MY FATHER'S FOLDER: Mysterious Ways

A Journey Into The Unknown

The following accounts are from my father's 
journal of some of his experiences in Mexico as a missionary. 
As a kid, I remember him coming home from one of his treks to a remote village and sitting at his desk recounting those adventures in a journal of sorts.  I never was to interested in what he was writing, however, now it is conjuring up many memories.
Periodically he would write about some of those adventures for the Mexican Indian Mission news letter.  We have many of those old news letters and it has been fun to read about life so long ago of which I lived through.

 

Mysterious Ways Article from the MIM newsletter

He wrote the above article.

Tlapacholoyan is one of those villages in cold high altitude.  I recall hiking up the mountain to this village several times.
I was not much of a hiker but I did enjoy looking at all the orchids hidden up in the cliffs.
Don Amando and his wife Pasquala owned the local store and when we arrived in this village, we stopped at the store which was also their home.   We would be served lemon grass tea or coffee and a meal.
Don Amando and his wife were the first believers in that village and as a consequence  suffered many adversities.

Don Amando with his wife Pasquala and adopted daughter

They desperately wanted children and clung to their faith, hoping that God would give them children, as God gave Abraham and Sarah, Isaac.  They continued to pray and God gave them their own Isaac.
Three years later they welcomed a baby daughter they named Sarah, however, joy turned to sadness as Heaven welcomed her.
As all the Christian workers in the area were gone to the annual convention, my mother had stayed home with us children.
She was asked if she would come up to be with them during the burial and wake and conduct the funeral.
I faintly recall accompanying my mother and viewing the tiny body on the table, along with candles and the flowers, sitting quietly on a hard wooden bench.
This was a new experience for my mother.
Meanwhile, Isaac was loved all the more.
Sadly, Isaac was found to have a cancerous tumor in his leg which resulted in amputation.
I recall him trudging all over the place with his crutches.  He was a very active boy.
My mother taught him to play the organ and later the accordion.

Accordion Lessons

His physical condition continued to deteriorate and the Lord took him home at age 15.
The local villagers, now blamed the death on their faith.
They continued to follow the Lord with out the enthusiasm they had once experienced, however, the Lord continued to bless as Amando was the wealthiest man in the village.
He had more coffee groves than anyone else and he was prospering.

Coffee Beans

  He was elected judge and president and other various capacities of his village.
Dona Pasquala put her energies into learning medicine and nursing so she could help the sick.
With their enthusiasm renewed they began to build a church.  However, again trials struck.
Don Amando was found to have cancer in the jaw.  Early detection and chemo, and prayers went up for him and God chose to heal him.
I had always wondered at why he had a burned look to his face without knowing this account.
Sadly Don Amando passed away in 1989.

 

#1 Why Trust God?

Why trust God?

Embarking on our 40+ Journey

Even though I may have thought I was ready for marriage, I never was really not there yet. We never will be there yet. I may have thought I was prepared, on the other hand I felt I was not prepared for all the events and issues that life would be throwing at me.

Close to the eve of celebrating our 40th year now, I have found that TRUSTING GOD has been one of the main ingredients to keeping our vows intact.

Phil.1:6

  I live in an imperfect world and live with imperfect people, work for imperfect people, and care for imperfect people.

Our life verse:
 Philippians 1:6

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Rings engraved with Phil.1:6

The thought behind choosing this verse was choosing to lay hold of God's promises and cling to them for future hard times.

From New morning Mercies

ALREADY, BUT NOT YET

Every one of God's children lives between the "already" and the "not yet." Already Jesus reigns, but not yet has his final kingdom come. Already sin has been defeated, but not yet has it been completely destroyed. Already God has given you his Word, but not yet has it totally transformed your life. Already you have been given grace, but not yet has that grace finished its work. You see, we all wait for the final end of the work that God has begun in and for us.

We don't just wait—we wait in hope. And what does hope in God look like? It is a confident expectation of a guaranteed result. We wait believing that what God has begun he will complete, so we live with confidence and courage. We get up every morning and act upon what is to come, and because what is to come is sure, we know that our labor in God's name is never in vain. So we wait and act. We wait and work. We wait and proclaim. We wait and sacrifice. We wait and give. We wait and worship.

Waiting on God doesn't mean sitting around and hoping. Waiting means believing he will do what he's promised and then acting with confidence.

—Paul David Tripp in New Morning Mercies

How Can I get comfort?

Today, I read a comment by Meyer:

"God is the source of comfort, but people were the face (means) of comfort...God is behind all comfort, but he uses others to do the comforting, which means that God is in the business of building relationships.  We depend completely upon God, and he often uses people to meet our needs."

I have no greater joy...

How appropriate a quote in the light of our support group today for encouragement.
Today after a quick review of past lessons on comfort, we focused on II Corinthians 7:5-12 and how Titus was used to encourage Paul as well as the church.  Paul had just written his most emotional letter of all his letters.
The question posed to us,
 "What do you find the most challenging in your care giving?"
The most challenging issues in care giving:
Exhaustion
Uncertainty
Emotional upheaval 
Discouragement

(verses 6, 7)

⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
  Titus showed up in person with a letter from Paul to encourage.

WE ARE ENCOURAGED  BY RELATIONAL COMFORT.

 I Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

One thing we learned is that people play a big part in our lives through means of comfort.

What Can I Eat? Alzheimer's Resources - Easy Meals

"

Published on Apr 19, 2015

"I share tips on adapting food for the advanced Alzheimer's patient who has trouble swallowing or staying awake for a meal."

A good portion of my care giving has been devoted into adapting food for those who I take care of.

This video was produced by my good friend Laurie, who's husband I help care for.  I have been helping providing photos that began as a way of sharing with Laurie what we had been doing through out our day as Gary was not able to tell her where or what he had been doing.  That is when I began to journal our days through photo and video. 

This. Is. The. Day.

Forward Progress » Blog Archive » This. Is. The. Day.

This. Is. The. Day.

That the Lord has made.
"Regardless of what this day holds, it is the day that the Lord has made. He is not some cosmic clockmaker who set the universe in motion and then stood apart, watching it tick away. He’s still in the business of making days, and He’s made this one for me. Although I know very little of the potential ups or downs or highs or lows that this day holds, it is nevertheless the one made by the Lord. Because it is made by the Lord, I know that along with making it He has also given me the resources I need for it. I have the grace I need. The patience I require. The perseverance necessary. The discipline to do and work. Along with this day He’s made He has also given me His limitless supply which I take hold of by faith."

  “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

One of my favorite scripture verses.

 

THE GRIND DINING CONCEPT

A Weeks Worth Of Lunch & Dinners

Blog — Grind Dining

 The concept of "Grind Dining" is not new to me as I have been doing this on and off in my care giving with the help of a heavy duty blender.

The Grind Dining Blog and facebook site has many good ideas.The grind dining concept,  the solution for loved ones who have chewing or cognitive disorders and cannot use utensils when they eat.

Well, I have been doing this off and on in my care giving, however, using of a high quality blender.

For smaller portions or smoothies we use a Bella smaller blender of which I also use at home for smoothies although at the moment we are not fully into the making of smoothies.

The GOAL is to make this part of caring for our loved ones as nutritious and simple as possible.

How Alzheimer's Spreads Throughout the Brain | Alzheimer's Reading Room

Taking a Pause at The Mall

Pausing

How Alzheimer's Spreads Throughout the Brain | Alzheimer's Reading Room

The best description of how AD spreads through out the brain that I have seen for us visual learners.

HOW DOES ONE MAKE THE MOST OF ALZHEIMER'S?

 Some one shared this awesome part of their journey in life on facebook.  It is a good read.

"I have often heard that Alzheimer's is referred to as the "Long Goodbye." I've unfortunately had a front-row seat to watch this demonic disease sneak up on my own Mother. Then all of a sudden, it grabs hold and can't be shaken.
What would begin with forgetting why she went into a room would become a stove left on, an unlocked door at night, and untouched daily medicines. Less than a year ago, I watched as my six year-old would playfully run as "Memaw" would chase her in the yard. Now more often than not, she doesn't know who Addi is--aside from the "little girl who sometimes holds my hand as we walk the halls of the nursing home." Holding her hand is a requirement for balance, both mentally and physically. She can no longer effectively do her beloved word-searches. Instead, last week I watched her search her pockets for her car keys. The keys aren't in her pocket, in fact they're not even in this century.
My mentor and Spiritual Father would always say, "One of the worst things about Alzheimer's is that you really lose the person twice. First the mind, then the body." I'm not sure that Pastor Butler knows exactly how much truth is in his statement, but it's pretty accurate.
After watching her own mother suffer from this monster, Mom seemed to have a heads-up as she noticed the signs in herself. After two quintuple-bypass heart surgeries, one would think that heart meds would be priority. Yet, somehow Mom's medicine never ran low. Despite her condition, I'm not convinced that she always "forgot," but she would rather leave this world suddenly than to suffer down the same road many others have for years.
The roads we travel in life can be scary at times, because we don't always know our destination or if we are on the right path at all. Imagine that in addition to being unsure about your destination, you're also unsure of your surroundings.....and even yourself. It's hard to arrive at your destination when you don't know what it is--it's even more challenging when you don't know know who you are. So who could blame her for not taking her meds? I'm pretty sure that I would do the same thing as she.
As Pastor of New Generation Ministries and a grief counselor, I've studied up as much as I can on terminal illnesses. Many times I've seen Alzheimer's referred to as "The Long Goodbye." Because the death isn't sudden, and can often be seen down a long, slow, road each day can be "goodbye" all over again for the patient and the family. However, when I walk into Ridgewood Healthcare in Jasper, Alabama each day and see a short, gray, wrinkled little woman, we both smile from ear to ear. We refuse to let each day be "The Long Goodbye"--instead we see it as a time of "New Discoveries and Hello's." Each day holds a new discovery for at least one of us, many times its both.
We've discovered that Mom can take her false teeth out, touch her nose with her tongue, then forget that she did it three minutes later.
We've discovered that mom can stand while hugging me 43 seconds before her legs feel weak.
We've discovered that Mom can help plan her own surprise birthday party. And still be surprised-- twice while she's there.
I've discovered that if I find her sleeping, she loves to be woken up with kisses on her forehead.
We've discovered that even though she doesn't remember it, the pact that she made with an eleven year-old boy at his Daddy's grave wasn't a commitment of words, but of the heart: "No matter what, as long as we are together, we're gonna make it."
I've discovered that after 33 years of never hearing any evidence, my mother has still never once "passed gas." However, her roommate apparently can even when she isn't in the room with us--at least that's who Mom blames it on.
We've discovered that taking selfies is fun, especially on days that Mom doesn't realize how the phone works.
She's discovered that if she mentions pitifully "I have no money and I'm really thirsty," a case of Cokes will miraculously appear the next morning on her chest of drawers.
I've discovered that sometimes Mom isn't as bad as she wants me to think, and is pretty much just playing the game. In fact, she's probably the coach.
We've discovered that the tighter a hug, the better.
I've discovered that despite everything she's been through, she's still able to squirm pretty quick if I tickle her collarbone with my chin when we hug.
We've discovered that a 6'2" 275lb man and a 77 year-old woman can fit on a hospital bed together on a bad day. It takes a little work, but it can be done. And it usually leads to laughter.
We've actually discovered that everything leads to laughter.
We've discovered that the statement "Ignorance is bliss" is true in Mom's situation.
We've discovered friendships and Love that we've never had with staff and other residents at Ridgewood.
I've discovered a new Calling and passion for the healthcare field since Mom's admittance.
We've discovered that sometimes it's fun to wonder why in the world she's "stuck" in a place with a "bunch of old women, because I'm not old." We've also discovered that we can just blame Aunt Helen wink emoticon
She's discovered that her sister Helen is actually the best friend and caretaker she's ever had. I've discovered that, too.
Each day she discovers new people in the hallway. Of course they're the same people that were there the previous day, but that's one of the perks of Alzheimer's. There's always someone new to meet. Even if there's only two of you.
I've discovered that when God charged this woman to hand pick me as an infant and give me the GREATEST life ever, she wouldn't stop when I became an adult. And even though I'm the "adult" now, she still continues to give me the greatest life ever.
We've discovered that she can look at my bride and say "She looks pregnant!" Without any repercussion if she hadn't been (thank God she really is)!
Each day I discover a new appreciation and Love for my Mother.
We've discovered that if I walk into her room and find her putting her wig on sideways, it takes me less than three seconds to fall into the floor laughing. I've also discovered that then it only takes her five seconds to roll her eyes and stick her tongue out at me.
I've discovered that God really does Love us, no matter what the situation we find ourselves in.
So is Alzheimer's really the "Long Goodbye" as it's been labeled? Not for a little old woman and her son. It's a time full of new discoveries and friendships.
After all, we just met today, right?"
(Keep up with Mom's journey by following me on Facebook or Twitter @RealTJArmstrong)

WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT

This major event has no celebration, 

Baby B.

no rite of passage to honor it.
I am not often asked how becoming
a grandmother affects my life or changes
my views of myself.
As a result I am left with many unexplained

Baby L.

feelings about the meaning of this profound
passage in life.  I must muse upon it on my
own.
I am a grandmother.  I have been one for 9
years!
No one consulted me in this role.
What am I going to make of it?
What are my hopes, dreams, and concerns
as a grandmother?
Babies don't come with instructions for 
grandmothers.
Grandma hood, we just don't talk much
about how it feels.  Oh, we show pictures and all
but we don't talk about how it really feels.
Really, how does it feel to have moved into
the next stage of life, as the oldest or almost
oldest generation in the family?
It's a sobering reminder of our own 
mortality, combined with the awesome
recognition that through our grandchildren,
our lives are extended into a future we shall
never see.

Christmas Advent Activities

I often wonder how much I will live to see.
These thoughts are coupled with a sense of urgency to spend time in prayer for them.
I want to make a difference.  I want to leave 
a legacy.  I want to interact with them as much as health and time permit.
  "Becoming a grandparent is one more of life's events that wakes us up to our age and where we are in the continuum of life.  Like it or not, it moves us along and makes us aware that we are advancing on life's journey."

Showing How It works

God has my remaining years numbered.
What is worth doing in those years?

 

CAUGHT UNPREPARED? The feeling of horrible astonishment: My Son was gone.

 It will soon be a year since the death of our son, due to a sudden heart attack at the age of 32.

We will never make sense out of his death, yes, there are still days I question why.

Yes, the grief continues to well up against the fresh realization that he is gone.

Yes, there continues to be disappointments and shattered dreams.  The seasons to look forward to a marriage, children, and grandchildren, and visits to his newly renovated house are but faded realities.  The loses with in the loses are a matter of personal selfish dreams and ambitions that will never take place.  I will never have the priviledge of having a daughter-in-law.

The most difficult decisions in the past year have had painful reminders that he is gone.  Dealing with the estate, the sale of the house, sale of the Jeep,taxes, finances and legal issues to contend and creditors to appease.  It has been a long drawn process, however, I am told that It could have been longer.   Looking back on this process, we see how each step had its own timing for our own good.  I am grateful for the many who came along side us and helped us through this process.

I treasured each little memory my son and I made together and there were many as well as all the memories of his handiwork left behind.

This is an article by Tripp of which I have found so describes some of my feelings and he could not have been so right on.  An excerpt:

Nothing is more shocking, emotional, or final than the death of a loved one. Facing the death of someone you love—a child, a spouse, a parent, a close friend—is one of life's most difficult experiences.
Your head is spinning with so many thoughts, feelings, and emotions. You can't grasp that you've had your last visit, your last conversation, your last meal, and your last holiday with your loved one. Your mind is flooded with things you wish you had said or done. You want to say, "I love you," one more time, and you want to hear it said to you.
Your warehouse of memories is filled with fond and painful remembrances, and you are holding tightly to that treasured collection of fading photographs. You don't feel ready to say goodbye or to deal with the grief that's overtaken you.
This article is written to help you make sense out of what appears to make no sense and to point you towards hope even as you are experiencing the darkness of death.
When you are dealing with grief your emotions race and your thoughts are scattered. In the middle of this confusing and hard time, you need to remember a few simple truths from the Bible. God will use them to help you understand what you are experiencing and to give you hooks on which to hang your emotions.

A Look Out point where my son took me for a wild Jeep ride.

You can't prepare for the death of a loved one. Whether death results from a sudden accident or a long illness, it always catches us unprepared. Death is so deeply emotional and stunningly final that there is nothing you can do ahead of time that will help you sail through your moment of loss. Those who knew that death was coming and those who were taken completely by surprise will go through many of the same things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Grief Finding Hope in the Darkness  To read full article click here.