Letters from Dad - January 2008

Here are two e-mails I received from Dad just after Christmas two years ago.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Spinnett
To: avweller@aol.com
Sent: Thu, Jan 24, 2008 6:02 am

Dear Angie

Thank you for all the Christmas gifts. I got the jacket and DVD just yesterday because my DHL man had a tragic loss of his unborn child in the sixth month so had to keep house and care for his wife and so was maxed out with overwork.

I am enjoying many email exchanges with Steve. I send him stories from my history of my life and our family. He gives me feedback to keep me straight on the chronology of events.

For the last two months I have been camping out in my house because my water pipes burst under my tile floor and so I have had to get all my water from the other house and get all my chores done with water in plastic buckets, it is summer so the lack of hot water is only noticeable when washing dishes and bathing. They came last week and brought in a new waterline from the street but it only is connected to the kitchen so far. The floor tile must be broken up to find and repair that ruptured pipe. Every craftsman is busy with construction now so nobody wants to help the foreigner and keep their own people waiting. I had half a dozen people voluntarily twisting arms to get those plumbers last week. It has been a good time for me to practice the “whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content” principle.

I just went out and watched the dawn from my hammock with my cat curled up on my stomach. My cat climbs a vine to a high safe place inside a thorny arbor atop my garden wall where she can see but not be approached by man or animal. The neighbor girl innocently brought her toy size dog over to see the cat whereupon he jumped down and tried to attack her, but she just ran to her vine and zoomed up and away from the threat. A bird eats her Whiskas food right in front of her one piece at a time but Jackie is too mesmerized to chase the bird. This cat is not a house cat but a cat with a dream playground of trees, walls to walk on, and people to greet outside. She sleeps on a low chair on the veranda and stays out of the house. love, Dad

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Spinnett
To: avweller@aol.com
Sent: Sat, Jan 26, 2008 10:32 am

In light of the fact that my calling is to learn patience and kindness ala 1Cor.13, I am dealing with a handful of discomforts right now. None is affecting my excellent health or my relationships.

Raul went all out and brought me a total of three plumbers but this is the busiest construction season in anyones memory and all competent craftsmen are overbooked already. However... Just yesterday, God sent me a very good mature craftsman who knows both plumbing and masonry so he has finished all except the most difficult task of locating a pressure leak in the three year old pipes somewhere under my tile floors. We must try to guess where they laid the pipe to the bathroom, and cap it off so it won't leak from the new water source from the other street where it is now connected. We opened one tile in the floor and must remove more till we find the old pipe. As you know, there is no open space under a masonry tile floor. It is sand and gravel fill.

Thanks for all the interesting news about the family. Satoko didn't tell me she was pregnant. I have sent Steve several stories of our family history from my viewpoint and he gives me enthusiastic responses. this is the best communication we have ever had. I can't tell you how much this means to me!

I love you, Dad

---------------------------------------------------------

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Angela

Remember the Eagle Creek Camping Trip?

     Your dad was in charge, and we all hiked in to some remote location on Eagle Creek. It was back to nature, no campers, toilets or air mattresses. I think we did have tents. I remember it being really fun, but very cold, and we were hungry. The problem was, the chicken he cooked for all of us was raw inside, and he would have no complaining! I remember taking rocks heated from the fire into our tents. He was a link to adventure we would never have had otherwise.
     He was also so welcoming whenever we did show up, whether in Hawaii, or Florida. He was friendly, and would always show us around.
     I will miss him.
Rebecca Gray Fisher

Snippets of Growin' Up Fun

     I am Gary, one of Dad's ten children.  He was a super Dad.  What we didn't get in nurture, we got in structure and boundries.  Dad was the ultimate challenge.  To conquer Dad was to conquer ones own self.  After that, everything was easy. 
     We didn't need TV.  In recent years, I thanked him often for all of the fun we had growing up.  His response was, "I had a lot of fun raising ya!"
     *     From our inner tube and plywood raft - Finley Lagoon, Columbia River, Kennwick, WA
     *     to the black lights at Christmas, Rockwood, Oregon
     *     to the Sopwith Camel truck in Rockwood, Oregon
     *     to Highways and Hedges (Montgomery Street House), NW Portland, Summer '70
     *     to my first plastic model for my birthday already built by Dad, '30 Ford Model A Roadster Yellow Jacket Monogram, February 1963
     *     to the World's Fair roller coaster - the Mighty Mouse, Seattle, Spring '62
     *     to the Dad-made art box full of art supplies, December '69
     *     to the Big Box swimming pool, 601 NE 181st, Gresham, OR, '66
     *     to the cardboard-and-tape John Glen Rockets, Kennewick, WA '62
     *     to the A-frame goat barn, Rockwood, OR '66
     *     to the eight-foot sailboat kit in Kennewick, Washington
     *     to the Kumanogawa River in Toyama
     *     to surfing on air mattresses in Kawailoa, HI
     *     to his own invention - the swing totter - in Rockwood, Oregon,
Gary Spinnett

Dad's November Memorial

    Greetings Sibs,
    Sooooooo Nice to be home and feeling good!
    We would like to host Dad's memorial service Saturday, November 14th at our home. We would love it if all of you can come (sounds like you can!). We can house all family members from out of town. Below are some specifics and ideas:
•   We were thinking of the actual time of Dad's memorial from 1 pm to 5 pm.
•   We will have snacks provided.
•   Later on that evening, we can all go to our favorite Italian restaurant.
•   We have three unused bedrooms in our house for out-of-towners.
•   Feel free to invite friends of Dad's, including Helen's kids.
•   You can blog or FB this if you like.
•   Bring any memorabilia, pictures, etc, of Dad.
•   Maria has made a DVD of Dad's photos. (Maria, you may want to make another copy as I still haven't received my luggage yet).
•   We should think how the best way to capture this would be for future generations and also to send to Dad's friends in Paragauy.
    I really look forward to seeing everyone and I think we will have a great time together.
    Maria, you were a blast in Paraguay!
    Steve

Fond Memories

Cynthia,
    I was deeply grieved to hear about Jason's death.  Although I did not get to see him very often, I have many fond memories of a few deep conversations that we had over e-mail.  After Ray and Dad's death in Florida, I was so hoping that Jake would stay there, and I could visit him.  But, when his situation with his then wife changed so drastically, and he moved away, and we lost touch.
    I was so sad because we had a very fond relationship; even though if was only for a short time.
    I loved his Godliness, coupled with a love for science and engineering, which seldom seem to go together.
    I am so deeply sorry for your loss and pray, too, that God comforts you at this sad time.
    Lore Spinnett Murdock
  

Steve Arrives Safely in Portland

    Cindy and I are both being released from the hospital!!!
    My condition is good.  My heart is strong.  They performed many tests.
    Doctors here agree with the cardiologist's diagnosis in Paraguay. Cindy has similar good news.
    We would like to have a memorial for Dad at our home on November 14, but let me talk more with family to set it in stone. We are on a scheduled vacation next week, and I need to catch up on stuff this week.
    We can house out-of-town family members and host a much larger group.
Steve Spinnett

Maria Arrives Safely in Kansas

Maria has arrived home safely in Kansas.

Least of the Brethren

Good to hear from you Eric,
    I remember you being an evangelist back in the day.  Now, you are fulfilling your call to the "least of these my brethren."
    I pray the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus run through your veins, as it appears it is.  Let the eye of your understanding be clear and Holy Ghost directed.
    Chow
-Steve Spinnett

Eric Kaplan Grateful for Prayers Answered

    Praise God, I"m glad to hear you did well, that the artery was fixed, and that the Lord Jesus got the glory...and now to go and tell His story...
    Jeri and I are here in Honolulu ministering to the homeless in Waikiki. The last preacher was stabbed in the neck and they have asked me to come and speak for the next three days at Kapiolani park. Please pray for His anointing, His power, His ministry, and His call on these people who have fallen through all the cracks of society and who are now stuck on Nasty Street and have become invisible to the rest of the world. What an opportunity to minister to those who through strange circumstances find themselves ostracized by a society that could also be down on skid row if the circumstances turned against them.
    Yet by the grace of God go I...
    Rico and Jeri

Letters from Dad

I saved all of Dad's e-mails since he moved to Paraguay. Here are three messages that tell a little about adjusting to his new life, the valuable role Julie played since the beginning, and how loving Dad was.

Sat, May 8, 2004 8:04 am Hi Angie and everybody! I am enjoying my life here (except for a shortage of hugs and kisses). On Saturday I was invited to a big wedding in Villa Florida. I took a carload of guests including Julie and her girls and a very pleasant Christian young man (not the country boy)who plays big brother to Julie's girls and son to her. Julie plays daughter to me, even taking my advice about many things. She introduces me to elderly ladies but I tell her that “if they are provincial locals, forget it”. In this country even the Christian single has no freedom to socialize with a friend. Not even lunch. There are plenty of group social events though, as long as you like to stay up late and overeat with the whole group.

Sat, Oct 16, 2004 8:35 am Hi Angie. I got all three packages. Thank you so much. your cards, letters and sentiments are very lovely and heartening to receive. I got myself a new fiberglass boat, a canoe, for my birthday. I have been out in it with four boys and we had a blast. We go on a beautiful little meandering river less than an hour from the city in a country wilderness or green area. My english class are cancelled for now so I am going to go paddeling with the guys and maybe with the girls too hopefully a couple of times a week. It is spring here and the weather is not real hot yet. I told my Japanese friends to skip a birthday party because they are middle of the night partyers because they all work every day so hard. Monday there will be a party at Julie's house with my favorite papaya and lilikoi and yogurt desert plus casserole etc. My best to all. p.s. that picture of my three boys is priceless. love to all. Dad.

Thu, Oct 20, 2005 10:05 am I had a full day and half the night celebrating with young friends on my birthday. Victor and Deigo Ishikawa and Natalie, who introduced me to Victor originally, took me to the Paraiso Chinese place where we ate our favorite specialties and talked in three languages. Natalie prayed a special blessing for me. At the party at Julies there were fifteen or more people for a fine lunch and lilikoi cake with no icing like i like. Julie prayed a wonderful prayer for me at her party. Today two fine young men, each 20 years old came to my house at nine AM. One is advanced in his English and a natural teacher so he is instructing the other one who is a beginner in English. I just watch and answer questions. I never know for sure what each day will hold for me but I look forward to each day because good things happen. Your greeting was the good thing that happened yesterday. Love, Dad.

~Angela

I'm Feeling Better

    Technically I did not have a surgery.  I believe it was called an angioplasty.  Basically, going up an artery from my right leg, injecting dye and taking pictures to find out which artery is acting up. They found a treatable problem with medication, and said it was basically good news.
    Thanks for your concern.  I appreciate your prayers.
    And, to Eric Kaplan, thank you for that power prayer of authority.  It's working. I declare new portals of answered prayers in this new season of warfare for those who have armed themselves with God's Word!
I'm feeling better.
-Steve Spinnett

Maria Has Landed in Paraguay

    Maria has landed safely in Paraguay and says that Steve is due to be released from the hospital in a couple of hours.

Time is So Short

"I am so sorry. I didn't realize time was so short. When I heard he (Jason Spinnett) wasn't doing well a couple days ago, I had hoped to get a note to him. I sure wish I had the opportunity to spend more time with him."

David Spinnett

Steve is Recouperating

      Hi , Steve went into surgery.  Praise God that the Doctor said when his heart pumped blood his artery was squeezed and caused the same symptoms as a clogged artery. Medication can help this situation and he will be able to go home and go to doctors in the U.S.  So they did not put in a shunt.  He can be further checked in Portland but medication is working for him.
     Blessings,

Cindy Spinnett

Missionary Biography

I love to read missionary biographies, so I was delighted when Sue let me borrow Mom's "Japanese Diary" of her letters to her parents. On a few occasions, Dad wrote to Mom's parents when Mom couldn't.

One such occasion was on November 27, 1954:

"This morning at a Japanese hospital in Yonago, Millie gave birth to a baby boy and a baby girl. Both Millie and the babies are very well, for which we praise the Lord Jesus. This probably seems somewhat of a surprise since we gave no advance notice, but surprises are always better, especially when it's twins, a boy and a girl. Don't you think so? ... The girl (Carol Judy, by name) weighs just a few ounces less than the boy (Stephen). ... They both yelled good and loud and then were put together into one incubator (that's all the hospital has) and so it's a little hard to tell which is which altho the boy is noticeably bigger-headed."

Angela Weller
(#9 of the 10)

Eric Kaplan Says a Prayer for Steve

LORD JESUS, WE COME BEFORE YOU IN YOUR NAME AND AGREE TOGETHER AS TO TOUCHING STEVE'S BODY. WE DECLARE YOUR ARTERY CLEAR, CLEAN, AND COMPLETELY RESTORED TO TOTAL AND ABSOLUTE HEALTH IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS AND WE THANK YOU LORD FOR BLESSING THIS ONE SON OF YOURS. DEVIL, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, YOU CANNOT TOUCH THIS CHILD OF THE KING BECAUSE THE LORD JESUS LIVES IN HIM. LEAVE STEVE AND HIS FAMILY ALONE IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS...
Say AMEN somebody...
Rico and Jeri

L'EVANGELISTA SULLA SUA PISTA

Steve Spinnett to Have Heart Surgery in Paraguay Today

Good Morning...
   No, Steve did not collapse in the hospital. The day after Jason passed away, Steve started feeling chest pains, shortness of breath and weakness on exhertion. He would sweat when he just started to walk. I suggested this could be symptoms of a heart condition, so we took him to the Baptiat Hospital where he was admitted and diagnosed with a negative T-wave, which means he possibly has a partially clogged artery in his heart. He remained a day, and then yesterday he went back to his hotel where he started feeling bad again. I called a Doctor I know, and Steve was re-admitted to a hospital. The cardiologist saw him, and the report is that he has a partially clogged right anterior artery to his heart. So, when it fills with blood and the artery gets smaller during contraction, Steve gets chest pains. It is also called Unstable Angina Pain. The doctor explained to him that at any moment he could have a heart attack. The recommendation is to be catherterized or angioplasty, and open the artery up. He was able to talk with his wife Cindy, and today around noontime, the doctor plans on opening up Steve´s artery. I will be present during the procedure. Have a nice Sunday.
    Julie Pisto

He Lived on His Own Terms

    In the 20 years I have known my father in law Jake Spinnett, I don't know if I ever really understood him. He was a complex and contradictory man, strikingly intellegent without being intellectual, possessing an artist's love for life as well as temperment.  He lived life on his own terms, and never worried about what others thought of him.  Our relationship was complicated, but I always enjoyed our conversations, and the more I learned of him, the more I admired his independent spirit.
    In the winter of 2002 when we lived in Pennsylvania, Jake stayed with us for Christmas and Marina's first birthday.  The trip had it's highlights -- a trip to New York, Paul Newman on Broadway, and dinner in Chinatown - where he spoke Japanese to those waiting in line.  It was also the last time Dad had been in the Big Apple since after WWII.  The trip also had it's lows -- we all got the flu over Chirstmas day.  Finally the day arrived for me to drive him to the airport in Newark.  The trip was arduous -- 125 miles, much of it in the snow.  About half way there, the generator belt broke on my car.  I managed to pull into a truck stop and called AAA.  Jake went in to the restaurant to use the restroom.  While standing by my car, I weighed my options.  We were still two hours away, it was a Saturday in the middle of the Poconos, and I had no idea how long it would take to get the car repaired.  About that time I heard the blast of a truck air horn.  I was stunned to see Jake in the cab of a big 18 wheeler.  He grabbed his bags and with a smile was off in a cloud of dust leaving me still scratching my head.  You see, while I was trying to figure out how to make it to Newark airport, Jake was inside the coffee shop, telling the truckers of our plight.  One driver by the name of Jesus said he was on his way to Newark, and I believe ended up dropping him off right at departing flights.
    Jake was not the kind that waited around considering his options, he took charge of his life and lived by his own rules.  He was a true original whom I will never forget. 
    Richard Smith

Dad Gets Couisin Teaching Job in Toyama

    Jason Spinnett was very important in my life. In 1961 I was a graduate student at Lewis & Clark College. I felt I needed to take a break. I wanted to teach English in Japan. My father, Harry Berney was in town. He got Millie to invite himself and me to dinner so I could talk to Jake about Japan.
    Although I had been thinking of teaching in Tokyo, Jake said Toyama would be better if I wanted to live in the real Japan. In fact, he gave me the name and address of an English teacher, Mr. Kusunoki.
    That man replied that since the Spinnetts had left Japan, he had been promoted to Inspector of English Instruction for the whole of Toyama Prefecture and it would be easy for him to be my sponsor and hire me to teach there.
    I thus spent an enjoyable eighteen months teaching in Toyama Central High School, their first American teacher. Mr. Kusunoki even found a doctor's family who treated me as a son. We still correspond.
    I learned from other teachers that Jake Spinnett was very popular, partly because he learned the local dialect so quickly, in addition to standard Japanese. Unfortunately, I never saw Jake or Millie again, for on returning, I took a job in the Seattle area.
   God was good to me to me for giving me a few minutes with Jake. Such a blessing for my life!
Bruce Rochat Berney

First & last memory of Dad

    My first memory of Dad was of him pushing me on a swing & putting his face close to mine when I went high. That was so thrilling to me: I laughed & screamed. I've done the same to my kids & grandkids.
   My last memories are when he visited Portland in summer 2008. When he saw me he said he was so glad to see me & so relieved I was okay (I'd just had mitral valve replacement). We round up all the Spinnetts we could find for Dad's visit & were pretty successful. Nathanial found Gary & when they arrived, they got a standing ovation. The weather was hot but we were all having so much fun we barely noticed. We stayed outside all day.
    A couple of days later, he came to mine & Russ' house & we went to Japanese Gardens. Dad hadn't been there in years & really enjoyed it. Afterwards we took him to a Japanese restaurant downtown & he had a good time chatting with the young waitresses in Japanese. After that he came back to our house & watched TV & looked at Russ' vintage knife collection.

Sue Horton

Mercy and Grace

    Praise God for His mercy and grace. Dad is home in the arms of Jesus.
Steve - Let me know if you need us to do anything regarding arrangements. Thank you for being there.
Love,

Angela

Dad's acts of kindness

Dad didn't just live in Paraguay, he was a missionary who helped many people there. Here's a list of just some of his acts of benevolence:
1) In a community where there was no water, he put in an artisian well on his property that now gives water to the whole community.
2) Jason built a home for a woman who was abused for years and had nowhere to live.
3) He ministered in the maximum security prison in Paraguay, and saw a man who was known as the toughest criminal become today the trustee prisoner.
4) On many, many occasions he was known to help out single woman who were having difficulty raising children by purchasing clothes and helping pay the children´s education.
5) He has let the minister of a local church live rent free in a home he has in the countryside.
6) Jason bought a laptop computer for a young man in the university.
7) He gave a laptop to another young man to help him in his new job as a software analyst.
8) He purchased a car for a family to help them have transportation.
9) He has bought many a meals for persons hungry.
10) He has paid for dental work for persons who needed medical help.
11) He sent a young man to school to learn to repair motorcycles.
Maria

12)  He helped a ten-year-old orphan boy named Jimmy in Japan after World War II, whose parents were killed by the bomb that hit Hiroshima.  He was sleeping on the seat of a newsprint truck.  A couple of months later, Dad found an American missionary couple who would take him in.  He ran into Jimmy about seven years later.  "It's me, Jimmy.  I'll never forget what you done for me."
Cynthia

October 16, 2009 5:48 AM

The Last Chau Chau

    I was too little to remember this, but Dad liked to tell this story. One night I stood in my crib and decided it wasn’t time for bed yet, so I grabbed one of the vertical bars in front of me and yanked it out. Yeah, I was free! I toddled out into the living room and up to my two stupefied parents, elated to be part of the action again.
    After that, Dad called me “Tuff Tesse.” That name stuck all through growing up. The way he told it over the years, it almost sounded like that ole’ Johnny Cash tune. Dad already had a girl named Sue, but he needed me to be strong. “Daughter, this world is rough, and if a girl’s gonna make it, she’s gotta be tough, and I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ‘ya along.”
    When he visited us in Summer '08, he told me, "One day soon, I'm going to bed, and I won't wake up."  It wasn't quite that easy for Dad, but I'm glad it was quick for him, a couple of weeks.  Dad wasn't one to hang out in hospitals and sick beds. 
    Dad sure didn't act sick during his visit, – riding around all over Portland with Gary on bikes and MAX trains. There was one really hot day in June – almost 100 degrees – and he was in Chinatown drinking green tea. He claimed to have no health problems at the time – just a skin thing the doctors had to burn off every now and again. Who knows, maybe it was a bigger health issue, but Dad was not going to track that.
    He just wanted to enjoy life to the fullest, never missing a chance to re-invent himself - a trait that often left some of us kids wondering who he really was - and I hope he discovered himself in Paraguay.
    I'm grateful to Maria for arranging his Summer '08 trip, so all of us got to visit with him.  It makes bidding the ole' man "Chau Chau" one last time a whole lot easier.  I am also grateful for Steve and Thommy for making the long journey to Paraguay to get Dad's affairs in order and report to us.  I'm glad they found him alive, and that he acknowledged them.
   I sense Dad smiling down at us, happy to finally be with his beloved Gracie.

Cynthia Smith

Greetings

    The day we arrived (October 14th), we saw him and he sat up and he acknowledged us then laid back down.

    The next day, after we had lunch, we went back to Dad's house to hopefully visit, not knowing exactly what his condition was.
    When we got there dad had just died- I believe we were the first to see. Because of his condition and pain my prayer this morning was that God would take him home. God was incredibly merciful - he's home!
My impression of dad before I came to Paraguay was that he was alone - I couldn't have been more wrong. This has been very comforting to me. He had family here. Dads home is more comfortable than I thought. While living here in Asuncion Jason and Maria sowed a lot of good fruit which made a way for many of dads friends.
    I guess what I´m saying is Iḿ proud to be related.

Steve Spinnett

I'll miss him.

    I am so sad to hear of Jake's passing - hadn't gotten around to communicating with him for a number of months - but he was a part of my life from age five. We had many good conversations over the years. I remember when he went camping with lots of us kids at Eagle Creek with his "Sopwith Camel" when I was a teenager. I was sad when he and my mother got divorced and he took off to Paraguay - but I also understood it. He was always up for a new adventure and in a way it really wasn't out of character at all. I'll miss him.

Tribute to Jason Spinnett

So sad to hear of Jake's passing. He has always been an inspiration to me, and I have been blessed to know him over the years.

A true example of what it means to live to the max, to never let go of life, to grap life by the horns, and go for it.

A kindred spirit, really, so I thank the Lord Jesus for letting me know Jake over all these years. Please accept our condolences.

Rico (Eric Kaplan) and Jeri.