In the Rear View Mirror

 

Our R.V. problems changed a lot of things. On the "negative" side:

1. We weren't able to visit our friends in NM

On the "positive" side:

1. We made new friends of the family that took us in for 2 nights, Greg, Robin & Gregory.  Roger met Greg at the dealership. We had a private room in their basement and they fed us royally! Gregory said we were the first ones to spend a night at their house (we assume Greg has extended his gracious offer of accommodations more than once!).

2. We were able to discuss how to have assurance that one is saved.

3. We met the wife of another Christian couple, Rose & Ron, who picked us up and took us to her church for Wednesday night prayer service. Then she delivered us to Greg's home.

4. At the church service, 79 year old twins Janice and Faye Rostvit gave testimony of their most recent trip overseas. They travel for the Lord all over the world, singing in over 100 languages! It was a joy to meet them and get one of their books, which I, Heather, have been reading. Amazing stories of God's provision, intervention and protection.

 5. We learned of Rose through a friend Teresa in WA who read about our dilemma on Facebook. Teresa asked if we'd like to make contact with her friend in Colorado Springs, which we did! Rose and Ron also offered us overnight accommodations. 

6. We knew Teresa from attending the same church many years ago. She randomly visited our church once just before we left on our trip - not knowing that was where we were attending - and we renewed our acquaintance. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thought of following our posts!

7. Teresa "just happened" to have good friends in Colorado Springs... 

8. We saw the body of Christ at work, helping us on our way. God is Wonderful!! & it's exciting to walk with Him. 

Home Again - by the grace of God!

We arrived home on Monday, Sept. 8, and immediately started unloading the RV, which is big task!

We stopped at two churches on Sunday the 7th. In the morning we attended services at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Twin Falls, ID. Great preaching on the establishment of the family (and why it's in such a mess now-a-days), and the Sunday School hour teaching on recognizing God's institutions was super!

We attended the evening service at Berean Baptist Church in Pendleton, OR. The sermon and the music was incredibly uplifting. We were just inches from Heaven! lol

They even let us park overnight in their lot, which was an answer to prayer! I, Heather, was driving Friday night. We do not like driving after dark, but there didn't seem to be another way. The road was narrow because of construction, and the exits were not well marked and quite steep and narrow to access. Twice I had to make quick moves to get to them. So, for Saturday night, I really didn't want any more dark-driving! God answered my prayer!

These are both "independent fundamentalist" so we know they will sing hymns, which is our favorite music for worship. The preaching in both churches was excellent, Biblical teaching. 

Crossing the Snake River is always breath-taking. The bridges are SO high!! This is the river that daredevil Evel Knievel jumped.

We had several close encounters with various other vehicles and thank God for safety. We don't take it for granted. Thanks for praying for us! 

Back on the Road

Thanks to everyone's prayers, we are once again traveling. The R.V. spent 3 full days at the dealership. It was the only place we could find that would work on it. The disadvantage was that they only use Ford parts - and the one they needed hadn't been available for 16 years (they only stock parts 10 years back). Unfortunately, they didn't really want to tell us that. They just kept ordering parts that didn't work.

Finally, in desperation, Roger told them (on Wednesday and on Thursday) to get the part from NAPA. When they did, it fit just fine. However, much time passed while we waited and waited. The uncertainty was not fun!!

Everyone was very kind and gracious - maybe not super efficient! The mechanic Roger met the first day, Greg, almost immediately invited us to stay with him overnight if we needed a place. We did and we did. His family took us in - for 2 nights. Also, his influence (he's one of the more respected and knowledgeable workers) help expedite our R.V. getting fixed.

God worked it all together! May He be praised. 

The oil seal that encircles this shaft was the culprit.

Traveling again - or not?

We are waiting for the final word that the R.V. is ready. A call this morning told us it would be at least Monday as they didn't have a nut that fit. Roger in desperation said if it isn't life threatening, please use the old one!! A new one would have to be shipped from somewhere...We really want to get home and I actually wonder if they wouldn't find another "missing" part that would take another day or more...Oh me of little faith.........(turns out it wasn't a nut but a seal they needed)

We met a mother and her daughter stranded at the same repair place. They had been there a week already and we heard them be told it would be another day...Since they tow, they at least have transportation. However, hotel rooms aren't cheap.

God indeed granted us friends to take us in. But we are anxious to "get home" (back in the R.V.) Even clean clothes are far away....

We went on a walk Thursday morning and almost got lost. We followed a popular trail but weren't sure how to get back to the street where we were staying (we forgot the address & Roger didn't bring his phone...lol). However, the scenery was beautiful and the weather super. We saw an old wooden bridge on our walk. It only took about 1 hour to get back to where we started. On the way we were able to remind several that Jesus loved them. Also met a CRU worker.

Stranded, Supplied and almost underway!

We've been "stuck" in Colorado Springs since we took our RV to the repair shop here. The Lord has graciously provided for us. We have been staying in the home of Greg and Robin since Wednesday. Greg is a service technician at the RV shop. We met at the water cooler and discovered we were both followers of Jesus. He graciously invited us to stay in their home until the repair was completed. We had a private room in their basement.

We just got word that our RV will not be finished until Friday afternoon. This caused us to change plans for the rest of the trip. Instead of visiting our missionary friends in NM, we will head home and hope to be there before Tuesday.

Changing plans is a little easier since we know the Lord is directing our path. As Heather's father used to say "write your plans using a pencil and give God the eraser". The Lord brought along this "angel family" as part of His Plan.

Another blessing was connecting with a couple here, Ron and Rose, who are friends of Skip and Teresa, our friends in WA. Rose picked us up from the repair shop and took us to their home and then brought us to their church for a Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer time. We also heard a missionary report about Ukraine from octogenarian twin sisters, Janice and Faye. They also sang a few songs along with their PP slides. Very good. They gave Heather a copy of one of their books.

Change of Plans - Breakdown!

We took our time on Monday, since it was a holiday - Labor Day. Our end goal was Colorado Springs.

There was no parking at the gas station we drove toward, contrary to what Roger's app said! However, they very helpfully pointed to an empty parking lot (from a hotel gone belly-up) across the street. We spent a quiet night there.

On Tuesday we visited Navigators - a large mission started by Dawson Trotman. He focused on Bible memory among college students. The mission has expanded a lot and now have a large, impressive campus with the castle a big attraction. We didn't tour it, but heard a lot about their history.

The rock formations here are breath-taking! They jut right out of the ground, standing like a rock wall - sheer on both sides. This is right by the "Garden of the Gods" park. God is truly so amazing. His creation is beyond description.

From there we went to Focus on the Family - had lunch at Whit's End and shopped the bookstore.

We left there early, thinking we'd have time to visit the Great Sand Dunes National Park in south Colorado on our way to NM. About 3pm we pulled into a rest area 70 miles south of Colorado Springs. It was there Roger determined that we had a serious bearings oil leak and didn't want to try the mountain passes. He got on the phone to see who could work on an R.V. The nearest shop was back in Colorado Springs, so we returned the 70 miles to the same exit we had entered!! Last night we did another jigsaw puzzle while parked in front of the service facility.

They have been very accommodating and one of the workers even offered us overnight accommodations in his home! The part needed won't arrive until tomorrow (being flown in from out of State). It needs new U-joints on the drive shaft and a new oil seal on the differential. Since we don't tow, we are without wheels when the R.V. is down. 

Time in MO ending, now heading West

We left the CEF RV park on Saturday afternoon. Made some shopping stops to replenish our stores. Tanked up on gas. Parked for Saturday night at Calvary Heritage Baptist Church in Columbia, MO. This is the church we "attend" via you tube Sunday evenings when we're home. Pastor Ted was continuing in his series on the Book of Revelation.

We started and finished a 500 piece puzzle in the evening.

After Sunday morning Sunday School and Worship Service we had lunch in the RV and then headed toward Kansas. 

We stopped at the Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City, Kansas, for their evening service. This pastor was starting a new series on "Following God's Will". It was interesting to hear a dissertation on God's will - "God's permissive will" vs "God's absolute will".

We saw a Baptist Flag. Never knew there was such a thing.

Sunday night we parked at Love's in Abilene, KS. Very quiet night.