Thanks for racial discrimination

 Praise the Lord ! from the Rocky Mountains

 

“Praise the Lord ! from the Rocky Mountains” is a popular series in monthly publication “The Appearance of a Rainbow in the Clouds” (kumonoaidaniaruniji Publishing Co.Ltd). This content is reprinted just as the word containing thanksgiving testimony of pastor Kamidate.

 

On the middle of August, suddenly my teeth start to hurt. The pain place was not teeth, but the gums of back of the back teeth. I live in America which needs high cost for medical expenses. That's why I brush my teeth thoroughgoing. Sometimes when I felt exhaustion, my gums became to swell a little bit. But this sign is different with usual. The swelling of gum start to spread to the lymph nodes, then it caused to be hard to swallow. "Wah, thanks !" I gave thanksgiving to God, and prayed for healing, too. But this time is not changed like usual.

 

The first visit to dentist since I came to America before 7 years. The doctor said that the metal fittings for back teeth bridge is tilted from the right place, then it touch to gum, and it festered. Immediately, a person who called the financial advisor, took placed of the doctor. The financial planner said that "first, I explain about the estimate for treatment and option for payment." The financial planner started to negotiate the price with watching computer screen. If I decide to take out the bridge, then treat the front and back teeth, and put on the new bridge, it cost $5,000 (Japanese yen late is about \44,000? at this time). The payment on cash is $4,500. If I becomes a member of the docter's group insurance, it becomes $3,800. (Of course, it neesd extra fee to be a insurance member.)

 

I heard about it, but that's exactly high cost. Since the American life become long, negotiation skill is accomplished, then I don't move just what other person said. I tell the doctor that "Could you treat just the place where is hit gums." Then the financial adviser comes again. We had this three times and the final estimate became $600 (\50,000 + a little more).

 

During treatment, I had treated with asking many times if I actually don't need to pay more than $600. When doctor said "You take an X-ray.", the situation become like this that I ask "Is this X-ray fee contained in $600, isn't it?" My side is also desperate to cut cost. But I admired myself that I took firm stand that I was made so strong in the U.S. in this strong negotiation.

 

By the way, last time, I wrote that my husband had correspondence of similar racial discrimination, and lose work time and had hard time. We decided to take correspondence on faith thoroughgoing on this hardship.

 

When my husband and I pray for thanksgiving to God, we did with walking in living room. This means to prevent falling asleep, and to give thanksgiving and worship with our whole body.

 

We tried to rejoice about also the racial discrimination with clap and raise hands, and jump. We give thanksgiving to God with saying name of boss and what he had treated concretely, and we confess in loud voice that " But if my boss did anything what and how, You stay on the boss, and my boss can't do anything without your permission. God has a wonderful plan behind this problem you forgive. God never abandon us."

 

The work hour was cut drastically, and we can't live on 2 days work/ week. My husband quit the job. Immediately, he starts to find job.

 

But to find job was not easy in this big depression. He went to job fair and was told "We are interested in you. Please come to interview.", then go to the place. People were watched on video, and said "You need to pay some ten thousand yen as registration fee before you start job. Then we give job. If customer didn't pay money, it draws from you salary. But you can have stable position after a year." It was terribly suspicious job.

 

Still he continues to find job without giving up. He got job of four star hotel close to our house. In this big depression, it is full time job with good insurance and free lunch. The manager told him "We were looking for like you." Then he completed procedure for employment for just 2 days. Normally it takes for 2 weeks. Praise the Lord !

 

We could know that God had wonderful plan behind really hard situation. We praise the Lord.

 

(Reprinted from monthly publication “The Appearance of a Rainbow in the Clouds” on October 2010)