Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 04:2 (Spring 1990)
Article: On The Road: What it’s like for Children
Author: Donna C. Fujimoto

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PP 4:2 (Spring 1990) p. 10

On The Road: What it’s like for Children

Donno Fujimoto

I stood behind some trees the school bus braked to a stop on our country road. The driver paused and glanced down my driveway, then closed the doors and started the bus down the hill. I watched until the bus was out of sight, then stepped from the protective trees, my senses alive with excitement. I wasn’t going to school this year! I was 14 years old and about to begin a big adventure.

Dad had already taken me to Indiana University to register for eighth grade correspondence courses in English, algebra, and history. Mom was packing the last of what clothes and personal items she thought we’d need for the trip.

My father was an evangelist and my mother, sister and I were going to join him in his full-time ministry. It wasn’t long before we were on the road. For me that road stretched over four years of time; I lost track of the number of miles and faces.

My father had been doing this land of work off and on since he was 14 himself. After my three brothers left for college, it seemed natural for him to work us into his ministry instead of leaving us at home.

One consideration was the special situation with my mother and sister. My sister had contracted a serious illness at the age of two which had left her with mental and physical handicaps. My mother, who had cataracts and could not drive, would have been left isolated in the country unable to go into town for errands or medical care. So Dad decided that we should go with him. We bought a white motor home with a blue stripe on its side, closed up the log cabin, and left.

My father was a songwriter as well as a preacher. Many of the churches we went to were small out of the way places. We did a variety of programs: revival meetings for one or two weeks, holding services every night; morning and evening Sunday services; Vacation Bible School; concerts; summer camps; and even tent meetings.

Usually Mom and I would sing a trio with Dad and men he would preach a sermon, and we would sing a closing song. Most of the songs we sang were ones he had written. Both of my parents played piano, so we always had accompaniment.

We would stay here for a few weeks and there for a few months, based on how many meetings we could schedule. For example, we were in the habit of

PP 4:2 (Spring 1990) p. 11

going to the San Diego area every January to sing in area Christian and Missionary Alliance churches during their annual missionary conventions.

The missionaries stayed in the area going from one church to the next to speak. We followed them and added music to the missions se...

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