Dad is Transferred to the Ultimate Care Home

How I appreciate the myriad of prayers prayed for my family as we considered how to care for my 91-year-young father. Last Sunday he was taking pictures of his kids and friends making music and this Sunday he is singing with great gusto, but in the presence of the Savior He loved and praised during his days here on earth.

His decline felt so fast to me, but was truly in God's timing. I asked that he not have pain and it seems he suffered more from weakness than pain. What a blessing.

I asked prayer that my parents could get into the same care home when Dad recovered from his latest surgery. A room with two beds miraculously opened up, but the day before the planned move, God took Dad home. Mom first words in reaction to hearing that Dad died was that she would like to join him in heaven....right now! We know God's timing is best.

Another prayer request was that God would guide me about when to go to the US to help my parents. I bought a ticket for March to see my parents and clean out Dad's apartment. I still plan to go in March to help my siblings with Dad's apartment, but I also plan to leave tomorrow (Feb. 8) for a week to encourage my mom (in a nursing home suffering from dementia) as she processes Dad's passing.

This past week I sensed I should go now as well as in March. Friday morning while eating breakfast we had a short, but intense earthquake. That made me feel uncomfortable leaving Russ home alone so I asked if he would mind if I asked the rehab center if he could stay for a short stay. Knowing that Tokyo is expecting a major earthquake sometime in the near future, he consented, even though staying at home is more desirable in many ways.

In the past when I asked Russ' care manager about Russ staying at the care home for a short stay, they have required four to six weeks from inquiry to entering. They told me it didn't work out for emergencies. Friday morning I decided just to ask anyway about his staying there for a week so I could leave on Monday. Miraculously in 30 minutes it was all arranged! I went ahead and booked a ticket. I went to bed that night looking forward to seeing my parents and siblings. 

Saturday morning I awoke to a phonecall that Dad had taken a sudden turn for the worse and died peacefully with my sister Lorelei and brother Tim at his side.

What about my passport being renewed? I got it in record time! From the time I mailed it in to the day it was returned to me in the mail was ten days! The next day I read an article about the glut of passport renewals these days and how we should plan ahead because it was typical to take 6 weeks. I do think it's faster here at the embassy than if I were doing it in the US, but ten days is still amazing.

There are so many more stories of God's blessing, but I'd like to share just one more. Yesterday I got the news of my Dad's homegoing and this morning he sang the offertory at our church! I took in a CD of Dad singing "How Great Thou Art" recorded as a record back in 1963. I'm so grateful for our church family who have met Dad and could rejoice and grieve with Russ and me as we listened to Dad sing,

"When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"

Prayers are appreciated for this next week while Russ is in a challenging place. The bed that is available is on the second floor with patients who are not thinking clearly. There's no internet which will surely feel isolating.

I'd appreciate prayer for safe travel and wisdom for how to honor and encourage my mother.

Undaunted

I consider myself privileged to be the daughter of Harold Johnson. For 90 years he has enjoyed outstanding health and has used that energy to encourage thousands of people with his ready smile, acts of kindness, and exuberant singing. In the last year his health situation has changed dramatically as he is fighting prostate and bladder cancer. And fighting he is. 

Last fall Dad had two stents put in. It was a more complicated surgery than expected and the benefit did not last as long as we hoped. Early this week he had emergency surgery to insert another stent. The doctor was surprised to find such aggressive cancer in a man his age. Dad asked his doctor to do everything he can even though surely there is only so much a 91-year-old body can take. Dad is not giving up easily. He was released from the hospital and has just moved into an assisted living facility.

Until very recently the Energizer Bunny (as mom called him) was going to Mom's nursing home every day to play Scrabble with her. She still enjoys and excels at Scrabble even though dementia has robbed her mind of short-term memory. Dad told me he thinks after he dies mom will follow him to heaven shortly thereafter. None of us know when we'll die, but I'm certain of their destination and believe God is looking lovingly at His dearly loved children and has just the right timing all worked out.

I am asking God:

• to give my parents strength for each day and freedom from pain

• to make it possible for my parents to be in the same facility so they can see each other more easily (neither of them are presently very ambulatory)

• to lead me as to when I should go to Indiana to see my parents and help clean out Dad's apartment. 

• to get my new passport to me quickly as it is currently being renewed

• to work out Russ' care needs while I'm gone (there are so many details)

• for grace, strength, and wisdom for my siblings as well as me with our many responsibilities 

I was greatly encouraged with these words from Isaiah 30:18 today.

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;

he rises to show you compassion.

For the LORD is a God of justice.

Blessed are all who wait for him!

Celebration of Love Meetings Update

"I am so encouraged." "I have hope for Japan." " I have never seen so many Christians all together in one place in my whole life." All these were comments I heard from my Japanese friends in response to their attending the Franklin Graham meetings in Tokyo November 20-22. It really was a great event which I believe will have a lasting impact on people.

It's hard to say exactly how many attended because many, like me, went more than once. In the two meetings I went to, the estimates were 9000 and 14,000. According to information from the Billy Graham Association (BGA), more than 1400 people came forward over the four meetings to make decisions for Christ. 41% of those were children under 18 years of age. In a country were there are few young people in churches, this was very heartening news. Fifteen of those who made decisions are connected to the church we attend.  

Another friend told me that she's been a Christian for a number of years, but Franklin Graham's message helped her understand the gospel better than she ever has before. Graham's style was very direct which was undoubtedly surprising for most Japanese, but enlightening for people like my friend.

Before the meetings I was praying with a friend to have courage to invite her parents to attend the meetings. She said it would take a miracle for them to accept, but they came!

On Sunday afternoon so many people went forward that the security guards threatened to close the doors since for security reasons that many people are not allowed on one floor at a time. Thankfully they held off until the last person made it in.

My personal highlights were:
• Sitting by two middle-aged women who became my friends. I hope to get together again with them soon.
• Watching missionary friend Ken Taylor enthusiastically lead the 1400-voice gospel choir in rousing praise to God. His wife passed away Oct. 19 and probably would have been a soloist if she hadn't been stricken with cancer. Ken still gave it his best and the performance was powerful!
• Listening to New Wings, an up and coming Japanese worship band, radiate the love of the Lord and sing beautifully.
• Observing the pleasure of the audience when the Tommy Coomes Band and others sang in Japanese.
• Watching all those Japanese go forward to respond to the gospel here in a country so resistant to the gospel!

Thank you for praying for Japan!