Category Archives: Thankfulness

Nelson’s journal 3/31/22  

Posted on by

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.

                                                     <<<<<<<<<<

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.

                      <<<<<<<<<< 

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.”(Proverbs 21:5)

Nelson’s journal 3/26/22

Posted on by

In the 13 days since Nelson last wrote in his journal, their baby had finally arrived. Though Ann Sophie labored hard for many hours in their apartment, assisted by two midwives, in the end it was a race to the hospital at midnight to make it happen. And Nelson “forcefully insisted” he be at Ann Sophie’s side through the emergency C-section, despite Covid rules.

 They named their little boy Willard Nelson Nyman—after his father Nelson, his grandfather Willard Nathan Nyman, and his great grandfather, Willard Nelson Nyman. It was exciting to see how they honored three generations with their name choice. They’ll call him Will.

The name Willard means “strong desire,” and their prayer was for little Will to have a strong desire for the Lord.

                                                   <<<<<<<<<<

March 26, 2022     

Day 12 of life with Little Will. We have John Hartley back with us. I’ll help him change the serpentine belt on his Jeep later this morning.

It’s really cool to have a son. Something I wrote off as probably not happening because it was too late, and because I messed up my life too much to get a woman young enough to bear children, or even be interested. God, you are so good to us.

You have put me into a place I could never have imagined. You have given me a girl beyond my dreams and a son. The Kokua Crew we have is amazing and the job here is even more than I would have imagined. Thank you for everything and for the things I don’t even know about.

Thank you that Annso survived the birth in good shape. Thank you that Mom was able to come out here and get a list for her prayer journal and that she and Annso talked about everything. Thank you for my rock solid heritage.

I pray for the service tomorrow that we can have a good turnout and that you would be found at our church. I pray for Jimmy [intern] and my service at the church in these last 4 weeks.

                                                  <<<<<<<<<<

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7)        

Nelson’s journal 3/10/22    

Posted on by

As their overdue baby boy continues to stay snuggled within Ann Sophie, Nelson continues to struggle with the leap from YWAM work (no two days alike) to electrician work (all days much the same). He’s aching to make the right decision at this pivotal point in his life.

He still has 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 on his mind as a new day dawns, focusing on his dilemma by tapping out the pros and cons on his laptop…while staying close by, in case this might be the day he officially becomes a father.

                                                     <<<<<<<<<<

March 10, 2022 

From 2 Chronicles 16: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand… Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing…”

This passage might be applied to a person who is making a plan where his own idea or way out of a situation takes precedence over relying on God. I have this scenario set up to start working for Tim as a full time electrician instead of what we are now doing, which will include moving to Kama’aina Hale instead of Hale Ola (both on the Big Island of Hawaii).

Annso and I differentiate days from one another by whether they are “YWAM Days” or not. YWAM days are full and unpredictable. You don’t get paid and can’t amass a pile of treasure for yourself, but you have lots of people in your life, and it’s a little more complicated.

I look forward to the work of YWAM days and dread the regular working days. Working days are simple. You trade time for money and get a skill out of the deal. YWAM days are “Jack of all trades, master of none” kind-of-days. The working days are “master of one.” I’m just writing it out because it helps me process it, so I don’t make a mistake.

We have plenty of everything. We lack nothing. Mom came in last night. She’s here to meet our little guy when he comes. He’s already 8 days late and they’ll let him go until 2 weeks I think. I don’t mind how long he takes, just so he’s ok in there.

Mary Helen from church said her second born was 1 month overdue. Mom said last night that most of her friend Katey Warton’s babies were 10 month babies, too. So what do I know? All I want is a healthy baby. Everything else is ok.

                                                           <<<<<<<<<<

“When you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand.” (2 Chronicles 16:8)