Nelson’s journal 4/8/22

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Margaret

Baby Will’s struggle with some kind of stomach upset is still dominating everything in Nelson and Ann Sophie’s lives. All three are upset by the constant crying and inability to help him. At the same time, there are big decisions needing to be made in their ministry, including personnel changes, and Nelson is under pressure to make them.

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April 8, 2022

Been struggling a bit with the division between Kokua Crew and being a new father. There’s tons of ‘urgent’ stuff at Hale Ola, but this morning, instead of a staff meeting and working about getting everyone to campus, I spent the time in a chair holding Will, trying to calm him down, which eventually worked.

I think I’ll stay away from the feeding thing. It’s always the same. Right when I get out the bottle, he goes ballistic. It used to work, but now, just having him lay there, even crying, is better than fighting with him. He falls asleep eventually. It’s the more peaceful option.

Speaking of peaceful options, I want to protect the integrity of the Kokua Crew program more than I want to make people happy. I pray for the strength to do that, Lord. If you want me to change it, I will. If you want me to speak the hard truth to certain people, I will.

How can I address the current problems without causing offense, Lord? Courage and strength. I did it before, I can do it again, even though it’s painful and I hate delivering bad news. Thank you for the opportunity, and I know that with that comes responsibility.

I pray for [family members] who experienced loss yesterday. I pray that their family would be stronger for it in the end, rather than weaker. I pray for wisdom to know if I have a part in this at all. I pray for wisdom to know if we have a future in the Midwest, and if we should make any sort or move in advance.

I pray for wisdom to buy the right Toyota camper for the trip this summer to see the Ark with Mom and the whole gang. I pray for wisdom to know and courage to do.

Wisdom to know and courage to do.

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The Lord says, “I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you.” (Psalm 41:10)

Nelson’s journal 4/6/22

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Margaret

Baby Will is 22 days old, already going through his first life-crisis. His non-stop crying has pulled Nelson and Ann Sophie into the crisis, too, unsure about how to handle it. All three of them are worn out and frazzled, wondering if something could be seriously wrong.

Nelson still doesn’t feel good and is dealing with a variety of uncomfortable symptoms but is taking the recommended meds for a possible thyroid problem.

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April 5, 2022

5:30am. We almost went to the ER last night because of the constant unrest and crying in our little baby boy Will. Can’t settle, nothing works, seems like stomach pain. Maybe acid, GERD, or probably Colic like I had when I was young [for 3 months].

Thinking about it lasting for 12 weeks is hard to handle. It’s pretty much a full time job for the two of us, so the other one can get a break. When a baby is screaming, it’s hard to handle it for hours on end without a rest. Not to mention, I’m sure it’s even harder for him.

We are praying, Sherina [midwife, right] is coming over, and I dumped $50 last night on natural gas and other remedies. I just got him up, fed him about half of what I would like to have seen him eat, and put him back. Glad to even see that happen. Normally, he doesn’t go down easy. It’s at least an hour of trying to calm him and many attempts before anything really takes.

Maybe it’s spiritual warfare and there’s my thyroid sickness on top of it, which makes the whole thing just a little edgier. Meanwhile, my last sermon is this Sunday, and I haven’t decided on the passage yet.

I’ll be glad to put that season behind me at long last. I learned a lot of things, one of which is that I am not really a pastor at heart. The teaching, preaching thing, yes, but calling and checking up on people, listening, and spending time are things I do out of duty. Maybe it’s all this time in Kokua Crew and YWAM that’s burned me out.

Derek [left] comes in next week and we lend him the Miata. It’s great to be able to pay him back for all his generosity to me over the years.

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Today, I’m thankful for Will going back to bed so easily. I’m thankful for Annso and her positive attitude. I’m thankful for our place here in Kona for so long, and the position we have and all the trust the campus gives us. I’m thankful for our Kokua Crew and how nice they always are to us, and for progress with the thyroid. I pray for healing for me and for Will. I’ve always taken my health for granted, but now I realize what a gift being healthy really is.

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“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Nelson’s journal 3/31/22

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Margaret

Though Nelson feels sick in a variety of ways, he doesn’t dwell on that in this journal entry. Instead he focuses on the positive and the many ways God has blessed him.

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March 31, 2022

Getting on, or staying on the right path is one of the biggest prayer requests people probably have. We are in the 3rd week of being parents. It’s going pretty good and seems pretty obvious that our little guy is like me, a little restless and likes action and has a thick skin.

Our Little Red Church is handing over the land to the owners of that land on Easter Sunday. It will be our last time meeting there as a Baptist congregation. I think it’s weird how things come to an end like that. We are ready for it to end, but it still doesn’t feel that great to have pastored a church for 6 years and at the end of my time, it closed. I guess it’s ok and God knew it would be that way from the beginning.

Annso and I have been thinking of leaving Hawaii for the entire Summer. We want to buy a Toyota motor home and travel from California to the Ark [in Kentucky] where we will meet the rest of the family in early July.

Then after that, we head overseas to Germany and finish at the Brentwood retreat in England, then back to the US mainland. We could take the RV back across the country and either sell it in the west or actually ship it back here to Hawaii.

It would be nice to have a break from Kokua Crew and hang out like a family for a while, just the 3 of us. After that, we might have a clearer idea of what to do, either coming back to Hawaii or calling it quits and going to Michigan and buying a house. And I become a fixit man. lol. Probably some kind of call on my life toward ministry.

I am thankful for our little baby, for Annso’s patient and sweet spirit. I am thankful that Will is healthy, that Mom was able to come out, that Bates [Klaus, left] was able to come out too.