Original subtitles

sorry for the last-minute notice but the

boss wants you to interview a lady by

the name of Letty B Kalman at the

address below she will be in the

upstairs meeting at the Concord Plaza he

also said you shouldn't be late to your

other appointment or it will cost your

job then don't worry when you get back

to the office there's plenty of files

that need to be taken care of see you

real soon your pals at the office

[Applause]

tired of these games they changed my

interview times they changed my

interviews I'm about to be late to this

interview something's gotta change

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

come here

[Music]

yes yes energy very good to know you

David you so sorry that I'm late

but it just seems the person that gave

me the details for this interview kind

of waited to the last minute that's all

right I haven't been here very long and

I have a good story to tell so we're

good thank you for I understand it share

let me just

okay how long have you been with the

paper David just about a year now

oh do you like it I do I really do I

enjoy the work but the work environment

can sometimes be very challenging oh

well I imagine working in a big

newspaper that you would meet all kinds

of different characters that's the truth

well I have some specific questions here

but I like to get to know someone flying

to do them so if you give me a little

background on yourself lady how did you

come into missionary work missionary

work it all began with my husband

Charles and I were both raised in Iowa I

was born there in 1870 in the town of

Theatre Charles was born in Illinois in

1868 and he and his family moved to Iowa

when he was just 2 years old

their home was near the wood burn

settlement about 20 miles

Iowa was a beautiful place covered in

wildflowers tall prairie grass and

picturesque farms it was a wonderful

place to grow up Charles and I didn't

become acquainted until later in our

childhoods we had very different

upbringings

my father was quite prominent man and we

enjoyed many luxuries due to his success

in the banking industry we surrounded

ourselves with music culture and art and

I greatly enjoyed learning to play the

piano I wanted for nothing as a child

and though my parents were good

hospitable people

I don't recall then ever mentioning God

Charles was brought up in a Christian

home where daily Bible readings were

common his family faithfully attended

church and they also enjoyed nature

walks and storytelling Charles was

raised to be studious and to never go

into debt these are two bad news he

honored his entire life in the summer of

1883 Charles at the age of 15 became

interested in two-leg Rafi

and through a number of circumstances

and despite much reservation from his

parents because of his young age he was

permitted to go to work at a railway

station several miles from his home this

in turn brought him to a village just a

short distance from our home one day

while in the village my mother took

notice of Charles she thought the young

man seemed lonely and invited him to our

home for dinner she felt he needed some

tending to she referred to it as

smothering soon after our first meeting

Charles began to walk me home from

school and my mother would often ask him

to remain with us for tea our families

became great friends and as we did it

was only natural that my friendship with

Charles grew into more

early on we were quite smitten with one

another

Charles was continually promoted in his

work which required him to move to other

stations including Chicago and later to

Colorado but in the summer of 1889

Charles returned for my hand in marriage

he was 21 and I was 19 he did very well

in telegraphy profession and made a

comfortable life for us unfortunately

his relationship with God by this time

had become distant work and home became

his focus he took great joy in providing

us many lectures these luxuries would

keep us both distracted but it would not

be long before our cozy little home

would be shaken by the love of God

it was in the winter of 1893 when I met

the Lord at an altar on my knees at a

children's service my life was changed

forever to my great delight a month

later

Charles was reunited with the Lord and

both our lives to the completely new

direction we instantly became involved

in church and Charles faithfully

introduced many of his co-workers to the

Lord among them was Ernest Kilbourne who

had become a dear friend and faithful

partner in the mission work to come

eventually this large group of dedicated

telegraphers would become known as the

telegraphers band and would later

provide much support to mission fields

in 1894 Charles and I attended a

missionary convention there we heard

stories about missionaries in foreign

countries who continually trusted God

for their needs we were instantly moved

by God and we both felt we too

would be called to mission work later

Japan would come to the our mission

field

[Music]

David you seem to be distracted is

everything okay

it is I'm just thinking about something

you said earlier oh if I need to repeat

something let me know I'm not referring

to your story but it was a comment that

you made earlier about different

characters at the workplace and I

realize my colleagues didn't want me

working the paper at all if it was left

up to them I wouldn't be a reporter at

all I may have misspoke when I mentioned

it character at the newspaper office it

seems like to me David that the only one

with character there at all would be you

thank you lady but I see my position at

the paper as more it's a responsibility

or calling more than a job but I try and

my motivation is to continue rather than

falling for the childish behavior that

my colleagues have well I commend you

for that David I think that's what we're

supposed to do when we feel like we're

doing what the Lord wants us to do and

that reminds me of how the Lord used

Charles and I when we were doing

missionary at work in Japan

in 1901 we set foot on Japan Charles and

I along with juji Nakata and later

Ernest Kilbourne founded what was then

known as the Oriental Mission Society we

felt strongly that the natives of the

land should be evangelized and discipled

so that they in turn could evangelize

and disciple their own people

Charles and the others founded the Bible

Institute they're locals have come and

listen to the Word of God daily many

people gave their lives to the Lord and

furthered our reach in Japan the central

purpose of first Timothy is found in

chapter 3 verse 15 I write so that you

may know you ought to conduct yourself

in the house of God which is the Church

of the Living God the pillar and ground

of the truth

the church is God's primary vehicle for

accomplishing his work on earth the Lord

has ordained that men and women who have

trusted him as Savior should be involved

in working out his will in local

assemblies around the world Paul wrote

first Timothy in order to instruct his

young Protege on how the church should

function and how mature men and women of

God should interact in it specifics are

given on developing and recognizing

godly leadership and avoiding false

doctrine in the church Paul insists that

Christian maturity should be expected in

leadership while it is being developed

in the lives of all believers Paul

offers Timothy a whole list of extremely

practical advice for leading a church as

he faced the problems and hardships of

ministry in a local church Timothy must

have repeatedly read Paul's letter for

the valuable insights it offers Paul an

apostle of Jesus Christ by the

commandment of God our Savior and the

Lord Jesus Christ our hope to Timothy a

true son in faith grace mercy and peace

from God our Father in Jesus Christ our

Lord

there shall be no other doctrine as I

urged you when I went into Macedonia

remain in a thesis that you may charge

some that they teach no other doctrine

nor give heed to fables and endless

genealogies which cause disputes rather

than godly edification which is in faith

now the purpose of the commandment is

love from a pure heart from a good

conscience and from sincere faith from

which some having strayed have turned

aside to idle talk desiring to be

teachers of the law understanding

neither what they say nor the things

which they affirm

sadly however at the end of the year of

1917 a drastic change would come for us

Charles constant work and lack of sleep

began to catch up with him he was

severely worn out the next several years

would prove to be extremely hard for us

it was then we would have to face our

own generality through many many dark

days and long desperate nights we would

come to see God in a whole new life

and we would come to know him in a much

more intimate way than ever before

Charles you okay Charles are you okay

what's the matter

Charles what's wrong

turns

so I back again it's never hurt like

this before okay take a deep breath

I mean are you okay

take a deep breath

Oh Charles I'm gonna I'm gonna go back

to camp and I'm gonna bring the doctor

will you be okay here I'll be right back

so Charles thank you for having me over

to your house today first of all would

you like to tell me what's going on well

it's been a tightness in my in my chest

and a shortage of breath mostly today

when we were out in the villages

evangelizing it felt as though the

breath were being taken right from me

and I felt very sharp pains in my back

and shortness of breath almost as though

I I couldn't breathe

and is that when you called for me yes

that's when I had my wife go to you and

I thought perhaps this could be more

serious than than what I thought it has

been well Charles it is a good thing

that you called for me and I'll tell you

why I honestly do think that this is

possible your heart have you had any of

these pains or this tightness in your

chest before today I've always had a

strong heart doctor but I suppose the

pains and the shortness of breath have

been going on for well the last two or

three years I guess that's interesting

Charles now what I think you need most

of all is more than likely rest

let me not jump to any conclusions but

you do definitely need rest I need to do

a little more studying on this and I do

want to talk to a few my colleagues if

it is what I think it is you'll probably

need to be on bed rest and probably

indefinitely and I honestly think you

probably need to go back to the States

for this bed rest no there's too much

work to do here in Japan still perhaps a

couple days of rest but there's too much

work to do doctor I understand

and that's why I really don't want to

jump to any conclusions yet let's do

this I'm gonna make an appointment for

you in the next few days and I want you

to come and stop by my office well

Charles I best be going now

but I would like to see you in my office

in a couple of days and by then I should

have some of those answers how does that

sound Charles I suppose that's fair

enough

[Music]

[Music]

I don't believe the Lord I'm gonna have

us quit doing the work that we're doing

here

I understand

[Music]

and although I do agree with the doctor

about too much what's required to rest

that my body needs

I won't be led astray will work the Lord

has us doing here in Japan

I believe with you Charles and I want

you to be healed from this

whatever this is

why would the Lord heal so many people

that we work with each and every day did

not heal me is he limited in his ability

I don't believe so my sweet lady I don't

believe so

[Music]

Charles is bothered by the idea that he

might have to go back to the States

after 16 years of dedicated service to

the Lord in Japan this is the time that

Charlie began to isolate himself in

prayer for hours at a time in order to

hear from God Charles did not know how

sick he was at the time but he wanted

God's voice to lead him

he would write down whatever he heard

the Lord speak to him so as to be sure

of his direction

[Music]

Charles was a servant to the Lord and he

knew that in the hard times he was to

lean hard on the Lord's direction

instead of choosing his own way

[Music]

I admired this about Charles it was a

grace given to him to do what the Lord

had called him to do

[Music]

at this point in life trusting God was

an everyday occurrence for Charles and I

as we were at the helm of the missions

work God had for us to do for most of us

we all returned to God in our hard times

and because of this we miss hearing

God's voice because we're not familiar

with it unfortunately we know our voice

and the voice of the others around us

better than the Holy Spirit's voice and

because of this we often pray our

desires get me out of this help me with

this help me with that

it seems listening is a lost art in

today's world Charles never did lose

sight of what was most important and

that is God's voice in the midst of his

trial he waited upon the Lord

but although listening

I believe Charles did not want to hear

that he was seriously ill God used the

doctors words to confirm what he was

telling him in prayer

[Music]

hello Charles good morning doctor how

are you well Charles I have some really

tough news for you it most definitely is

your heart and I'm really sorry about

that

your condition has really progressed and

as I suspected before you're going to

need a lot of rest

fortunately Charles as you can see

sitting here in my office today your

condition hasn't progressed to the point

where it can't be helped

like I mentioned in our previous

conversation Charles you have a serious

condition and it will only worsen if you

don't get any rest it only worsen if you

don't take care of your body how much

rest do you suggest doctor a week

perhaps two I'm sorry to tell you

Charles

but this is my recommendation that you

need to return immediately to the States

and you need to be on bed rest

indefinitely doctor I died how can that

be

indefinite bedrest that's correct

Charles I'm not going to say that you

will die tomorrow but if you don't start

taking immediate rest you will

definitely suffer the consequences I

know that your heart is here with the

Japanese people and that you have helped

a lot of people already but in my

opinion I think it is time for you to

start focusing on helping yourself and

for that I am truly sorry Charles

[Music]

so as the Lord led us we followed him to

Hollywood California

where a good friend of ours allowed us

to live in a house that he owned there

of course this was a real blessing

because we needed to get back in the

states so that we could get the best

medical attention for Charles how did

Charles handle not being able to be part

of the ministry anymore oh no Charles

was willing to come to the States

but he was not willing to do what the

doctors told him to do and that was to

take it easy no sir he continued to go

to churches continuing to raise support

for the mission work in Japan

sounds like Charles had a very

determined so when it came to doing the

mission work in Japan oh yes

Charles had initiated at the great

village campaign where our ministry

would go to every person in Japan and

share the gospel with them of course

when we had to return home Charles was

not able to witness the completion of

this campaign every person in Japan that

is an amazing joy was it ever completed

as a matter of fact we received word of

the completion of the campaign in

January 1918 that was just four months

after we returned to California so how

many people were reached in that

campaign over 60 million amazing

so Charles must have been so proud that

the work he started so long ago is

finally complete proud yes

but Charles was a missionary warrior as

a soul winner he did not become

complacent when it came to introducing

the Lord to those who had never met him

China became Charles focus and he would

talk about it often

[Music]

Charles

what is that Letty have you considered

when we go into China starting the

church from the center of China and

branching out from there like the early

church did from Jerusalem

you know Letty I hadn't thought about

that that doesn't sound like a bad idea

and of course as the Lord leads us we

will follow

of course Charles we will will be led by

the Lord like we always have been then

we'll know that we're being led properly

that we won't be led astray I'm sure

that work in China will be a greater

work than we can even imagine I believe

that too Charlie I the Lord has placed

this on my heart as well you know Lettie

I hadn't had a chance to share this with

you yet but the Lord has placed upon my

heart a message to get to the ministries

so that we may be able to go out and

raise the money necessary to continue

the missions in Japan well that sounds

wonderful Charles would you share it

with me it's quite clear the Lord has

given me this scripture

to help fulfill the mission of the

church on this earth so that his works

may be able to be accomplished just in

the way that Paul gave Timothy a letter

to guide him

as a young man leading the church so too

must we give the missions and the

missionaries instruction and provision

so that the will of the Lord may be

fulfilled here on earth in 1904 thirteen

years before we came home Charles was in

America raising funds for the missions

in Japan when he was approached by three

Korean nationals he had attended our

Tokyo Bible Training Institute years

later God would lead Charles to start an

Institute in Korea to evangelize and

train the locals so it wasn't just in

Japan that you were there no I remember

when the Lord spoke to Charles about

China because on that very day in a

separate location God had spoken to

Ernest Kilbourne about China as well God

started sharing his vision with both of

them in about the very same time yes

interesting Charles would study China

day and night and would keep in touch

with Ernest very often by letter about

the work that was to be done in China

dear Charles we do hope that you are

finding time to rest my friend

the work here continues to go forward

the Lord has given us his enduring

strength the men are fiercely working

from dusk till dawn to complete the

great village campaign

I must tell you

but I have come under my own burden as

well

and I will be sailing home soon my dear

wife is also enduring

extreme exhaustion

it should not be long before we will see

you in California I write so that you

will not be too surprised of our

presence there with you

juji and the men are full of fervor

however they are also very concerned for

you

prayers day and night are being lifted

on yours and Letty's behalf I will see

you soon my friend

I know that you will want to speak about

the many affairs here as well as our

future in China

sincerely Ernest Kilbourne

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

we could start in hunan

go through

2:13 Lake and work our way to Hong Kong

just some distance to travel

or

perhaps we come around

- Szechuan and work towards the Gulf of

Tom King

and then up to Hong Kong

[Music]

goddess Lord guide us and we will surely

follow

[Music]

show us where we need to go but father

wherever you guide us wherever you take

us we will follow you follow with our

hearts none of their minds follow you

Lord take us where you want us to take

this ministry we can build the church on

earth so that you can do the work here

through us

guide us and we will follow in the name

of the Lord Jesus Christ amen

[Music]

the mission work is very important to

Charles so when the doctors of

California told him he should be on bed

rest with very little activity he didn't

listen to them you mean he didn't stay

in bed much no I mean he didn't stay in

California are you ready to go I'm sorry

for taking so long

ready it's just getting harder sure how

are you feeling well we're willing Lord

willing I'm not gonna stop just crowds

out there waiting to hear what I have to

say and I'm gonna keep preaching to them

and to keep going they have to hear what

I have to say we have to raise that

money for the missions in Japan it's

just too important I know you don't

agree with me pushing myself like this

but Lord is keeping me standing

man willing

Charles and I traveled to many different

states together as he would preach to

churches to tell them about the support

that was needed for the missions

overseas so how did Charles his help

hold up to all that traveling for a time

it seemed like his health had recovered

but when traveling from a summer camp

meeting in Ohio to Michigan

he suffered another heart attack and he

had to see a local doctor that told him

to return to California and get some

rest the heart attacks continued and it

was then that terms realized he was

serious with you

[Music]

as it was his heart that was sick

sleeping in his chair became more and

more common he would stay up with pains

some time all night long

often times I would wake up about the

time

Charles was falling asleep

some mornings he would share with me the

encouragement the Lord had given him

through the many books he would read

while up so late at night

[Music]

[Music]

although I'm dead I would often wake up

to the sound of Charles praying in the

other room father read you

[Music]

whether or not Charles was feeling up to

it

he would faithfully read and respond to

the many letters from missionaries

around the world it seemed as soon as

Charles would read one letter the

postman would bring three more in its

place

[Music]

the letters were never lacking in their

attempt to encourage us they would be

filled with scriptures and stories of

how Charles and I were the reason

someone else decided to follow God's

call on their life

Charles never stopped appreciating these

letters as they would come in at just

the right time to lift his soul as

Charles health declined we would receive

more letters from around the world we

also received many visitors many of whom

were missionaries themselves some had

received training from OMS and others

were themselves leaders in the mission

field there was a common thread

communicated from them all and that was

the hope that God would do a mighty

miracle of healing and raised Charles up

from his deathbed of course I was

content with just having Charles with me

to visit with and to talk to

but I never stood in the way of the many

visitors that would spend hours visiting

with him because I knew it was the Lord

bringing the opportunity of ministry to

Charles now David you have to understand

that we were still believing God very

strongly that Charles would not be

allowed to die we wanted to see God do a

great miracle in Charles life and a

great many people around the world who

had also written us letters they felt

the same way this had to be a very hard

trial for Charles it seems did he doubt

at all that he be healed it was a hard

time but throughout Charles illness I

can only remember one time when he

wavered in his faith Charles put his

trust in the Lord and he proclaimed it

daily Lettie what about you you must

have had a hard time do this oh yes I

was tested by the situation as well but

as much as I wanted to see Charles

healed the Lord began to share with me

that he would be taken to heaven

although I didn't want to see it over a

long period of time the tug of war

between my wants and God's plan began to

subside

Oh Lenny I need to make a call from my

next interview is it okay if we take a

break real quick so I can make a phone

call

sure no problem okay I'll read a little

further in my streams oh you run attack

job 23:10 he hath acquainted himself

with my beaten path when he has searched

me out I shall come out shining Oh

operator can you transfer me to

transcontinental industry

mr. Gordon David James I'm the reporting

as a sign to interview you today I'm

just calling to let you know that our

pointment it's still good for 3 o'clock

I will be there and we're still a

girlfriend's afternoon faith grows amid

storms just for words but oh how full of

import to the soul who has been in the

storms faith is that god-given faculty

which when exercised brings the unseen

into plain view and by which the

impossible things are made possible it

deals with supernaturals but it grows

amid storms that is where there are

disturbances in the spiritual atmosphere

storms are caused by the conflicts of

elements and the storms of the spiritual

world are conflicts with hostile

elements in such an atmosphere faith

finds its most productive soil in such

an element becomes more quickly to full

fruition the staunchest tree is not

found in the shelter of the forest but

out in the open where the winds from

every quarter beat upon it and bend and

twist it until it becomes a giant in

stature this is the tree which the

mechanic wants his tools made of and the

wagon makers ceased so in the spiritual

world when you see a giant remember the

road you must travel to come up to his

side is not along the sunny lane where

wildflowers ever bloom but a steep rocky

narrow pathway where the blasts of hell

will almost blow you off your feet where

the sharp rocks cut the flesh where the

projecting thorns scratched the brow and

the venomous beasts

hiss on every side it's a pathway of

sorrow

Angele of suffering and healing balm of

tears and smiles of trials and victories

of conflicts and triumphs of hardships

and perils and buffetings of

persecutions and misunderstandings of

troubles and distress through all of

which we are made more than conquerors

through him who loves us maybe 15 20

minutes or so okay sure sure

okay that works for you that works for

me

that's definitely that we can do yeah

yeah okay all right sounds great

we'll see you through the clock thank

you sir

amid storms right in the midst where it

is fiercest you may shrink back from the

ordeal of a fierce storm of trial but go

in God is there to meet you in the

center of all of your trials and it was

for his secrets which will make you come

forth with a shining face and an

indomitable faith that all the demons of

Hell shall never afterwards cause to

waiver written by Ernest Kilbourne

I'm sorry for the page when I left you

said you'd be reading from the streams

in the desert devotion my notes say that

that was your first book am i right yes

I was reading from the streams in the

desert and I'd like to say of all the

books that I've written this is the one

that the Lord gave me sounds like

there's a lot of history behind that

book can you share me just for the

interview yes David this book is a

compilation of the many encouragement

the Lord gave us during the time Charles

was ill six long years I see through the

process of Charles getting weaker I even

became ill myself the emotional toll was

unbearable on both of us but in God's

faithful character we began to see how

he was encouraging us on a daily basis

it was from letters from our friends and

books at times

luckily the Lord never failed us

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

Charles Charles

[Music]

[Music]

many men oh the grandeur of their lives

to their tremendous difficulties this

one looks like a great one we should

read this if you were done fooling

around one day as we were walking along

the ocean we realized we hadn't received

an encouragement that day but just as we

discussed it a strong gust of wind blew

a gospel tract right at our feet I

picked it up and are ready to loud and

it encouraged us both it was just like

one of the tracks that we used in Japan

that's a good story I have to say that

I've been really encouraged by your

stories today it was such a struggle but

the faith you place then got to go

through all that you did that's just

incredible the Lord is a great encourage

your David

and that reminds me of another thing the

Lord did

[Music]

[Music]

you know the Lord has done so much work

through our lives

even though we left Japan five years ago

feels just like yesterday

it does feel just like yesterday

[Music]

but all of our pain and our suffering

seems to be working in God's plan

the streams in the desert look will be a

great encouragement to other people

[Music]

yes

all of our suffering hasn't been only

[Music]

a good friend of ours knew Charles

situation was worsening and from a

gracious heart he gave us a car with the

hopes of making our lives easier you see

he knew Charles and I would often make

our way to use the bookstores and

libraries looking for new written

encouragement the Lord would give us but

soon even that would have to come to an

end as Charles could not even make the

short walk to the car any longer

let me I can't make it today

we're almost to the car

can you get there or doing do we need to

go back

[Music]

we need to go back

[Music]

the car was such a blessing to us and we

can't use it

I want you to take the car and sell it

the missions need the money

you can sell the car and give it to the

missions

mr. Jordan where do you think that

gentleman over there is going through

such a tough time when he's helped so

many people in his life

I don't know Nikki there's some things

that just can't be understood there's no

reason that makes sense why people go

through some of the things that they do

but I can tell you that today is the

first time that I've ever seen him not

smile there must be something going

I suppose but I have a serious game of

croquet to get back to I'll see you

later okay bye have fun

it wasn't long before the Lord brought a

buyer and we were able to give the money

to the missionaries overseas that needed

it so desperately and it filled our

hearts to do so

ma'am may I ask why you're selling such

a splendid automobile of course my

husband and I have been missionaries in

Japan for the past several years and

someone gave us this car is a blessing

however my husband Charles has become

very very ill and we're unable to use

the car now he suggested we sell it the

proceeds from the sale of the car will

be used to meet a need of other

missionaries in Japan thank you for the

wonderful opportunity and I do hope your

husband is well soon thank you very much

this is the amount we agreed upon thank

you let's go and sign the paperwork and

the automobile will be yours after you

[Music]

[Music]

although Charles being taken by the Lord

was not a new thought in my mind I had

somehow not been preparing myself for it

instead I was hoping and asking the Lord

for his healing and when I did allow the

Lord to speak freely about the situation

my heart would not fully embrace and

accept the reality that was to come

[Music]

but only because of my wishful thinking

was I not prepared for the inevitable

[Music]

the pain was unbearable

[Music]

when Charles took his last breath it was

is that the oxygen from both of our

lungs was taken and for the first time

since except in Christ

I was lost my emotions ruled over me as

if I was not in control and this was not

just for a little while I had lost my

charlie my husband my life long friend

[Music]

we were rare lovers that must have been

a hard day yes not only a hard day at

the beginning of verse three months of

my life I refuse to see anyone and

comfort was the last thing on my heart

although at the time I would not allow

encouragement I did read a passage from

Charles diary I brought it with me

would you mind if I read it to you for

the story you're writing I don't know

okay thank you July 16 1924 I think God

for you I loved one

as for no other gift of his bestowing

you cannot know what you are to me

everything in our lives has done like

ten whining of a golden thread you'll

not have anyone after I'm gone but God

dearest

[Music]

the Lienhard Grayson comfort will be

given

the work will need your Minister has

never before dedicate yourself to it the

Lord has raised you out to be a witness

to the ends of the earth after a time

you should go out to the Orient and

encourage your brethren do your utmost

for China see to it that the Bible

training schools are established just

follow the Lord as he leads step-by-step

his plan one for

I would advise you not to spend too much

time at my grave

I'll not be there you know the Lord will

bring you triumphant me through and

there will be the sweetest reunion in

the Summerland

don't let the song go out of your life

and maybe I too shall hear it and be

glad that's very unfair lady Charles was

a very encouraging person but like I

said I wasn't desiring encouragement at

the time and then the demos a very good

friend of mine and also the nurse who

was by my side all throughout Charles

and my struggles saw me go through this

firsthand

of course on this day I was crushed but

one person was there for me and that is

Lydia demos

our dear nurse Lydia bellows was there

when Charles passed on just as she had

been for many months during his illness

I was grateful for her companionship and

care

the Lord sent her as well as others to

be a source of his strength and care

[Music]

Lydia was and is special

her quiet way of giving has been a

tremendous blessing to me after 30 years

she still takes care of me to this day

my soul was not able to be encouraged

the Lord had a hard time cheering me up

[Music]

wait what do you mean the Lord had a

hard time cheering you up I know you're

a Christian so why would the Lord have a

hard time cheering you up well it's just

like I said the Lord couldn't cheer me

up because I was refusing to be

encouraged I knew where Charles was and

I was very glad for him to be with the

Lord but in my loss I felt abandoned I

knew the truth that the Lord was with me

and I was willing to let him gift me up

but not just yet

looking back now I appreciate the Lord

just letting me be me

he let me take all the time I needed to

be encouraged because after all I had

just lost the love of my life oh I see

you encouraged but just on your own

terms that's the beauty of humanity God

created us to operate with our free will

God is so gentle with us and our hard

times he's a great healer and a very

good friend and that's why I believe

streams in the desert is a great

encourage er for anyone who reads it

the streams in the desert book is a

compilation of many different writers

one that I particularly remember is July

19th the cup which my father have given

me shall I not drink it John 1811 this

was a greater thing to say and do than

to calm the seas or raise the dead

prophets and apostles could work wonders

miracles but they could not always do

and suffer the will of God to do and

suffer God's will is still the highest

form of faith the most sublime Christian

achievement to have the bright

aspirations of a young life forever

blasted to bear a daily bird never

congenial and to see no relief to be

pinched by poverty when you only desire

a competency for the good and comfort of

loved ones to be fettered by some

incurable physical disability to be

stripped bare of loved ones until you

stand alone to meet the shocks of life

to be able to say in such a school of

discipline the cup which my father has

given me shall I not drink it this is

faith that its highest and spiritual

success at the crowning point great

faith is exhibited not so much an

ability to do as to suffer to have a

sympathizing God we must have a

suffering Savior and there is no true

fellow-feeling with another save in the

heart of him who has been afflicted like

him we cannot do good to others save at

a cost to ourselves and our afflictions

are the price we pay for our ability to

sympathize he who would be a helper must

first be a supper

he who would be a savior unless

somewhere and somehow have been upon a

cross and we cannot have the highest

happiness of life in helping others

without tasting the cup which Jesus

drank and also submitting to the baptism

wherewith he was baptized most

comforting of David songs were pressed

out by submarine and if Paul had not had

his thorn in the flesh we would have

missed much of that tenderness which

Quivers in so many of his letters the

present circumstance which presses so

hard against you if you're surrendered

to Christ is the best shaped tool in the

father's hand to chisel you for eternity

trust him then do not push away the

instrument lest you lose its work

strange and difficult indeed we may find

it but the blessing that we need is

behind it the school of suffering

graduates rare scholars so streams in

the desert is more of a history to you

than a David devotional yes I guess that

is a good way to say it of course there

were years of writings and notes that

all had to be put in one book I said if

you believe me as to what to include in

the book I will compile it for you Lord

he was faithful and the book was

completed so when was the book completed

well that's quite a story in itself

the first publication was in 1924 but we

had a misstep with a printer and we had

to go back to the drawing board of

course Charles went to be with the Lord

September of that same year but the book

was released again in 1925 and to the

amazement of us all it has never been

out of print since it seems to me you're

suffering along with perseverance you

paid off I could never have done it

without the Lord streets that's for sure

I remember the printer telling me that

it would probably only sell about 500

copies but the Lord had a different plan

that no man could stop a dear friend of

mine

Esther Ernie asked me one time why

streams in the desert was so popular and

so much more popular than the other

books I had written I told her the

streams in the desert was

oran but the other books I had just

written well Eddie I didn't plan on

interviewing here today but it seems as

if God had us to meet for another reason

I have been very encouraged by your

faith and I'm planning on getting a copy

of your book today

[Music]

here you go David this is one of the

original copies that I've held on to

from four years that came from the first

printing and I want you to have it ready

Larry I can't choose from oh yes you can

with my blessing and remember when

you're going through the trials of life

listen for God's voice over all the

others and he will guide your way thank

you

[Music]

what is your purpose

[Music]

how does one define their purpose today

I had the pleasure of interviewing a

person than his left of life she and her

husband along with Judy Nakata and

Ernest Kilbourne started a worldwide

Bible Training Institute her name is

Lady B Calvin Lettie has also authored

many books including the beloved streams

in the desert devotional as I

interviewed Lady today she shared with

me her history and how she and her

husband were challenged along their

ministry journey her husband was

stricken with heart disease and

ultimately forced from the mission field

she would later lose her husband to the

disease and suffer great agony because

of but to my surprise she has a very

positive view of all of her life's

events

most people I believe would have a very

different take on why these events

happen but Lenny

attributes her positive attitude to her

faith in God most people are familiar

with the devotional book she and her

husband put together before Charles died

but what most don't know is that they

never plan to write a book instead the

suffering they were going through with

Charles sickness led them to seek out

written comfort from a variety of

sources these writings became the

streams in the desert devotion after

many years streams in the desert is

still a widely read devotional that

continues to encourage millions of

readers around the globe as it has been

translated into every major language

around the world so if you're trying to

find your purpose in this life or even

more importantly just find out who you

are I give you this simple piece of

advice that I learned today embrace your

struggles appreciate your loved ones

while they are still with you and most

importantly as Letty would say wait on

God lean hard on him and listen to

listen to his voice above all the others

in this lighter

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

you

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

you