To go on, Mrs. Olson and Elsie and Helen insisted on preparing a breakfast of toast and eggs, but I informed them that I had no appetite and that I just get a job before I would eat anything. Mrs. Olson reminded me of this remark later on, and got a kick out of it, but you see I had only a few dollars to leave with Pearl, and I was burdened with my responsibility back home.
They further insisted that I looked dreadfully tired and that I just forget about a job and go to bed at once, but I wouldn't listen to them and hurried off to the Union Office where I was accepted and informed that they had a job as Shipwright for me starting that afternoon at 3:30 on the swingshift. I have always worked on this shift and I like it. Well, it took a long time to go through all the red tape, but I went to work that day on the 24th of July, 1942, for the Seattle Tacoma Ship-Building Corp. Entering the great yards I was amazed at the sight I saw, for it is impossible to describe it to you.
One of the first thngs to draw my attention, were the huge cranes, then the Aircraft Carriers under construction, the docks, the ways, the great machinery and huge shops and mountains of supplies and steel slabs.
At night the view from the Carrier's deck was impressive amid the clang and clamor of steel, with the countless lights on the scaffolding floors and the noisy air hammers.
Lumber, of course, is the key industry. The decks and wharves are located a few hundred yards from where I work with a great number of fishing boats. As I have indicated, the shipyard is a huge affair of great warehouses and shops and innumerable buildings and equipment that defy description.
I shall never forget the pleasure I found in fellowship with these sincere people and the true christian spirit manifested in their home and life. By conduct and conversation, they proved to be true ornaments of the Gospel.
Without going into detail, I shortly moved in the Hansons and we fixed up another room in the berry house for me. On recommendation from Oswald, Mrs. Inga Williams, who owned the farm, agreed to let me have her four room cabin upon Mrs. Ginther's arrival sometime in September. We could use all her furniture as Inga was going to California for the winter.
I began to imagine what some people would say if all did not go well. They would say, "Look at that awful man and he pretends to be a christian too, running away like that out to Washington and leaving his poor wife in such a condition!" At times like these I would turn to "Him" in prayer and always I obtained the assurance that "He" really cared and understood and that all was well.
I love that hymn, "God Will Take Care of You," all of the way, not just half way, but all the way. That is the Lord I know.
I am still thrilled spiritually when I think of how Mr. Carlson used to sing it when we broadcasted over the air and at the Mission too. Now matter how complex the problem or severe the trial and test, our faith depends upon wether or not we shall fall or stand in the day of trial and adversity.
We have all seen fair weather Christians go down when the storms of life come. So my faith was strengthened to believe that I was a man of faith.
Pearl had admonished me not to worry but to trust in "Him," she reminded me that God's grace and mercy were more than sufficient in my absence and that there were many promises in the Book for the Christian mother; in fact, it is His special delight to manifest His tender kindness to the poor and helpless--"When your father and mother forsake you, I will take you up," says the Lord. This noble attitude was in itself of great comfort and consolation to me now.
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Plain View Farm Home Page Stadem Families Saga Continues Stadem Families Master Photo Album: Plain View Farm Master Directory New Main Linking Plain View Farm Roadmap Part Six, "Reminiscent Reflections" New Pages and Links for Return Visitor
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