Wilkinson, Barbara, 1939–1999
Apples for the missionaries / by Barbara Wilkinson.
p.
cm.
Summary: Josh and Amy meet home missionaries Jerry and Osa Marie
Wittenmyer and discover the many special ways in which they work with the
churches in their area.
ISBN 0-936625-67-8
1. Wittenmyer, Jerry—Juvenile fiction. 2. Wittenmyer, Osa Marie—Juvenile fiction. [1. Wittenmyer, Jerry-Fiction. 2. Wittenmyer, Osa Marie-Fiction. 3.
Missionaries-Fiction. 4. Christian lif e-Fiction.] 1. Title.
PZ7.W64912Ap
1989
[Fic]-dc20
89-9048
CIP
AC
© Copyright 1989 by Woman’s Missionary Union, SBC
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 0-936625-67-8
W897108•0589•5M
Published by Woman’s Missionary Union, Auxiliary to Southern Baptist Convention,
P. O. Box 830010, Birmingham,AL 35283-0010: Marjorie J. McCullough, president;
Carolyn Weatherford, executive director; Bobbie Sor rill, associate executive director,
Missions Education System; Lynn Yarbrough, Publications Section director; Karen C.
Simons, Products Group manager.
Cindy McClain, editor
Christy Choyce, editorial assistant
Karen Dillard, artist
Apples
for the
Missionaries
Barbara Wilkinson
Woman’s Missionary Union
Birmingham,Alabama
Chapter 1
Apples and Apple
Butter
“Take us somewhere special, Grandpa!”
“You children always want to go somewhere!”
Grandpa answered. “I must pick these apples for
Grandma. She is making apple butter today.
Won’t that taste good on hot biscuits?”
“I’m getting hungry!” Josh said. “When is lunch?”
“You’re always hungry,” said Amy, his twin sister.
Josh and Amy liked to help Grandpa on the farm.
Their grandparents lived in Washington, just outside
the city of Seattle. The twins were spending the
summer with them.
Grandpa had planted the apple trees when their dad
was young. Everyone liked the sweet apples that grew
on the trees.
Soon Josh and Amy had gathered enough apples to
fill three large baskets. They helped Grandpa load the
baskets onto the pickup truck.
7
Later they helped Grandma prepare the apples to make
apple butter.
“Will you take us somewhere special now,
Grandpa?” asked Josh.
Grandpa thought for a moment. Then he smiled at
Josh and Amy. “How would you like to meet a missionary?” he asked.
“A real missionary?” asked Josh.
“Like the ones we learn about at church?” asked
Amy.
“Yes,” said Grandpa, “a real missionary like the
ones you learn about at church.”
“Where is this missionary?” asked Amy.
“He lives near here,” answered Grandpa. “And he
likes apples and apple butter. I am thinking of my
friends Jerry and Osa Marie Wittenmyer who live in
Seattle. They are home missionaries. In fact, they are
missionary teachers. They help pastors and other church
leaders provide education programs in churches.”
“You mean like Sunday School?” asked Josh.
“Like Sunday School, music, missions organizations, and other things like that. Through these programs people learn more about Jesus. Jerry and Osa
Marie are a team. They work together. Would you like
to meet them and learn more about what they do?”
asked Grandpa.
“Oh, yes!” Josh and Amy said at the same time.
“Could we, please?”
“I will call and ask if we can visit,” promised
Grandpa. “Maybe one day this week we will visit
them. Now, let’s get busy with these apples. I can just
taste that apple butter!”
8
9
Chapter 2
Meeting the
Missionaries
“Hurry, Josh,” Amy said excitedly. “Grandpa is
waiting.”
“OK, OK, I’m coming. I just want one more biscuit
with apple butter on it.” Josh spread the jam thickly
on a biscuit. “I wonder if Jerry Wittenmyer likes apple
butter as much as I do.”
“Nobody could like it as much as you do, Josh,”
said Grandma. She cleared the dishes from the table.
“Now get moving. And don’t forget to take these
jars of apple butter to Osa Marie and Jerry.”
Josh picked up the box of apple butter jars. He
licked his lips at the thought of how good it tasted.
Amy opened the door for him. Together they hurried
down the porch steps and into the car.
Josh and Amy were glad to be going to meet
the Wittenmyers. They had never met missionaries before. They wanted to find out all they
10
could about these interesting people.
“Grandpa, I thought only preachers were missionaries. Does Jerry preach?” Josh asked.
“Sure he does, but his main job is teaching people
to work well in a church,” Grandpa replied. “Do you
have your questions with you?” he asked.
Amy nodded. She felt in her pocket for the sheet
of paper with questions written on it.
Amy looked out the window. She thought about
how nice Washington was. It was different from
Oklahoma, her home state. In the distance they saw
a tall mountain with snow on it.
“There is Mount Saint Helens!” Grandpa said.
“It is a volcano. A few years ago it erupted and
scattered volcanic ash across two states and around
the world.”
Josh and Amy looked at the big mountain.
They thought of the jars of volcanic ash which
Grandpa had given them. The mountain was
covered with snow.
Josh whispered to Amy, “Did you remember to
bring the surprise?”
Amy nodded. She showed Josh a sack. It held
a surprise for the missionaries.
“Are we there yet, Grandpa?” Amy asked.
“Almost. We will be there in fifteen minutes,”
he said.
Josh looked out the car window. “What will grow
in those fields, Grandpa?” he asked.
“Tulips will grow there, Josh. Washington
grows and sells more tulips than the country of
11
Holland. Do you remember the bulbs I sent to your
mother last year? You helped plant them,” said Grandpa.
“Oh, yes, they were pretty. Planting and taking care
of all those tulips must be hard work!” Josh said.
“Yes, it is, Josh. Farmers raise tulips just like crops
of corn, wheat, or apples,” said Grandpa.
Soon the car slowed down. It turned into a parking
lot. The twins were excited. Amy checked her pocket
again for the questions. Josh picked up the box of
apple butter jars. Amy held the surprise sack carefully.
The three walked up to the door of the building.
Two smiling faces looked out at them.
“Welcome to Puget Sound Baptist Association!
We hope you had a nice drive,” a man said in a
12
friendly voice. “I am Jerry Wittenmyer. This is Osa
Marie, my wife. We are glad you have come to see us
and learn about the work we do.” Jerry’s eyes lit up.
“Is that apple butter? Thank you, it’s my favorite.”
“Hello, Amy and Josh,” Osa Marie said. “I am glad
you have come to visit us.”
Josh and Amy smiled shyly at the friendly people.
Jerry was tall and had brown hair. His eyes twinkled
when he smiled. Osa Marie was small and had a nice
smile. Her eyes showed how happy she was to see them.
The twins liked Jerry and Osa Marie at once. They wondered what they would learn about missionary teachers
today. Jerry liked apple butter and that was good!
13
Chapter 3
A Teacher Is a Special
Helper
Jerry and Grandpa shook hands, then everyone
went into the building. They saw women
typing and making posters. They saw classrooms
for teaching. They saw a music library and the offices
of everyone who worked in the building.
“Three other men work in our office,” said Jerry.
“Our director of missions helps us know what needs to
be done. Our Language director works with people
who speak different languages. Our churches have people from different countries in them. We also have
churches which hold services in other languages. Our
Church Extension director is in charge of missions
projects and new church work. I plan and carry out
teacher and leader training for churches. We all work
together to help one another. Each Tuesday we meet
together to make plans. We want to help our churches
do their work better.”
14
“What is an association?” asked Amy.
“An association is a group of churches working
together. There are about eighty churches in our association. Many of them have less than 100 members,
most of them have only a pastor. I help them with their
teaching programs as much as I can,” Jerry said.
“What do you do to help churches?” asked Josh.
“Well, Josh, I help pastors train Sunday School
teachers, missions leaders, and music workers. Sometimes
I work with a church a long time to help them carry
out their plans.”
15
“Many times Osa Marie and I hold training
meetings. Osa Marie teaches preschool and children’s workers. I teach adult and youth workers.
We help them know how to use their teaching
materials. We also help them understand the
people they work with and how to tell them
about Jesus.”
“Jerry is able to do a lot. He has helpers from
the churches who work with him, Osa Marie said.
“That’s right, I have many people who help me.
We plan what needs to be done. I plan with them
how best to do the work. I also teach them how to
do the work. I count on my helpers to carry out the
plans we have made. When we work together, much
can be done,” Jerry said.
“What kinds of teacher training do you do?”
Amy asked one of the questions she had written
down.
“Often I go on a retreat with the pastor and
church workers. We plan ways to help the church
do its work better. When church leaders learn how
to do their jobs, then they are happier and work well
together,” Jerry said.
“Do you visit churches?” asked Amy.
“Yes, I do, Amy. I often visit in a different church
each Sunday. Sometimes I lead the singing in the worship service. Other times I preach. I meet with church
workers to help them learn to do their work well. I try
to visit each church in our area each year. Every day I
make church visits,” said Jerry.
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17
“Does Osa Marie go with you when you visit
churches?” Josh asked.
“Many times she goes with me. Often she goes
to help with the music program or to help children’s
workers. We like to work together when we can.”
“Tell us what you do during the week, Jerry,”
said Grandpa.
Jerry laughed. “Each week is different. The kind
of work I do depends on what time of year it is.
“In late spring and summer we have camps each
week. We have a camping program for all ages. Men,
women, boys, and girls all have a camp to attend during the year. Our camping center is located just two
miles south of the Canadian border. It is a beautiful
place.
My helpers run the camps for me. I plan with and help
other people do the work. We also have things for
youth to do during the summer. Many softball teams
play games during the summer.
“During the late summer and fall we train new
teachers and leaders. Often we spend several weeks
with one church. We show them new ways of teaching
and telling people about Jesus.
“During the winter we have retreats with churches.
At these retreats we talk about families and how they
can have a happy family.
“In the spring we help churches get ready for
Vacation Bible School. We teach the workers for the
Bible schools. Sometimes summer missionaries work
with the churches.”
18
Josh and Amy were glad they had come to see Osa Marie
and Jerry Wittenmyer. They knew that being a missionary
teacher was a big job. Josh poked Amy in the ribs. “I think I
might like to be a missionary teacher like Jerry,” he said.
19
Chapter 4
Music, Music, Music
The phone rang. It was for Jerry again. People
called him all the time for help with church problems,
he said. Often he came to the office early in order to
get office work done.
Osa Marie talked with the children about the music
program in Puget Sound Association. “Let me show
you our music library!” she said. She opened the door
to a large room. Shelves lined the walls. They were
filled with music books, sheet music, and music tapes.
“We are glad to have this library. A church in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, gave us the music. Music is expensive. Our small churches do not have money for music.
We have many copies of music for choirs. A church
music leader can come to our office and listen to tapes
of the music. He can check out enough copies of the
songs he wants his choir to sing during the month.
When he is finished with the music, he brings it back
and checks out more music. We are able to help
churches with this music library. We are glad that
20
21
the church in Oklahoma gave us this gift.”
“Osa Marie, do you play an instrument?”
asked Josh.
“Yes, Josh. I play the piano and organ,” she said.
“I also enjoy helping teachers learn how to
teach children better. I love teaching boys and
girls about Jesus,” Osa Marie said, with a smile.
“Since you like music so much, how do you
use it to teach people?” Grandpa asked.
“Sometimes a person who can play the piano
or lead a choir will move into our area. They are
looking for a church to attend. Jerry tells them
about a church which needs a pianist or a choir
leader. He asks them to pray about where God
wants them to serve Him,” said Osa Marie.
“We help people find choir leaders for preschool, children, youth, and adults. I help train
the leaders and help them plan their choir programs. Sometimes I meet with the leaders here
in the music room. I help them choose their
music.”
“I like to sing, too,” Amy said.
“Amy, God gives each of us special abilities.
Some of us can sing or play the piano. Others
can teach. Still others can help people with
problems.
“Not everyone can sing or play the piano. Not
everyone can write or teach. It is not important to be
able to do all things. We must be willing to use the
abilities God gives us. We should care about other
people. We should tell them about Jesus. That is all
God asks of us,” Osa Marie said.
22
Amy and Josh smiled. They liked this friendly
teacher who liked music and children.
23
Chapter 5
Apples for the
Missionaries
Jerry came back from answering his phone
call. He said, “I’m getting hungry. Let’s go to our
house for lunch.”
Josh was glad Jerry had thought of that. He
was getting hungry again, too.
The children, Grandpa, and the Wittenmyers
got into Jerry’s car. Soon they were at their
house. Osa Marie and Amy went into the kitchen
to fix lunch. Grandpa, Josh, and Jerry went out to
the backyard. Josh looked at the tall fir trees. “It
would be fun to climb one of those trees,” he
said out loud.
Jerry laughed. “Our children did just that,
Josh. When they were your age, one of our
neighbors called us and said our children were at
the top of a tree. We were afraid they would fall.
Carefully we talked them down. When they were
safely on the ground, I talked to them about the
dangers of climbing a tall tree. We decided that
24
25
we would tie a red ribbon on a branch. They
could not climb higher than that branch. As the
kids grew older, I’m sure that ribbon moved up
the tree, because they climbed higher and higher!”
“Lunch is ready,” Osa Marie called from the
kitchen. Josh and the others washed their hands,
then went into the kitchen. The table was filled
with good things to eat. Josh spied an open jar
of apple butter and licked his lips. Everyone became quiet while they ate.
After lunch, Grandpa said, “Osa Marie and
Jerry, you have a nice home. Do your children
still live here?”
“Bruce, our oldest son, and Terry, one of the
twins, live and work here. Jerri Elaine, the other
twin, finished school in Fort Worth, Texas, and
was just married. All our children are serving the
Lord.”
“You have twins, too?” Josh and Amy said at
the same time.
“Yes,” smiled Osa Marie. “Just like you two.”
“I think I would like to be a missionary teacher
someday,” said Josh.
Jerry said, “That’s good, Josh. Perhaps God
will ask you to be His special helper. Just be
ready to do what God asks of you. God has a
plan for each of us. He wants us to choose to
follow Him. He wants us to tell others what we
know about Jesus.”
Josh and Amy looked at each other. Josh said,
“Let’s do it now, Amy.”
26
Amy nodded. She reached for the sack she had
been carrying all day. Before she opened it, she said,
“Jerry and Osa Marie, we want you to know that you
are our favorite teachers. Grandpa once told us when
he was our age he took an apple to his favorite teacher.
Josh and I decided we wanted to do the same. So we
brought you these.”
She reached in the sack and brought out two of the
biggest, reddest, and best-looking apples anyone had
27
28
ever seen. “We think you are special teachers. I wish
we had a big basket of these to give to you. Thank you
for teaching us what it means to be a missionary
teacher. Thank you for teaching people about Jesus.”
Jerry and Osa Marie smiled and hugged the twins.
Osa Marie looked at Jerry and said, “Don’t you
feel special? I know I do. Thank you, children, for
visiting us. I hope you will remember this visit for a
long time.”
During the trip home, Josh and Amy thought about
what they had seen and heard. Amy said, “I think we
should pray for Jerry and Osa Marie.”
Grandpa said, “Amy, that is a good thing to do.
Grandma and I pray for missionaries each day. We
will add them to our prayer list.”
Soon the car pulled up in the yard. Josh said, “I’m
glad we’re home. I’m hungry. I hope Grandma has
homemade bread and apple butter for supper.”
Amy rolled her eyes. “There he goes again,” she
said. “I’m glad we took the apple butter and apples to
the missionaries. They would not have a chance with
Josh around!”
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Afterword
Jerry and Osa Marie Wittenmyer are North
American missionaries serving with the North
American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention in Sedro Woolley, Washington. Jerry serves
as director of missions for Mount Baker Baptist
Association. They are the parents of three grown children, Bruce, Terry, and Jerri Elaine.
Josh and Amy were invented by the writer to tell the
story of the Wittenmyers.
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“Take us somewhere special!” Josh asks
Grandpa. Twins Josh and Amy are spending
the summer visiting their grandparents in
Washington.
Not only does Grandpa take Josh and Amy
somewhere special, he also introduces them to
two special people: missionary teachers Jerry
and Osa Marie Wittenmyer. Josh and Amy learn
North American missionaries enjoy many of the
same things they do, like apples, apple butter,
and telling others about Jesus!
Younger children will enjoy this delightful
story about the work of the Wittenmyers, North
American missionaries in Sedro Woolley,
Washington.