Crossing Generations with a Heart Cry For Salvation

Contributed by Becky (Shook) Petite

After God gave Paul and Veda Shook a deaf son, they began working with the deaf in Japan. Mr. Hamayumiba, a deaf man who is an advertising executive, was saved during their ministry. He is now a deacon at Living Hope Baptist Church where the Shooks' son-in-law, Bill Petite, and his wife Becky work. Mr. Hamayumiba thanks God for his deafness because without it, he never would have felt any need for God. His 15-year-old daughter recently sent this letter to her 84-year-old grandfather.

"Old Folks Day" is a ceremony to worship dead ancestors. Oban is a holiday in which the spirits of the dead are said to return to their homes.

Dear Grandpa Harumi,

Congratulations on Old Folks Day. Thank you for always sending us delicious vegetables and rice. Please live long.

I need to apologize to you for something. Last Obon when you told me to go and greet Grandma's spirit, I didn't. That doesn't mean I don't love you or didn't love Grandma. I love you both very much. The reason I couldn't worship Grandma's spirit is because I want to follow the true God. I know that makes no sense to you, Grandpa. I've never explained about Christianity. Would it be okay if I did now? If you don't want to read this, I will leave it up to you.

You know what a crybaby I was and how spoiled I was. I was the most self-centered of us three kids. You might think I just grew out of it but the truth is that the living God changed me. Lately I am so cheery and happy I can hardly believe it myself. If God has the power to do this, then I can surely yield everything to Him. I want to obey this true God. This true God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins, and He rose from the dead. Sin is doing anything we do that God doesn't like. One of the things God tells us He doesn't like is for us to worship anything other than Himself. That is why I didn't worship Grandma's spirit.

Think about this, Grandpa. You have three children. What if you were told to give up one of them to be killed for my sins? What would you do? I think you would be brokenhearted. I think God felt like that when His only Son, Jesus, suffered terribly. The One who had no sin died for all the sins of this world, even yours, Grandpa. If you were innocent but were pronounced guilty and given the death sentence, there would be nothing more agonizing.

My God, the true God, did this for me and for you, Grandpa. It is true. There is historical proof. It is because of God's great love for me that I obey Him. I'm sorry if I offend you, but I can never worship at the altar. I'd like to ask you a question, Grandpa. When you clap your hands together at the altar does your god answer you? Does he show his love to you? Does he speak to your heart?

I forgot to explain it earlier, but after we die there are only two places to which we can go; eternal life or eternal death. All people with sin are headed for eternal death. Even if I died today I would go and live with God. I have eternal life. That is only because I admitted my sin and believed that God's only son Jesus died for me and rose from the dead. It is that simple. My future is decided. I can go to heaven. Grandma believed that, admitted her sin, and is in heaven. I can meet her there. Don't you want to have this eternal life, Grandpa?

Thank you for reading this. I'll write again.

Kaori