God’s Intervention
I have hesitated to write this article for months. “What if I leave someone out?” “What if someone gets offended because I forgot them?” I am 58 years old. I have been saved for 25 years. Every one you encounter has purpose in your life. I am thankful for all of the people in my life. I am especially grateful for my praying warrior sisters in Christ. And there are too many to name, I would forget someone and that would break MY heart. This article isn’t about that. What I need to tell you are a few unique stories of some unique people God used to do some really neat things for us in the last three months. There are more encounters, more miracles and more warriors than I can mention. But these are a few of the ‘out there’ things God has done.
Josh
One week at church Pastor was talking about being called out, set apart, to do something for God. Gary and I both felt it, the entire message really. So when there was an alter call, we went up front. The couple that met us at the front to pray with us was certainly familiar to us. We had seen them at church. But we did not know then personally, I might have even been hard pressed to come up with their names. We shared just a teensy bit of our story and they prayed for us. After we prayed, Josh started asking more pointed questions. Turns out he’s a finance guy. And who else do you need in your life when you are looking at retirement, social security, pensions and medical benefits but a finance guy. He helped me navigate the Affordable Care benefits when I had a paid professional give me really bad advice. We spoke on and off throughout the entire retirement process.
Months later when we received a very thick packet of very legal-language paperwork in the mail from Gary’s former union, we had a guy! We spent a lot of time on the phone walking through instructions, he sent us labels to send him the packet and the process began. Now I realize, part of that is his job. But the care with which he did it has been sweet. I have no doubt God put him in our path that Sunday morning just for such a time as this.
Austin
We met Austin in December and shook hands on renting a spot for our RV at his new RV place. When we purchased the RV on December 27th we drove straight to Austin’s and from the time we arrived to literally the time we drove out of there, he was a blessing. He has a ton of RV knowledge and was very available for Gary. Because of Austin I had a hot shower my second shower! There were storm warnings one evening and he text me that his church has a shelter. One particularly chilly evening he text to ask if we had enough blankets. Like, he went WAY over and above being our first landlord. Our last day he helped us load up the car and even filmed us driving out of the parking lot so we could see how she towed and turned.
He was heaven sent. We still talk about Austin and what a blessing he was and how God used him.
Kaitlin
Those two individuals were believers. What about when God uses an unbeliever? My friend Lori isn’t on social media and had been planting ideas about me writing a blog. Well, I am old and technology is NOT my comfort zone. I was completely intimidated. Even when I decided a blog might not be a terrible idea, I still had zero idea how or where to even begin.
The YMCA had a launching party for me (that’s a whole other story for another day!) and I was talking to a friend about the idea of a blog. Walking past me was a co-worker who also has her own business. She immediately stops and says, “I can help you with that.” Ummm, but you don’t understand, like I have ZERO idea what I am doing or where to even start. This did not scare her one iota! The next week we met for breakfast. This kind woman spent TWO HOURS with me in a café in Columbus, GA. She created our logo, helped me create the website, showed me the ins and outs of navigating the site – most specifically blogging since that was the original idea.
What you are reading right now, would not exist if not for Kaitlin saying, “I can help you with that.” I am so thankful. ♥
Carlos
I don’t even think I know his last name. I could find it if I wanted to, but it isn’t necessary. In order for us to travel we needed to purchase a tow dolly to pull Gary’s car behind the RV. Sara found a tow dolly for us on Facebook. Gary purchased it out in Upatoi, GA. The day he picked it up he drove all the way home to Smiths Station, Alabama and realized along the way he had lost one of the ramps. He felt terrible. He retraced his steps a few miles that afternoon. The next day he retraced his entire journey. He just couldn’t find it.
Again, Sara and Facebook to the rescue. She posted a lost and found message on the Smiths Station page asking if anyone came across it, to get in touch with her. A gentleman responded noting the material with which it had been manufactured and said he could MAKE a ramp.
Gary and Carlos connected. When they spoke Gary explained what we needed, gave him the dimensions and asked what it would cost. Mr. Carlos said, “You’re from Smiths Station and I’m from Smiths Station. That’s what community means.” He wanted nothing. Nothing for the supplies, nothing for his time. Free. Some time later Gary met the man in the Love’s parking lot and there was our replacement ramp and our miracle man, Carlos. ♥
WalkAbout Campground
It was January 31; our first real travel day. It was cold and windy, just a miserable day. The stress of our traveling was wearing us thin.
We knew we needed to top off our propane. We have a propane tank on board. It isn’t like the one you might use for your outdoor grill, I think it is larger. I have honestly not ever laid eyes on the actual tank! We use this tank to cook with if I am using the three burner gas stove top in the RV. It is a backup source to operate our refrigerator and hot water when we are not plugged into an electrical source. It also runs our furnace. We had used the furnace a few times but sparingly when we were in Alabama in January. There were some chilly nights that month! Austin was able to get us a guy to come and top us off while we were parked with him but that was mid-January. Here on January 31st we knew we were headed into more cold weather in Coastal GA. There was no place to escape the cold that weekend.
Gary had already done the research, as had I. I had checked with Hucks, where we were heading in Woodbine, GA. They did not have a propane tank on site at this campground, but he let me know WalkAbout, a Campground just over the 95 bridge, does provide this service.
Gary had located an Ace Hardware that could fill it but it was past our destination and they didn’t think we could bring the tow dolly and car with us into their lot.
So the plan was to arrive at Hucks, drop the car and the tow dolly, and proceed to St. Mary’s to the Ace to fill up on propane.
Well, best laid plans…..
On our drive we stopped for diesel in the RV and Gary said he noticed an Ace Hardware just back the road with a propane tank for refilling. I called to see if we could pull a Class A into their lot. She told me yes but to come in the entrance by the sheds.
We paid our $600 at the gas pump….Just kidding, it was like $250 for half a tank..and headed back up the road to the ACE. I told Gary which entrance she said and he explained that was not doable because of the side of the RV that the propane intake was on. Let me tell you ladies, just be quiet. Sometimes, even when you think you know better, he really does know what he is doing. Now, did he pull in the lot and not have any problems coming in the other entrance? Umm, no. BUT we didn’t hit anything and eventually the lady came out of the ACE and moved her car so we could proceed. This thing we are driving is REALLY REALLY big.
I went in the store and found someone who was willing to come outside – did I say it was blustery, windy and flurrying????
A man followed the RV to the propane refilling station and pulled out the lengthy hose. I showed him the port to hook up to and he connected the two. However, when he turned on the propane, a giant puff emanated at the connection. The poor man tried and tried, he radioed for assistance and still the puff of gas poured forth. He told us he could not help us and down the road we went…without more propane.
We were so ready to be done at this point. So ready.
We talked out our options. Dropping the car and tow dolly just seemed like extra work, arriving at our destination and then departing looked like a terrible prospect. So I called WalkAbout. Could I pull up with a 40 foot RV and a tow dolly and car? She knew to ask what side the port was on and gave us instructions. We were to enter the exit and follow the path around to near the office.
We followed all of the instructions and I went into the office to ask for assistance. The lady at the desk was lovely and found someone to assist us. The gentleman attached the propane hose and…..puff of gas. The same problem. Oh no. It’s an “us” problem.
The man found another man to help him and they talked it over. By this time Gary and I are both out by the propane fence, one of us on one side of the gate, the other on the other side of the gate. At this point the men from WalkAbout are searching for a rubber washer to put on our RV to complete the seal. There is a metal cabinet they have next to their giant propane tank and they are moving bags of different parts and appendages, searching. I am literally holding on the fence praying desperately for God to provide this washer.
They were on the last compartment and out comes the man’s hand with a washer between his fingers.
Let me tell you, Gary and I looked at each other from across the open gate with the silliest grins on our faces. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. I just kept saying it over and over. Thank you, Jesus. We were like two kids on Christmas morning.
I am forever grateful for God who loves me and does the most ridiculous things to remind me of His deep affection and ability to care for me.
photo from the internet:
bloggersforthekingdom.com