If you know us well…you know that we do not travel fast. However, yesterday we were able to actually drive the whole day and make it to OH early! What a blessing….it feels like we have a day off! We are here for the Conference on Revival in Broadview Heights, OH
Billy talked with the people at Appalachee RV (where our trailer is today) and we should know something tomorrow as to how everything is going. They have been talking with State Farm and working closely with them on the estimate in order to further work on the trailer.
We really aren’t trying to outdo the last trailer saga (I should write a book called that) but we drove home this weekend with NO BRAKES! Can you believe it? So, today, my Daddy helped me take the trailer back to the repair shop here in GA to have them do any and everything they see that needs work in regards to the lightening strike! Keep praying for traveling mercies!!!
Many of you have asked my thoughts on the California trip. My first thought to you is…’You must go and see for yourself’. But as I think more about it….that is my only thought….’you must go’. I am mostly amazed at their servant’s hearts. Have you been to the store before and asked the clerk where to find something? What usually happens? Yes, that’s happened to me before too…they just point to some obscure corner of the store and say ‘It’s over there to your left just a little bit on aisle 9′. Then, they are off to do what they were doing before you so rudely interrupted them. At this conference, if I was asked once, I was asked several times, if there was anything i needed or could they help me with something or let me show you where that is. From the ushers, to the greeters, to the staff…ALL seemed to have servant’s hearts. I am SURE that these are busy folk, the size of the place indicates that they are busy, but I think they see more than just being busy….they see people! WOW, imagine that….seeing people instead of ‘projects’ or ‘programs’ or our own agenda’s. I’m sure behind the scenes there was a little scurry or last minute ‘copy’ to get, but in all Lancaster Baptist Church has been taught the importance of people. Praise the Lord! I have been challenged to set aside what I’m doing and just help others.
Today I stepped foot for the first time in CALIFORNIA! My first thought is that it looked and felt much like a foreign country. But now, we are traveling with sweet friends, the Hardy’s, and they have made it quite enjoyable. We are here to attend the Leadership Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, CA (home of West Coast Baptist College). Our first night went well…the place is HUGE! Praise the Lord for what He is doing and has done through this ministry here!
Billy spoke to the trailer repair place this week and it is possible that our trailer will be finished the end of next week. That is really unbelievable! So far the damage was: The rear slide, all motors to slides, both air conditioners, washer and dryer, most electrical ‘boxes’ and these are the things that they could ‘reach’. Once the slides are out and repaired they will test the other things……..keep praying
On Wednesday night, 6/9/10 at 4:00am our trailer was struck by lightening (technically, it hit beside our trailer and we incurred the concussion from the strike) Neighbors reported seeing the ball of flame and knew we had been hit. Yes, we were in it asleep (as asleep as you can be during a tremendous storm). The local paper alluded to the fact that there were about 1000 strikes each 15 minute period that lasted through the evening til about 10:00am. There was approximately 12 inches of rainfall in our area that caused the local river to rise approximately 3′ every 15 minutes. There was a local RV place near the river that was washed away and the trailers that didn’t move were washed down the river as well. We would have been at that park, but they didn’t allow Mesa to stay. We were blessed.
However, the storm that hit us has caused us to leave our trailer behind….here’s what happened. When the lightening hit, Billy and I sat erect in bed while Mesa jumped upon the bed to protect us. We all thought someone was storming into the trailer. When Billy went to check it out, the slide ‘out’s were doing odd things….the middle slide was coming in at record speed crushing everything in it’s path. Still the noise was tremendous and I went to check out the back bedroom only to find that the slide had been ripped from the frame and was tilted forward barely hangin’ on. I thought I was physically going to throw up. It was amazing to see the slide tilted toward me. As the noise from the slide continued the rest of the trailer went silent as the air conditioner turned off…the heat turned on (both run off different power sources). We could not get the heat to turn off and it was quickly getting hotter and hotter (the temp outside was already in the 80’s). He quickly got Mesa to the truck…I was a little reluctant to step out into the storm. I am quite fearful of lightning…especially when you have to dodge it : ) However, Billy made me go. Smelling a burning smell caused Billy to call 911. The operator told us to get out of the trailer quickly and wait for the fire department who arrived within minutes. They were concerned about further damage if another strike were to hit close and unplugged all sources of electricity including propane. We waited out the remainder of the storm in the truck and prayed for it to stop. We also prayed and thanked the Lord for His safety and for the trial He has sent our way. Surely He will show Himself strong!
At this point, we have driven to Clovis, NM (for a 2 week meeting) and left the trailer at a repair shop in San Antonio, TX. We are waiting for an estimate and insurance approval. Please pray with us as this will be a long recovery time. Both ‘trailer’ wise and emotionally….every noise seems to make me a little jumpy.
Each year we try to go to a new town in America that we haven’t been before. This year we chose San Antonio, TX. Our trip was quite eventful. It started out by crossing the Georgia/Alabama line and having a tire blow out. Can you believe it?? We’ve been waiting for weeks to get our home back from having repairs due to 2 previous blow outs. So, here we go again…at this point though, we realize it is a tire issue (thought it might be just the 2 back tires that had weakened) But this was one the front, right tire that blew. Minimal damage (praise the Lord) but damage nonetheless. So, we spent the day at the Alabama Welcome Center waiting for some direction as to where to get 4 new tires. We heard back from some friends of ours who own a tire business and they found and directed us to Gadson, AL (home of a Goodyear factory). An appointment was made for us the following morning. After the tires were put on we headed out (another 14 hours) to New Braunfels, TX (just north of San Antonio). Visited a nice church on Sunday and spent Monday walking the River Walk and seeing the Alamo and other neat sites there. We saw the IMAX of The Alamo prior to walking through the ‘Mission’. What a sad story and at the same time realizing what a sad state we are in today…much like the battle at the Alamo….We looked everywhere for something that said “Remember the Alamo” but found nothing. Wish our government would do the same! Those men fought a lot for Texas and for America. On Tuesday we decided to take Mesa to the river in New Braunfels to swim. She LOVED it. We thought it would help exercise her leg and back too and we are pretty sure it did. I don’t swim well, so Billy got out into the river and I sat on the steps…Mesa swam back and forth over and over again to each of us…she really enjoyed herself. That night there was a HUGE lightening/rain storm that you’ll read about in the next post. That river was completely demolished so we are thankful that we went when we did.
