Missionary Lady?

After leaving Barry Edwards in North Carolina, Susanne and I headed to her final stop on the JOURNEY, Virginia. 

 

The end to that little part of my JOURNEY was quite SCARY.

 

SCARY indeed!

 

Throughout the whole preparation time for the JOURNEY, I had moments here and there where I would get messages from God about NOT being afraid. 

 

I NEEDED to know those messages for this part of the trip. 

 

Here are some I received from God....

 

This was posted by my friend, Deana, on Facebook just when I NEEDED it.

 

There's a book I read every day called, Jesus Calling, that speaks to me ALL the time.  Other people have said that too.  If you can, pick up a copy.  You won't be disappointed.  It gives you a page to read for each day.

 

 

One of the entries in the book said, "Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose its foothold within you."

 

Another day..."Trust Me and don't be afraid.  Fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons.  When you start to feel afraid, affirm your trust in Me.  Speak out loud.  Resist the Devil in My name, and he will slink away from you." 

 

I've used that one a lot on this trip!

 

"Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your JOURNEY.  I am with you, watching over you wherever you go."

 

"Remember that I go before you as well as with you into the day.  Nothing takes me by surprise."

 

"Keep walking with me along the path I have chosen for you.  The JOURNEY is arduous at times and you are weak.  Cling to my hand for strength and direction."

 

Isaiah 7:4 "Be careful. Keep calm. Don't be afraid."

  

Well, Susanne and I both NEEDED to know all of those messages from God. 

 

Of course, by the time we were almost to Virginia, it was DARK. 

It was raining REALLY hard. 

My windshield wipers are windshield wipers from Southern California, so they don't know how to act in torrential downpours like the one we were in,

and I couldn't see a dang thing! 

 

The highway we were on was REALLY bad, and there was an accident that kept us in traffic for a very long time.

 

We finally made it off of the highway and onto a road that was even worse. 

It was REALLY, REALLY DARK, and I couldn't see at all in front of me, especially if cars were headed my way with their headlights glaring at me. 

It was a narrow, two-lane road with no shoulder, and did I mention I was driving a

BIG truck with a camper hooked to my bumper???

 

So, honestly, I needed to know those messages above. 

 

Susanne was helping me see by trying her best to see out of the front window too. 

There was absolutely no where to turn around or pull over, and I was hardly fitting on the road.

Just when I thought we were done with that road, we went around a little "rotary" or "circle" (when I was living on the East Coast as a kid, they were called "circles") that took us on a road EXACTLY like the one we were just on. 

 

That was it! 

 

I was SCARED and even considered crying a little bit. 

 

Susanne was awesome and said the most beautiful prayer I think I've ever heard about Jesus taking the wheel (I know....but way better than the song) and driving us through this.

 

It reminded me of another scripture God had given me in Mark 8:34 - 

"Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. 

You're not in the driver's seat.  I am."

 

Well, thank God that He was in the driver's seat, and thank Susanne for that prayer!

 

We eventually did make it through all of that ALIVE!

 

We were planning on meeting her friend at Walmart, so Susanne could go visit with her. 

 

Well, I was never so happy to see a Walmart in my life! 

 

After Susanne left, I went right into that Walmart and bought me some East Coast windshield wipers!

 

I have "camped" at Walmarts on my trip.  I did not feel very "comfortable" camping at this one, so I called the Target across the street, and they said I could spend the night there. 

For some STRANGE reason, there is such a difference between the Walmart parking lot and the Target parking lot even when it is across the street.

 

So the next morning, these two very handsome gentlemen came and rescued me from the Target parking lot!

 

Yes!!!  Barry joined the JOURNEY!

 

 

This is Barry and his life-long friend, Dave.









 

This is Barry in Dave's driveway all ready to join the JOURNEY

(Yes, he backed it up)



 

This is Dave's house. 

I'm sure his neighbors didn't mind us parking our travel trailer in their driveway. 

I'm sure they didn't mind at all!

Anyone seen the Homeowner's Association rules???

 



This is Dave's wife, Amy, me, Dave & Barry

 

This is Dave & Amy

 



 

This is Dave's step dad, Cork, and his mom, Mary



 

I don't have any pictures of Dave & Amy's daughters, but they have three...Maggie, Grace & Esther.  We got to meet them, and I got to hang out with Esther a little bit.

 

A couple of weeks later, I got this email from Dave:

 

"Just wanted you to know..I ran into a woman in town who asked if I had a missionary at my house.  I was trying to think of what she may be talking about when she said Esther had told her all about a lady who was staying with us.  She said the lady drove all over the country telling people about God.  Then I realized that Esther was spreading the word about your visit."

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

That cracked me up! 

 

So I guess Esther was right.  I am kind of a "Missionary Lady,"

or at least that's my goal...to drive all over the country and share God with people.

 

Amen

 

Thanks, Dave & Amy, for letting us "camp" in your driveway,

and thanks for your generous gift to the "Missionary Lady!"

 

Thanks, Susanne, for coming with me on my JOURNEY, your friendship, and for your prayers!