HMA: Not a Vacation

I snapped a photo of the book above 'just for fun' the other day at Camping World (where we had to have an appliance replaced that we broke).  Then I realized today how much I probably should have read this book before we started our adventure in the Winnebago on this journey called Homeland Ministry Assignment (smile).  

I'm pretty sure, though, that this book would NOT have a chapter on the fervent and effective prayers of the Body of Christ for traveling mercies.  It would probably not have a chapter on the goodness of God to direct us to interstate exits and repair shops where we could get the assistance we needed and encouragement for our hearts that chases away fear. It wouldn't have a directory listing on where to find Brothers and Sisters in Christ who run such shops. 

I REALLY do not like blogging about the adventures Ms. Winnie has brought us, but God has been so good in going before us, that I can't NOT share it here.  Plus, I know that some of you are prayer warriors for our family and I want you to know that your prayers are being heard and answered.  

You may recall that before we left on this trip on April 2, we had the transmission rebuilt.  On Saturday Nathan sensed that it wasn't wanting to shift into the highest gear.  When he took his uncle out with him for a drive on Sunday, he couldn't replicate the issue.  We left Port Republic on Tuesday and not even 20 minutes down the Garden State Parkway, the problem re-emerged.  We pulled off the interstate and stopped at an auto shop.  They recommended we call another shop.  That second place thought the job was too big for them and told us to call a third business.

Enter Mr. George.  We learned that not only is he extremely knowledgeable on what we desperately needed help with (he's owned his business for 30 years), he's a fellow brother in Christ and he wanted to help us.  To make a long story short, after looking us over and driving Winnie down the road, he delivered the news that Winnie needed 'major surgery'.  She needed another transmission rebuild.  A phone call back to the shop in IL took some of the sting out when they offered to reimburse us the cost of the first rebuild.  

We settled in to the waiting area where Ellie was thrilled to find a beta fish, Reni a kids table with puzzles and Twizzlers, and for Nathan: coffee and ESPN.  After getting a better handle on the state of affairs under the hood, they dropped the transmission out, rolled the RV back out in the parking lot and plugged us in.  We were going to be here overnight.  But it doesn't stop there.  George gave us the use of his courtesy van and recommended we take the kids out and maybe go to the movies.  Then told us that it would be most of the following day too and keep the van as long as we needed it, suggesting we check out the local light house on Long Beach Island in the morning.  All we could do was shake our heads at the kindness shown us by George and all of his staff at Bay Transmissions.  What an answer to prayer, to be treated like friends and family, by someone we didn't even know.

It's now a little over 24 hours since we've arrived.  We just received word that the underlying source of the problem has still not been discovered.  Could you please pray for discernment on the part of the mechanics to find what is wrong so that we can get back on the road in time and safely without concerns that we could find ourselves back in this position again?  

We still have a few more weeks (three Sundays of church services) to go before we head back to Illinois in mid-May.  We also still have several days of the month left to be covered if you want to join our Epaphras (prayer) Team!  Thank you SO much to all of you who have responded!  We'll send you an e-mail reminder the night before so you don't forget! :-)

I'll close out with some photos from our time last week in Northern Virginia!  We spent some time with our friend, Jan.  She spoiled us by redeeming a Groupon at Fluffy Thoughts.  Yum!  She asked me not to post the photo of she and Ellie.  I guess that makes me a bad friend.  Sorry, Jan!

Then we did what good parents do investing in their child's education, and courtesy of Jan's driving, took the kids into the city to see some of our capital's landmarks.

We missed the height of the cherry blossoms, but found a few places where they hadn't all blown off yet.

We got into Ford's theater at the end of the day.  Reni waited anxiously while the National Park Service guide gave his spiel down by the stage.  After waiting long enough, Reni finally asked. "When is the MOVIE going to start?"

We paid a couple of visits to Nathan's sister, Rebecca, at her home in Reston.  Having just had knee surgery less than a week earlier, she understandably wasn't up for going out, so we came to her, bringing breakfast one morning.  It was so nice to see you, Aunt Rebecca!

We finished out the week with a few more visits including...

The Lu Family.  Kristie was involved in leadership at the student center back when she was at Asbury more than ten years ago!

We then got to see the Raudenbush family outside of Philly on Friday night!  It was a real treat to fellowship with these folks who, like us, are in the midst of a big vocational transition.  Mark and Kelly have developed some excellent resources for adoptive families including the website We Are Grafted In, The Sparrow Fund, and Together Called (a faith-based annual retreat for adoptive couples).  Kelly writes over at My Overthinking -- be checking her blog out next month for special giveaways as they embark on their third Build the Nest campaign to raise funds for adoption grants.  Thanks, Mark and Kelly, for all you do for the Christian adoption community!  It's been a blessing to us!

On Sunday we were super blessed to worship and share at Port Church!  That will be up on the blog next!