Memories from the past

It's been almost four weeks since the man I called Daddy for 56 years exchanged life on earth with eternal life with his Lord. During these past weeks, we have received lots of wonderful cards and letters from family, friends and acquaintances. While all have been uplifting and encouraging, some have contained precious memories of my Dad. I'd like to share some of these here.

"Dear Lois,

Thanks for sharing with us about the "home going" of your dad just recently. Thinking about both he and your mother, brought back memories of our times with them. Ermal remembers especially how they pioneered the work in the valley in Zambia.

One special time was when he visited them and they were having a problem wit hyenas. They ad a shelter fixed for him to stay in, but when he arrived he was told the hyenas had chewed up the mattress in that shelter just the night before. He wasn't very excited about sleeping in the shelter, so he asked if he could sleep in their very small "home" - I think it had just 3 little rooms. He had to sleep on the floor and remembers his feet touching the screen door - the only thing between him and any hyenas that came through the night. He said he prayed most of the night and didn't get much sleep. Your dad also heard the hyenas when they came - he breathed a short prayer for the Lord's protection and slet through the night. The next morning they chatted about that - your dad prayed a short prayer and he slept - Ermal prayed through the night and got very little sleep."

It was fun to read this story from another missionary friend from long ago and I thank them for sharing it with us, One thing that struck me as I read this story and reflected on it was the simple faith of my Dad. That's why he could go into an area where others said it was impossible and impassable. He "prayed a short prayer and he slept". He so completely trusted that God would take care of them. I watched that complete trust play out many times through the years.