I think it’s time for a Praise Report! (And a really cool story)

A few months before we were setting out on the East Coast Tour, Joel and I did a few calculations and quickly determined that our finances would not hold up against 4 weeks on the road. And my nerves would not hold up against starting home-school in a mixture of various people’s homes (as delightful as they may be) and motel rooms. We sent out a request to the churches and individuals we had been involved with in Michigan describing our dilemma.

Adding to the dilemma were the dates we needed a trailer for (over Labor Day Weekend) and the low tow limit of our Honda Pilot. Well, God moved mightily through Berlin and LeValley Churches as they worked together to strike a lease deal with the local RV dealership, but the Honda limits made it almost impossible to get a trailer big enough to work for that length of time. Translation: we thought a shower would be a blessing to the folks we were meeting, a toilet would save our sanity, and a pop up would put Joel over the edge.

Dick and Penny Simington saved the day when they offered to switch their truck for our Pilot. This gave us a 12,000 lb towing capacity. The team went to work with the new limits and got everything set up with the RV dealership. The scope of the project was substantial with fund raising within the churches to pay for the lease, insurance, and ensuring compatibility of tow packages. All this was taken care of without concerning us. They just promised the truck and trailer would be ready in time.

I imagine God was watching with a smile on His face as He watched His children diligently working to get this missionary family on the road. Only He knew that 5 days before we would have to leave, after the preparations had been made but not finalized, the original plan would be thrown out (sorry Bill and Bob for the hours you put in). I imagine He watched with delight as we received the call from Clinton Rudd offering his 24 ft trailer free of charge. Rudd’s had just realized they could accomplish their Labor Day trip in another camper and had their’s to offer us.

The truck was perfect (of course), the trailer was perfect (of course), and we headed out August 20th.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.