called from Melbourne.  Card of hands embracing.   Grandchildren in mind.   Also the Lord ’ hands   at the cross.   Parcel of dried fruit and almonds and video. Spent two days together - great discussions of John’s ministry on forgiveness.

Joanne warm-hearted from NSW   and Jeffrey from Alaska sent very kind greetings.

Jed told of plans for coming years.   A young man with bold ambitions for study and sport.

Tess rang   from Queensland . Telling of her delight and of her love for Gran and Grandpa.

These are the privileges and rich rewards of grandparents.

Shirley Au Yong , now in Sydney,   a gracious acknowledgment of Mother and me. Puji Tuhan.

Ross/Pauline Gaskin from Ashton, the Hills.  Memory of early medical study days at Broadview, when Ross awakened to the power of the gospel. Mother read her article of the spitting cobra, and they recalled the dangers. They took Mother’s archive home. ‘ Ross had wiped his glasses covered with the venom, spat from 4 meters, which potentially blinded and killed in minutes .

Miriam recalled how Phil had been preserved from similar incident. .   Lis recalled having heard Phil relay the episode.    Cil recalled her prayer, ’ Jesus, keep Gaskins from snakes. ’

Delightful visit of Miriam, Lis and Cil., who took charge of home.   I was dismissed from duty.

Family discussion. Comforted to see Mother so well.   Bantered her with her delightful hair wave.   

Reassured dear ones how the Lord had provided for us with maximum help coming from domiciliary sources: cleaning of home,   cooking, showering Mother, laundry. God ’ s over-ruling.

An appetizing, cream cake with 4 candles, which I estimated had a value of 22.75 years each.

Sparkling apple cider, continued heart-to-heart re each member of the family especially with Lis sharing Norman ’ s visit to the Physician that morning.   We assured her of sustained prayer

I reminded them that Mother’s memory is most active when daily praying for each of her children and the grand ones.   She reminds me too of the GGC. ‘ Whose next? ’ recurs, needing a little prompting.

Morning reading, ’ You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusted in Him.      This was the secret of all His blessing over these years.  

 I told our helpers how Miriam helped the Sudanese women in many cultural adjustments;  how Cil mothered and mentored Tess’ friend now a believer in our Lord from a Muslim home/nation; how Lis had taken staff to Ernabella to sit with indigenous leaders.    ’ How proud you must be ’ .    No. Rather, I thank God they assist those who need a touch of God’s love. I spoke as a father to treasured daughters.  Commendation tenderly received. I recalled Ruth setting holy standards for teen aged girls ( some Mexican lasses ) in Corpus Christi; of Judith taking 30,000   Samaritan’s Purse boxes to Thailand; and John’s Rwanda reconciling ministry expanded to Indonesia. My dear Gwenda - their   role model- maintained an open home for missionaries of varying nations.   

Win relished being in the company of these dear ones,   We shared news of her family in Darwin.  

Gifts of nuts, jam, quince pie, shaving cream, ginger, cookies, Oh, such luxuries. I treasured a Billy Graham DVD with cherished songs.  We laughed- and blessed our Lord.

Then they had slipped away to their own families.    And slipped off to a late afternoon doze to recuperate.

  Bless the Lord. O my soul.   All with in me, bless His holy Name. How great is the Lord we adore!