Wenny is a sister in Christ who attends FCBC-L.A.

Like many of our young families here, I met my husband Warren in this church, and we got married at a very young age.  We were committed to raising our family “God’s way.”

When my daughter Christi was only a few months old, Warren was called to join the deacon group to serve as deacon candidate.  I remembered we were sitting in Pastor’s office having a prayer time to see if it was God’s will for us to serve.  We were concerned with the fact that we were already very busy with ministries and Warren being a deacon would mean a lot more meetings and less time for family.

After we prayed, one of my favorite verses came to mind:  Matt. 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  I sensed God’s assurance.  He had reminded me, “If we honor Him, He will honor us.”  Also, He knows what our needs are, He will provide.  So, we accepted the call to join the deacon body to serve.

As a mother I wanted my children to learn all the “Christian values,” to become good, strong Christians, and have a firm foundation in faith and knowledge of God.  So, coming to church to worship and learning about God was the priority of the week.  We lived an example of honoring God in all that we do.  We were determined to raise our kids to be responsible adults who will love and serve God.

In his junior year in high school, one day my son Jon came home and asked to join the Marines.  I was totally in shock.  I gave a flat “no.”  I told him that he needed to finish college.  At 16 years old, he was too young to make that kind of career decision.

Another ½ year went by; he again, asked to join the military.  This time it was to join the Marine reserves.  I didn’t know what the difference was, and he explained, with the reserves, he could still go to college.  He only needed to go to training one weekend a month.  I wanted to know why he wanted to join the military so badly; he said he wanted to get in shape (he was overweight).  He also wanted to set his career goal to be a SWAT police officer.  He felt that the military training would give him a head start.  Well, that sounded like a good compromise.  So, Jon signed on as a Marine reserve.  After he signed up, he was given a physical exam; he was told he needed to lose some weight before boot camp in order to be qualified.   I thought to myself, there is no way he can do that.  Well, he qualified, and completed boot camp.  I saw his determination.  When we attended the boot camp graduation, we didn’t recognize our son as he stood with the rest of the battalion.  During the two months of boot camp his waist size decreased significantly.  More than that, I could see his face gleam with pride and confidence.  He was speaking loudly and clearly.  I could see good changes.

He asked to go on to the advanced training since he already missed fall semester in college.  That way, he wouldn’t waste time sitting at home doing nothing.  I agreed.  He went on to complete advanced training and later registered to attend junior college. 

Halfway through the semester, right after mid-terms, the Iraq war started.  He was called to report to active duty.  “But why?”  “You are only a reserve, shouldn’t they send the full time military first?”  “No, the regular full time military soldiers all have their regular assigned duty.  In this case, they always send the reserves.  Mom, don’t worry, this is what I am trained to do!”

“No!  I didn’t raise my son to join the war.  I raised my son to be a good Christian, to do well in school, to love God and serve God, not to serve in the Marines!”  My whole world shattered.  If I knew there would be war in the Middle East, I would never have let him join.  If he didn’t complete the advanced training, he would not have been deployed.  No, It wasn’t my choice.  I was bitter.  When I prayed, I asked God, “Why?”  God was not speaking.  On top of that, people asked me again and again, “Why did you let your son go to war?”  I told them, “It was not my choice.”

As I calmed down, I came to realization that God’s hand was in control.  The timing of things that happened, it was not coincidence.  I must continue to trust that My God is still in control.  I could only pray that God would protect Jon.  Never have I prayed so earnestly and fervently.  I could only cling to God for help.

In the many months that follow, my life was kind of numb.  I tried to do the daily routine and pretend that life went on as usual.  I had a fear that my son might never come back.  Or, he might not come back in one piece.  If I could protect him, I would, if I could take his place, I would.  But I could not.  I could only pray.

In the months that he was in Iraq, we only received mail from him that was two months old.  I don’t know why it took so long for the mail to arrive.  All of it was old news.  We would be watcking TV and we would see pictures of fatalities, leading to prayers of comfort for the grieving family.  I though, “Are we next?”  I was so scared.  I knew I needed to trust in God, but the fear in me, I could not suppress.  Then one day, as I prayed my usual prayer to ask God for protection on Jon, a quiet voice spoke, “If I wanted to take him, it could even happen when he is driving around town.”  At that time, peace came.  My heart was back in place.  I knew I had to acknowledge the sovereignty of God.  Jon is in the hands of God.  Even if God wants to take him home, His will will be done.  I must submit.  I am only the mother.  Johoveh is his God.  As much as I love my son, God loves him even more.  He belongs to God.

Since then, my prayer changed.  I was no longer only praying for protection and safety, I was praying for God’s perfect will be done and His name be glorified.  I needed to be patient as I waited to see what God would do.

It was seven months before Jon came back to the U.S., and another two months for him to be quarantined at the base.  His first response for all the questions was, “I didn’t even get to fire my gun.”  God is good.  I know God answers prayers.  God had protected and shielded Jon by putting him where it was safe.  His primary duty was to stand guard at the border next to Afganistan.  (He chose to be trained for the infantry).

Since he came back, I began to see his changes.  He is definitely more mature, more appreciative.  More outgoing.  He enjoys talking to us.  He wants to know what’s happening with our lives, what’s going on with different people, and with the church.  I can tell he is more open, cheerful, more outgoing.  I totally enjoy having him back home.  I almost lost him, now he’s back.

He started serving with junior highers while going to junior college.  A year later, he made the announcement that he’d applied for a to transfer to The Master’s College, a Christian college, and that it had already been approved.  Wow, I had never see my son being so assertive and motivated.   He worked to bring up all his grades without me prompting.  He finally finished his undergraduate work in Biblical studies last summer.  He spent a semester in Israel studying historical sites.  He is now serving in the junior high ministry at church, preaching to junior high schoolers regularly.  He even went with me to Anhui summer missions last year.

Two months ago, Jon told us that he’d been accepted to Talbot theological seminary.  If God confirms him, Jon will be preparing to go into ministry.  Praise God, God is good! 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Mothers, when we obey God by teaching our children to love and fear Him, and to walk in His way, He will be faithful.  Mothers, whatever you are going through, do not lose faith.  Keep your trust in God, He will carry you through.  He is a faithful God!