Little Bit of a Nut

9 October 2011

Dear Phyllis,

Last Thursday Pammy and I celebrated our 2^nd anniversary. Actually it wasn't an “anniversary”but I don't know how to say “month-versary”. It has now been two months that we have been married. Friends ask me, “How are you doing?” The short answer is “Good”. The long answer is considerably more complicated.

Pammy and I scarcely knew each other before we were married. It was only 18 days from the first “hello”to the final “I do”. Needless to say, now were are beginning to get to know each other. The thing that has impressed me the most about her, is that she is a little bit cracked. She is just not normal. She is one of the most aggressive witness for Christ – and perhaps one of the most effective witnesses – I have ever met. I say she is not normal; what I mean is, there seems to be no holding back. And when I say she is cracked, you have got to be a little bit of a nut to just walk up to strangers like that and sail right into talking about Jesus.

The other day we were at a restaurant near here for lunch. The restaurant was fairly full, and there were no empty tables. There was one long table with six chairs, and two men were sitting at the far end. With no other place to sit, we sat at the other end. We hadn't got settled in our seats before she started a conversation with them. The waitress hadn't brought the menu yet before I heard “Iesu” (Jesus) in the conversation. I was embarrassed. I started quietly praying – more for myself and my embarrassment than for her and her courageous witness. I thought, these poor men will think she is a complete crank. But, to my amazement, they seemed to really open up. Rather than tension, there were smiles. They turned out to be two PHD professors at Mae Jo University. Then, to my utter amazement, one fellow turned out to be Mark's neighbor, and he knew me. Oh my goodness, it was terrific! I remembered talking to him three years ago, and used his electricity to build Mark's car port. By that time they asked me how I became a missionary, and I spent twenty minutes giving a detailed testimony on how I got saved. We spent a blessed hour taking to these two men. Two days later we were at Mark's house and saw one of the men. Pammy screamed, “There is Dr. Niuta!” We stooped and had another great five minutes talking with him. A terrific bond has been established as a result of her diving into a conversation to tell them about Jesus.

There are three security gate guard men at the entrance of our mubaan (housing area). We have been praying for these men for 13 years, but no one has done anything. Pammy hadn't been here two days before she established a close relationship with them. One man was sick, and she took my friend, Mike, and I there to pray for him. Pammy said, “Next week he will get saved.” The next Wednesday night, we walked through a horrible heavy rain to go to the gate to speak to him. Ten minutes later Pammy was praying with him to accept Jesus as his savior. In thirteen years, he is the first person I have seen saved here. That excludes the four young boys, that like to come to my shop, that Pammy led to Christ the second week she was here.

The other day she stopped by the New Creation Church, where I teach in the Bible school, just for a brief chat. While there, she met the aunt of one of the believers. She spent two hours sharing Christ with her. One of the Christians that happened to be there, simply remarked to Pammy, “Oh, she isn't a Christian”; but no one had tried to lead her to Christ. When Pammy came home and told me how she had spent the afternoon, she said,“Next week that lady will get saved.” She probably will.

I mean to tell you, that girl is a phenomenon! I have said, “I would be willing to put up with a life of misery just to have a partner who can win souls like that.” But praise God, living with her is no misery.

It is a strange phenomenon that God has to practically ring blood out of our nose to force us to accept His greatest gifts for our life. Virtually no one wants to get saved. God has to bring us under terrible conviction of sin, or the most dire circumstances before we open our hearts to say yes to Jesus. It is almost universal that no one wants to surrender their life to Christ. Again, it takes terrific pressure to bring a soul to surrender. Most people don't want to be a missionary; but, like salvation, and a surrendered life, everyone says when they get to the mission field that it is the greatest blessing of their life.

I can honestly say, marrying that girl is one thing I definitely did not have in mind. I didn't seek it, I didn't want her; and yet I was amazed how the Lord worked in my heart to bring me to the place where I would accept someone I really didn't want.

In 1994, when Roald Lidal was looking for property for his new printing plant, he found an excellent piece of land in Hatoyama. But the owner said flat NO – he would not sell that property to Roald. Sometime later, this unsaved Japanese called Roald and said, “Your God is the true God, because He has changed my mind to where I want to sell my property to you.”That is how New Life League bought their land in Hatoyama.

We read in Ezra 1:1; “To fulfill the prophesy of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia”. Sending the Jews back to Jerusalem, and rebuilding Jerusalem was not something that Cyrus had in mind, but God stirred up his spirit and gave him that impulse. In the last days we even read, concerning the ten partners with the anti-Christ, “ForGod hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will and to agree and give their kingdom unto the beast (the anti- Christ) until the Word of God shall be fulfilled.” (Rev. 17:17). One of the reasons I felt so strongly that it was the will of God to marry Pammy was how surprised I was how the Lord kept changing my heart to do something that was against my nature or natural choice.

Many years ago I said to a marriage counselor, “I love my wife because it is the will of God to do so.”He was almost offended, and, with a concerned tone replied, “Don't you think that is pretty legalistic?” I responded “I don't know if it is legalistic or not, but I do believe it the right thing to do. And I believe the Holy Spirit confirms that choice by giving me all the warm emotions that go along with it.” This is certainly the case with Pammy. Frequently I look at her and wonder, “How did I ever marry you?” But I can honestly say that the Lord has put a very genuine love in my heart for her, and, with deep conviction, I thank God for this precious gift He has given me.

My biggest criticism of her is that she is antiseptically clean. Operating rooms in hospitals are not as spotless as her kitchen and our bedroom. Oh my goodness this is hard on me! I have lived like a pig for 21 years. Now I have to take off my shoes to come in the house and change my shoes again to go up stairs. When I first met her, she looked terribly sanguine, and I thought her room must be a mess. Reality has proved to be the reverse.

The second week we were married we were out with Pastor Kichikun visiting, and he put a cute little puppy in his car. I asked, “Whose dog is that?”

“Mine. I am going to take her home.”

But when we got home, he left the dog beside our house, and started to drive away. I asked, “Isn't that your dog?” Kichikun replied, “No. Pammy wants her.” Shock! I love dogs, but I wasn't prepared for that. I told Pammy, “If we keep a dog, it must be in the house like a child.” She said, “No, dogs are outside” The first night the dog had flees, so she wound up outside.

I asked Pammy, “What shall we call her?”

“Black Canyon”

“No. What a stupid name!”

Black Canyon is really a fabulous adorable little puppy. The other night I came home a little late and Black Canyon was sleeping in the house. I put her out for the night. The next morning Pammy asked, “Why did you put Black Canyon out? She belongs in the house.” That is a little illustration on how we are happily adjusting to each other and getting along.

It is really amazing that we are getting along so well. But the devil would be terribly dilatory if he didn't challenge this relationship that has the potential for honoring the Lord so much. Along with the good times, there certainly have been times of serious challenges. But the encouraging thing is, that these times of conflict have proven to be the most profitable. Instead of being stumbling blocks, they have been helpful building blocks to build a strong house. The ability the Lord has given us for problem management is most encouraging. You have got to admire the devil for his ability to take absolutely nothing and make it into a huge squall. We had a ding dong one night over how to hang a mosquito net. The next night I got it up the way I knew was best and there was no issue. One day we were having one that had the potential of being a first-class fight. Before things got totally out of hand we stopped to pray. An hour later I couldn't remember what the issue was.

The other night we were having a problem that was a bit of an eye-opener to me. The thing started when I foolishly said, in jest, something I really didn't mean, but it hurt Pammy. I was stunned at how deep the emotions ran; and was utterly bewildered at what to do. Apologies and rational discussion didn't help a bit. Pammy got in a terrible mood, and I was at a loss as to how to reach her. Nothing I said helped or slowed down the stream of horrible destructive expressions pouring from her mouth. While she was taking a shower, it occurred to me that what was going on was a direct assault by the devil. My acting negatively certainly was no help. Finally, I decided to take on that attack head on. Rather than trying to get things settled with Pammy, I faced the spiritual forces we were dealing with. I told the devil that I would not allow any of his presence in our home. Our home belongs to Jesus and there was no room for the devil. Then I pleaded with the Lord to show me how to deal with this problem, and thanked Him for His salvation. Ten minutes later, Pammy came back in a much better mood. She mentioned a couple of divisive issues, but I refused to discuss them. I said, “This is not the time to talk. This is the time to sleep.” As we lay in bed, a few minutes later Pammy said, “Bill, please pray for me.” I asked what should I pray for?”Surprisingly, she responded, “Pray that the Lord will protect me.” That remark hit me with considerable force. Of course that is one of my primary responsibilities. My vow to God was to love, protect, and provide for her. As the weaker vessel she is more vulnerable to attacks by the enemy. It is my responsibility to protect her from that. Her responsibility is to stay under my covering. But as we mutually have a unassailable commitment to do the will of God, that leaves very little leverage the enemy can get on us.

This is a first time experience for both of us. But as we walk together in following Jesus we are finding this to be a very enjoyable and profitable journey. Praise God.

bill