FORGIVEN and BAPTIZED

© Danna Shirley

         My husband and I lived in Japan for five years. We had base privileges for everything but our housing; as civilians, we had to live in the “cho” (neighborhood).

         Most of the Navy wives taught Conversational English to the Japanese and at some point in time, I had heard each of them make the comment, “Oh, I have to get home to teach a class in fifteen minutes.” Often there was annoyance in their tone. I didn’t want to develop that attitude toward teaching so I had no desire to take on any students. 

         I remember on one of my trips home to visit family in California, I was asked, “And what do you do with your time in Japan?” A sense of guilt washed over me as I answered almost ashamed, “Nothing!” 

         On the flight back to Japan I began to bargain with God. I told Him, “OK, if You want me to teach English to the Japanese, then they’ll have to come to my house and knock on my door and ask me!” I thought I was being pretty safe with that approach.

         God has such a sense of humor…THEY DID!!! I was home only a few days when a Japanese neighbor who worked in a Muscular Dystrophy hospital in Kawatana where we lived, knocked on my door and asked if I would be willing to come to the hospital to have Conversational English lessons with one of her patients. 

         Nobuyuki had been employed in the hotel industry in England as a young man so he already knew English. When his illness became debilitating, he returned to Japan and eventually had to reside in this hospital. He was now wheelchair bound and only had the use of his right hand, which operated his chair. All other life functions had to be done for him.

         During our lessons Nobu would choose a subject and we would discuss it. If I used any word that he didn’t recognize, I would define it at length. He was especially interested in understanding our “slang.” Americans automatically know what is meant when using a slang term so I was a bit challenged to find English words to define English words. How would you explain: like water off a duck’s back, handy as a pocket on a shirt, that’s about the size of it, ace in the hole, it’s up in the air, a shot in the dark, etc.

         One serious subject Nobu wanted to discuss was the issue of abortion. Since I am pro-life, I had brought some printed materials and pictures with me from the states. I took these to the hospital for our next lesson, not realizing until I arrived that he was personally involved with this issue and was under great conviction by the Holy Spirit.

         I learned he had advised some friends to abort their baby because they were not married and would “lose face” if the pregnancy was discovered. Now that counsel was weighing heavily on his conscience. I was so glad I learned of this before showing him the materials I had brought, which would have overwhelmed him with even more guilt and remorse.

         The approach I took was to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Knowing that the Japanese people believe in many gods, I told Nobu that my God was a God of forgiveness. I wrote the word SIN on the board, then took a piece of paper and covered it. I explained that we can try to cover our sin under our own power but it will always be there; just under the surface. I then lifted the paper to expose the word again and exclaimed, "But my God forgives sin completely, as far as the east is from the west, as deep as the depths of the sea, and as high as the sky."  (Psalm 103:10-12)         I then erased the word sin and Nobu’s eyes got as big as saucers. He smiled happily from ear to ear. He understood and saw that there was hope for him in Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  (Colossians 1:13-14)

“Jesus said… ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

         Nobu wanted forgiveness but I knew there was more explaining to do about salvation! I introduced him to a Japanese pastor who could guide him through the culture of their many gods and disciple him to forsake all others and cling only to Jesus. I planted, Pastor Sasaki watered, God made the increase. It was not long afterward that I received an invitation to Nobu’s baptism.

         What made this so exceptional was that it would have been expedient and totally understandable to sprinkle Nobu with water in a ceremony on the hospital grounds. After all, he could not move, but Nobu wanted to be baptized “as his Lord and Savior” had done, by immersion. This procedure required setting up a privacy tent on the beach so that his clothes could be changed afterward. Gallons of fresh water and a nurse from the hospital had to be in attendance to bathe the salt water from his body and redress him. A type of hammock was needed to lay him in and two strong souls to carry him in and out of the water.

         When the day arrived, many of the local Christians we knew, both Japanese and American, were invited to enjoy this special occasion with Nobu. A potluck dinner was set up in the pavilion. When the time came, we all marched down to the water’s edge to witness this extraordinary baptism. Spontaneous singing and praise broke out as Nobu was lifted out of the water. 

         The ceremony took on a special significance for me. I had watched many baptisms in U.S. churches and even one in a swimming pool; however, I had never been baptized by immersion myself since I had been sprinkled as a child in the Methodist church and considered myself already baptized. As I began to see and appreciate the extent to which Nobu was willing to go to be baptized “as his Lord,” I thought that I, too, should be baptized by immersion.

         The next time the base chapel announced a baptism service, I was included. We were to go to the waterfalls and enjoy a picnic afterward. It was April, in Japan, and the waterfalls were raging with snow melting off the mountains. There were five of us baptized that day all freezing with chattering teeth under the thunder of the most beautiful falls imaginable. 

         My baptism by immersion is very special to me. It’s remarkable that it took a Japanese man in a country across the world to bring it to pass.

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”  (Rom 6:4)

         Our English lessons continued for three years and Nobu and I became good friends.  He is a strong Christian to this day.

CHECKBOOK ~ A DIRTY WORD

© Danna Shirley

            I was not a spendthrift, I was not extravagant, I did not squander my husband's paycheck, but I cringed every time he asked me for the balance in our checkbook.  Then a lengthy conversation would follow with me defending every purchase I made and every dollar I spent.  He couldn’t understand where all the money was going.  What was so ironic to me was that I felt he was the one doing all the frivolous spending. 

            On what, you might ask?  Well, he worked hard all week and insisted he needed a night out to unwind so every Friday was date night.  It was my responsibility to find a babysitter for our three children while he chose the restaurant.  It was a toss up what movie we would watch.  The babysitter: $8.00; the restaurant: $12.00; the movie & popcorn: $7.00 for a total of $25 every week (1986)!  It made date night an expense that I felt we couldn’t afford. 

            Finding a babysitter every week was a chore in itself because the girls quickly went from wanting to earn a little money to dating and then I would have to find another sitter.  Eating out was the only part I liked; usually Shanghai for Chinese or Cuco’s for Mexican or Aunt Jenny’s for seafood.  For the movie we would go from comedy to blood and guts; from a PG rating to an R rating depending on who won the toss.  I did reach the point of saying, “I can’t stand the gore anymore!  Please, no more R rated movies!”  He graciously agreed. 

            I know some wives would kill for a date night but after a year or so of seeing our checkbook balance dwindle, it was not special to me any more.  I remember praying and praying, “Oh, God, release me from the responsibility of this checkbook!”  I knew if my husband asked me one more time for the balance, I was going to throw the book at him!  Well, that day finally arrived but instead of me throwing the checkbook at him, he had the audacity to ask me to give it up—he would pay the bills and handle the finances from now on and give me an allowance!

            “WHAT!!!” I protested!  “A–a–a–n  ALLOW—ANCE!” I stuttered.  I could hardly find the words to voice my disapproval.  All I could see was that I was being cut off from the checkbook.  After twenty minutes or so of conflict resolution, God spoke to me in His still, small voice, as only He can, “Isn't this what you prayed for!  Why are you upset?”  With these words hitting my spirit I calmed down, smiled, and sat back amused.  Yes, this was what I had prayed for--to be released from having to defend myself about the finances.

            Unfortunately, my husband's idea of an allowance wasn’t at all the amount that I needed to run the household.  He was only considering food in the budget while I knew our needs stretched far beyond that.  I asked him to accompany me to the grocery store for food and Wal-Mart for other incidentals.  I made sure that his wants and needs were included on my list.  Of course, on these particular trips, I needed simply everything . . . milk, bread, flour, sugar, tea, coffee, cereal, meat, vegetables, fruit, etc., etc. and at Wal-Mart I needed simply everything . . . deodorant, razor blades, shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc., etc.  I wanted this shopping spree to give him a good education of just how much I really spent on a weekly basis.

            With all the input now available, he sat down with calculator in hand to work miracles with the checkbook.  After handling the finances for only one month, he announced that date night was being cancelled until further notice . . . we couldn’t afford it! 

            Eventually the kids grew up,  my husband got raises and I went to work,  the bills got paid and we had some breathing room with the checkbook, Friday night out was reinstated, and date night became very special to us!

FAMILY HISTORY

© Danna Shirley

The most endearing project I have ever undertaken is to write a biography of my father who passed away in March of 2010. He was 89 and the hero of all who knew him, family and friends alike.

    At the purchase of a new video camera and a few trips to Napa, CA in 2005, 2006, and 2007, I was able to capture my parents on video relating their life stories. Last Christmas my sister asked me to write a story about Daddy carving the violin he made in high school. When I realized all I had were a few details and some pictures of him holding this precious family heirloom, I wished I had done more to capture its history—his history. One story about the violin was not enough. A book was in order. As I approached this task, I added mother’s life to it because who was Daddy without Mother? They married on Christmas day 1941 and were together 68 years . . . Howard Eurbie and Elsie (Daugherty) Goines.

    I was so grateful I had ten recordings from which to draw this biography. I have childhood stories of stealing watermelons, his military service (WWII), his employment, their move from Arkansas to California in 1946, his hobby of Model A restoration and all the pictures, awards, trophies, and ribbons that went with them. I also obtained stories from friends who worked with him in his shop learning all about cars; stories the family would have never known.

    In subsequent trips to Napa my mother graciously allowed me to snoop into every nook and cranny, every drawer, file, closet, and box to gather whatever else I could find to include into this labor of love. I found his wedding suit in a garment bag with a 29” waist and buttons instead of a zipper. I’d never seen it before; never knew it even hung in the closet. 

    I have transcribed his life onto almost 400 pages and inserted stills of him telling funny stories into the text. It is an added blessing to see the face that went with the hysteria when he laughed so hard he could barely tell about the corn cob fight in his grandpa’s barn.

    As I approach the end of this project, I realize there are many gaps of his life I failed to ask and now it is too late. The purpose of this letter is to encourage each of you to take the time and opportunity to glean your family history from those who are still with you, who still have their rich memories of life. I am also keeping a journal of “cute sayings” by my granddaughters, like Emma telling us at age four, “Jesus lives in the red and we live in the black.”

    Don’t regret someday saying, “I wish I had asked Mom while she was still alive,” or “I wish I had recorded Grandpa before he got Alzheimer’s.” Another word of encouragement is to journal your own life . . . while you still remember it.

    I also learned from a retired librarian that two copies of your family history should be sent to the Library of Congress for safekeeping. Not only is it your history but it provides U.S. history as well when you share incidents of your ancestor’s lives. These copies will never get lost or destroyed or be forgotten in the attic of an old home.

"At most, living memory endures for a hundred years or so.

Thereafter, even the barest outline of the past is forgotten,

unless it is recorded in writing . . ." 

John Morris in Londinium: London in the Roman Empire