I have thought so many times of Jim and Nancy's kindness to me and my husband Khalid. But I especially want to highlight Jim's wonderful effect on Khalid as regards his habituation to cigarettes. Khalid wanted so much to quite smoking but was very addicted and unable to sustain ceasation. JIm's encouragement had a profound effect on Khalid. Though I can not prove cause and effect, I can report that on June 12th 2012 Khalid stopped smoking! He has been a "non-smoker" since June 12 2012 with some minor relapses :) Most important his attitude towards smoking changed tremendously. He really wants to be a non-smoker. Although there have been several influences to help Khalid stop smoking, I personally believe that Jim's kindness and prayers were a powerful factor.
We miss you Jim and look forward to seeing you again in the next life.
Lots of love, Dana
"Stop...... Office...." Those two harsh words can send shivers up a person's spine at the immigration desk on Kish Island.
Jim and I shared an affection (addiction?) for oriental carpets. One weekend, we took a trip to Kish Island, which was having a carpet exhibition. We were traveling with a friend, who happens to have the same name as me (Richard Miller). Add to that, the humorous fact that the UAE's immigration authorities had no idea how to classify Jim's occupation, so his visa had the title "priest" on it.
So what does the Iranian border guard do when they see two Richard Millers and a priest? Naturally - they investigate. "Stop...... Office........ This way....." (uh oh......)
Jim was the eldest among us, so they questioned him first. "Why are you in Iran?" Answer ---- "we're looking for carpets....." Question: "What do you do?" Jim's calm answer" "I talk to people about their problems ---- would you like to talk?" (no, he did not want to). Hearing this, the authorities stamped our passports, kicked us out of "the office," and we went on our way.
Jim - thank you for giving your time. Thank you for your friendship, and thank you for the memories.
Our first meeting was in the bible bookstore here at ECC in Abu Dhabi, I was volunterring on night in the bookstore when Dr. Jim came in and wanted to check on the book order he had placed for his upcoming counseling class. I introduced myself to him and he shook my hand, i told him i was joing the class myself but had not gotten around to signing up, Dr. Jim smiled and I felt led to share with him right then and there about the dreams i had been having for the last few months, I shared with my dreams which included military soliders coming home from the Iraq and Afganistan wars, and how broken these soliders were. Dr. Jim told me that that was the Lord speaking to me, and that Gods hand was upon me, and that God would equiped me for what he had called me to do. We had an instant spiritual connection. Dr. Jim had me share my testimony in our class as well as others and then one day in class i felt led by the holy spirit to ask Dr. Jim if he would be my father in faith, he answered yes, and we agreed to spend time together. I did not get the time I wanted with him but I know he has prayed for me, him and Nancy both and for this I am eternally grateful. God Bless you family may you live on a million and one memories of your dear loved one, he was truly a gift to us all.
Forever Thankful for my time with Dr. Jim
Andrea Ann Johnson
Abu Dhabi 2008-2012
