Wednesday Evening Blessing

In the last few weeks, we have been blessed with being able to partake of Holy Communion, attend Good Friday services, and celebrate Easter.  It is always good to remember and refresh our minds and spirit.

A recent highlight though, was our Wednesday night trip to Mediapolis, Iowa.  We drove out to attend the testimony and baptism of one of my Dad's first cousins, who is 84 years old.  The oldest farmer wasn't up for the trip, so we took my Uncle Roy and Shirley, and Aunt Madelyn with us.  It was a windy and rainy drive, but we got to church early and had an opportunity to visit with Dave before the service.

During the evening he shared some of his history along with his testimony of faith.  His parents (my Great Uncle Walter) divorced when he was four years old.  His mother took his sister and his dad kept the two boys.  But his dad wasn't able to take care for the boys and work, so Dave lived with his Grandfather (in Peoria) for a while.  Then he lived with his Aunt Louise's family for a year (also in Peoria), but she had her own kids plus they took in boarders, so they really didn't need an extra child to care for.  He was then sent to Cissna Park to his Uncle Bill's.  After a year there, they sent him to Oakville, Iowa to his Aunt Martha and Uncle Max's farm.  After a few years, his father who by now was living and working in the Oakville area, remarried.  Dave went back to live with his dad and new step-mom.  A year later (1943), his dad was inducted into the Army.  After basic training, Walt was sent to France and in 1944 was killed in the Battle of the Bulge.  Walt's second wife now had a young child and a baby, so Dave, at the age of 12 was again sent to his Aunt Martha and Uncle Max's who then raised him to adulthood.

It was impressive to hear him say he had no hard feelings or harbored no bitterness about his childhood or not being raised by his own parents. He didn't use his misfortunes as an excuse for anything that occurred later in his life.  He would only say he was a very blessed man.

As a teenager, he said that he intended to become a believer some day, and he always felt like the church in Oakville was his church.  After he married, his wife  became converted and he stopped attending church all together.  His wife faithfully attended, brought the children to Sunday School, and faithfully served the Lord all of her life.  A year or so ago, she began to have some health problems.  The children, who no longer attend our church, took turns bringing her each Sunday for services.  They urged their father to also attend again,so after decades of being away he started coming to church with her.  A health scare of his own, the conviction of sin, the knowledge of hell, and the desire for eternal life brought him to repentance, confession, a changed life, and a desire to serve the Lord for his remaining years.

It was a blessing and privilege to meet him as a Brother, and to meet his family (my second cousins), many of whom I had never met before.  We fellow-shipped later than we probably should have, and didn't get home until midnight!

We appreciated the welcome and love we felt that evening from the congregation, and were impressed with the beautiful new Mediapolis-Oakville church building.

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

I Corinthians 5-7