Recipes for Living Donald and Wilma Cok Stuva

My life has been so full of serving God and experiencing God's miracles, that there is no way I can write my story without telling that. I have had health problems from which God has healed me. I have had such close calls with fatal injuries and death that had there been seconds difference in where I was and what I did, the story would not have been the same. My life seems to me a series of miracles, beginning when I was two years old, my mother tells me I fell out of a two-story window. She was working upstairs and when she looked around, all she saw were my ankles and feet going over the ledge. I may have had some complications but quickly recovered.

I was born southeast of Bridgewater, Iowa on November 12, 1931. I have been told there was such a treacherous snowstorm in progress at the time, that in order for the doctor to see where to turn into the lane of our farm, my dad had to carry a light to the road and wait for him there. I attended school in Prescott, Iowa but quit to go to work after the first year of high school. I completed high school through the American Schools out of Chicago, Illinois. From there I went on to graduate from A.I.B. (The American Institute of Business) in Des Moines, where I earned a degree in business, sales, and accounting.

In 1951, I was drafted into the Army. After I received my notice, I went to the Draft Board and asked that my name, which was in 18th place, be moved to 1st place in order for me to be inducted sooner and get it over with. I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training. From there I was sent to Korea. I was in the 3rd Infantry Division, the 15th Regiment, Company A, which, by the way, is now in Iraq. We arrived at Enchon, August 28, 1951, and from there went to Seoul, where we had a human life experience. There was an outdoor latrine, which was only a trench. The ladies of that area would line up at the fence and watch as we used the facility. For a young guy just off the farm, it was quite embarrassing.

On September 11, we went on a push against the Chinese stronghold. It has struck me just recently why that date had such significance to me. The same date we went into battle, 9/11, is the day when, years later, the towers were hit in New York City. We moved to the front line, but prior to going into battle, we were sent to a staging area to be prepared. We were called together about midnight, and the Chaplain spoke to us. He was very frank, telling us we were heading into battle. "Some of you are going to live, some are going to die." He prayed for us and sent us out. We walked until about daybreak, when we hit the battle area, and met wounded coming back. Most of them were bloody, some with their insides opened up, and we knew we were no longer reading about the war in the newspaper. This was real. Of the 128 men in the company, by nightfall only 12 were left. I have lost count of the number of times I knew God's hand was upon me as I narrowly escaped death. That was only one example.

As the company pulled back to recuperate and gain reinforcements, I carried our wounded Captain back. At the top of one of the mountains, there were bullets flying so close they kicked up dirt in my face. We fought every day for our outpost, going up in the morning and leaving in the evening. The path we took was mined on both sides. One day, as I was going up the path, a Chinese soldier in a foxhole opened up on me with a Chinese burp gun that fires 900 rounds a minute. I can still hear the sounds! The bullets snapped by my head and I never was hit.

On this outpost, I was going up the same path when mortar rounds started coming in on me. The mortar rounds were concussion and not the shrapnel type. With nowhere to go, I started back for cover in a trench about 200 to 300 feet away. These rounds were exploding about eight feet behind me. They had my speed calculated, but they were that much too short, and I did not even get a scratch! I saw some horrible things! One man stepped on a mine and it blew off his legs. He lived all during the night, waiting for a helicopter, but died shortly afterward.

In the midst of all that horror, there was also thoughtfulness. After we took the mountains, it began to get cold. We couldn't sleep without a sleeping bag. Even then it was difficult because the artillery was firing all night long every night. I found a piece of wire which I could attach to my bag and throw it over my shoulder. As we were walking along, all at once my sleeping bag came loose. I watched it roll w-a-y down the hill. My buddy came to my rescue and loaned me his while I slept.

When we started to rotate home, we were sent to Pusan to wait for a boat. I was there during the Kojo prison riots. They had their own system of order within the prison compound and were trying to create trouble. They were contained by a 10-foot high fence, but as another fellow and I were guarding the compound, one of the prisoners went up over the fence and outside the compound. We called for others to come and take him away. The General in charge of the compound was not pleased. In fact, he was angry with me because I hadn't shot and killed the prisoner. I didn't want to do that. I discovered I couldn't hate any of them. The enemy didn't want to be there any more than I did.

A friend I had gone into service with, went through basic training with, and was sent overseas with, had been separated from me. Here he was when I got to Pusan. We became reacquainted and have remained friends throughout the years. I was discharged in 1953.

As is my nature, I have done a lot of thinking about my Korean experience. I didn't realize at the time I went, that Korea was the first conflict under the United Nations. We can see its failure then and ever since, because they started to negotiate with the enemy. Once you start that, the enemy will never let up, which he hasn't done. We are still fighting the same battles today that should have been won back in those years. President Truman kicked out McArthur, who simply wanted to bomb the supply lines to the Chinese. In other words, McArthur wanted to fight to win. But McArthur being kicked out led to negotiations and the splitting up of Korea. I do not believe there would have been a Vietnam, and I don't believe there would have been the wars since, had there not been that turn of events.

The failure of the UN, then and now, can be realized from the Bible telling us there cannot be peace as long as man tries to take over the Lord's position, which is what the UN is doing. For so many years - in fact, until recently - I felt that the battles in Korea were a total waste of life and resources. Now I have come to realize the good that came from standing up and fighting for freedom. Out of that we can see the difference between North and South Korea. South Korea is prosperous and now has one of the largest, fastest growing churches in the world - the Assembly of God Church pastored by Yonggi Cho. That happened after the Korean War was over. Out of that millions of people have come into the knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ. They are saved and are going to heaven because we fought in Korea.

I returned to Des Moines and found a job with Sears and Roebuck in their auto accessories department, selling tires, etc. I visited my folks on weekends. While I was gone, they had moved from Bridgewater to Fairfield, which was not far from Ottumwa. One night, my friend and I were in Ottumwa, looking around, and talking to girls. One of them was Wilma Cook, who, we discovered, worked for Western Electric in Des Moines. We offered to drive them back to Des Moines, and this started our relationship.

Wilma had been born in Albia and was educated in her early years in a country school. In time the family moved to Oskaloosa, and she went to high school there. She became a secretary, first working for Western Electric in Oskaloosa. She wanted to transfer to their Des Moines office, which they didn't do at that time. It was necessary for her to quit and be rehired, which she did, and worked for one of the supervisors, Mr. Dunn.

Wilma and I were married on January 14, 1954, within a year after my getting out of the service. Both of us continued working in our respective jobs, until a friend who was on the fire department encouraged me to consider that employment. I understand there are more rigid requirements today but at that time there were no classes. We had studying to do on our own before we took a Civil Service exam. They have ranks similar to the military. I was hired in March 1959, as a private, worked up to engineer, then Lieutenant, and Captain, which was the rank I held when I retired in December 1986.

During those years we had some challenging fires and I had more miraculous experiences. While I was a Lieutenant, with eight men under me, we had a fire at Gilcrest Lumber Company at 3rd and Market Street. An entire square block was involved and we were on the third floor of the three story brick building, putting out hot spots after the roof had caved in on the third floor. A train went by, and from the vibration, a brick wall fell in, taking 3/4th of the floor and the second and first concrete and steel floors all the way to the basement. Just before that happened we had laid down our equipment and walked to the east end of the building. That is when the floor fell out from under me. I reached up and grabbed a burned out brace. I pulled myself up just as the floor was slipping out from under me. In even one more second, it would have been too late for me to survive. I am very familiar with all the Bible promises like Ps. 91:11 "He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways." I have no illusions as to why I am spared unless God has plans for me, and fulfilling those plans is what my life is all about.

When I retired from the fire department, I went over the road hauling mail for a couple of years, mostly to Chicago and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I had a real estate broker’s license, and went with First Real Estate Company, and with Caldwell Bankers full time. While I worked real estate, I also preached whenever I had the opportunity. I became an ordained minister and for about six months, pastored a church.

Wilma and I lived in Des Moines until we bought an 80-acre farm outside Osceola. I had hogs, cattle, and horses. Wilma continued working after we moved to the farm in December 1970, and we became associated with the Assembly of God Church. It has been a strong influence in our lives and the lives of our children. Our firstborn died shortly after birth, May 4, 1955. Brian was born August 22, 1956. At that time, Wilma quit her full-time employment, but did lots of volunteering. That must have been the best route to take, because our children turned out well all are saved and are productive citizens.

Brian married Belinda Wickham, and they had three children: Nick, Renee, and Rebekah. Brian is supervisor for an engineering company in Des Moines. Belinda is teaching pre-school at the Lutheran Church in Des Moines and is secretary at the Assembly of God Church in Osceola. Nick and his wife, Kimbra, are in Tanzania as Assembly of God missionaries. Her parents are missionaries in Mombasa, Kenya, which is about six hours from Tanzania. Nick and Kimbra have two children, Lexxi and Ethan. Renee married Dustin Henry. Their son, Luc, was born on my birthday, Nov. 12, 2001. Now they have twin girls born September 29, 2005- Alissa and Victoria. They already have nicknames for them - Ali and Tory. Rebekah has just reported for a job in Iowa City, but is taking schooling online from AIB (American Institute of Business).

Diane was born February 10, 1958. She married Ralph Miller, and they live on a farm far enough west of Osceola to have a Murray address. Ralph farms and works for the Iowa Department of Transportation. Diane is a teacher of lower elementary grades in Murray. They have two children. Nichole married Sean Welch, whose father was pastor of the Independent Bible Church north of Osceola, and Joe who farms with his dad.

Matthew was born June 23, 1967. He is married to Tanya, and is pastoring the Assembly of God church in Colfax, while also working at Wells Fargo in Des Moines. Tanya is a nurse, working with an organization out of Newton. She became my medical advisor. Matt and Tanya have three children, Ashley, Kathryn, and Christopher. They are in the Colfax\ Mingo school system, Chris in fourth grade, Kathryn in sixth, and Ashley in eighth.

Some of the health miracles in my life began while I was in my forties. All at once my eyes failed. I was studying for a promotional exam and suddenly I couldn't see to read. The doctor said I had diabetes. I was put on a diet, but I couldn't eat. I began searching for more of God than I knew. I went to every meeting I could find of groups who confessed Jesus. I went to the first state convention of the FGBMFI (Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International) at the Savory Hotel in Des Moines. There I was called, for the first time in my life, to give a testimony for Jesus Christ. I felt good about it and it gave me hope. The Lord began to teach me about healing, putting his word into practice, making positive confession quoting Scripture, and making a stand on what the Lord had promised. God brought "Following" to my attention.

After four months of being on a diet, praying, and confessing, I went back to the doctor. He could not find any sign of diabetes. The nurse stated that whatever I was doing, I should keep it up. I have had several checkups since and no signs of diabetes have shown up. We have the testimony in Psalm 3:5, "...the Lord sustains me." God has proven this and kept other promises over and over in my life.

Along in this same period, my heart started leaking so badly that when I laid my head on the pillow I could hear it squashing. I put into practice what the Lord had taught me about healing and it happened again. The Lord gave me the witness that "even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil" (Psalm 23).

On April 16, 1990 I became dizzy, losing my balance and equilibrium. I was immobile for four months. I couldn't move, watch television, or read without setting off the spinning around me. This went on for a full year. I was given Prozac, but when I took it, my heart beat irregularly and missed beats. I could only conclude the medicine was making me worse.

Again in March 1992, the very same thing happened. I went as far as Rochester, Minnesota and no one could find anything wrong with me. I was down with it for four months, but it took the rest of the year for recovery. I consulted the doctors in Rochester again, and the only diagnosis I was given was, "Stress does strange things to different people." I kept praying and believing the scripture which confirmed that God is with us and I would be totally healed. I found a scripture in the prophetic book of Nahum 1, verses 9, 12, 13, 14, and 17: "The Lord has given a commandment concerning thee...He will make an utter end; the affliction will not rise up a second time... Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more...For now I will break this yoke from off thee and will burst thy bonds asunder..(God) is our stronghold and refuge." There were others: "If we can believe, all things are possible" (Mark 9:23). I confessed daily. I had to convince me, not God, who continually brought Bible verses to my mind. I was made well.

But it wasn't only in physical healing that the Lord manifested himself. While we were on the farm, I had several head of cattle. In the fall I counted the number of bales of hay I had on hand and it was obvious I didn't have enough to last until spring. Philippians 4:19 became my stronghold: "My God will supply every need...according to his riches in glory." However, after awhile my faith faltered. Upon recounting the hay, I lost my faith, went out and bought enough that I thought would carry me through. After the grass came up in the spring and the cattle stopped eating hay, I was in the hay mow one day and decided to count what I had left. It came to exactly the same amount of hay I had bought. The Lord puts us through times of learning, teaching, and testing. The education that leads to conviction is thorough.

In 1977, Wilma began working at Clarke Community High School as a volunteer. They decided her work was deserving of pay, so she became their printing technician and continued for 22 years, retiring in 1999. She is kept busy with the church, family, gardening, and volunteering. Both her and my date books are very full.

About 2001, I became associated with the Full Gospel Churches internationally, and have for 3 1/2 years been the supervisor for the Iowa District. It requires some traveling, during which I have met a lot of pastors and missionaries, and attended lots of conventions, helping to solve some problems. I am, of course, also associated with the Assembly locally. The two groups have the same basic beliefs, which I accept fully.

When my health declined in 1992, I was forced to slow down, so we sold the farm and moved into Osceola, next door to Melvin Goeldner on Pearl Street. There has only been one Melvin, ever, and it was our privilege to have become well acquainted with him. We still quote his unique sayings. In answer to our asking how he was doing, he would respond with, "I would say I'm doing pretty well, but I'm always open to a second opinion." Every day was a good day for Melvin - some were just better than others. In later years, when a remark was made about it being a good day, he would answer, "Any morning I wake up, it's a good day."

That was my evidence that I was to attend the meeting. When I left, it was raining but not hard. I stopped under the canopy of a motel in Red Oak to check on reservations for the evening. While I was inside, the rain came down harder and was combined with hail. It quit when I was ready to leave. I drove on to Council Bluffs, stopping at a Wal-Mart where I was detained for 15 minutes, which kept me from being in a tornado in the area. There were tornadoes all around. They had struck Red Oak and when I returned, there was debris strung all along the road as far as Creston. Jesus is certainly our protector. "We dwell in the shadow of the Lord" (Psalm 91:1).

About November 1, 2000, I began to think about my age, wondering how much time I have left, and whether or not I could be productive during that time. Isaiah spoke for the Lord saying, "Before they call, I will answer..." (65:24). On November 18, I was in Joplin, Missouri at a Business Men's Fellowship meeting, and as I was sitting there, that inner witness came to me and said I would have 15 more years. This would give me until November 18, 2015, when I would be 84 years old. Perhaps I can go beyond that, but I do believe I have at least that much time left. Again I thank and praise the Lord that he would remember me.