Yes, I know, most people say "signs and wonders" .... however, we serve a mighty God and his wonders are remarkable. Even before you say a word, He knows what's in your heart. This morning, we had a nice stretch of road, it is a four lane highway with wide shoulders. When Nick took his first break, he asked me to take a look at the map, to see what road we would be taking that will take us to the mechanic on Tuesday. So we looked at the map and decided that we were going to take 56 Street East. After he got a bite to eat, he continued on his walk.
I drove about a mile ahead of him and I parked on the shoulder, and it was then that I noticed that the set up of the highway had changed. No more cut offs, this would make it very difficult for Nick to walk over towards me; and the divider piece between the four lanes, had a wire fence on the North bound side of the highway. I told myself, "before you panic and worry, lets go ahead and see if it changes ahead of us." Well, 5 miles later, the set up was the same and to make things more difficult, I saw a sign that said....Tulsa 13...this means we are only 13 miles away from Tulsa. Well, my heart started to pund an I started to think of all the types of roads we could encounter....and of course all the roads that do not have a shoulder.... I was looking at the map and trying to discifer the colors of the roads and trying to remember what they meant. Red is a good road, black is a country road, (no shoulder), Thick red, freeways...we cannot walk those....
I picked up my binoculars to see how far ahead of me was Nick, it look like about mile and a half. I turned my gaze towards the passenger window and this is what a saw!!
As I looked to the sign, I knew God was talking to me, very straight forward. I got a sense of Him telling me: "Did I provide places for you to park in the last two walks....haven't I provided parking places for you this far in this journey." "Do not worry, just trust Me." I felt a bit sad, because I do trust God for everything...or so I thought and yet, when it comes to parking this RV and parking spaces .... I get worried. It was then that I realized that I trust God.... I don't trust my driving and parking abilities!
Lord, please forgive me for focusing on me and my lack of trust in myself. Thank You, that despite how I feel, You are always there.
That's what it says in Psalm 139:14 and King David was so right! I cannot stop being amazed by the Lord.
A week ago Friday, we have had some challenges with a mysterious leakage and the carpet was soaked and wet, then the speedometer stopped working...just go to (Walk across America for CHRIST) for the rest of the story.
However, God in his infinite wisdom, sent us our friend Arnold and as he and Nick took the RV to the mechanic, our RV had a cruise control bypass, now it runs and counts the mileage like a pro.
The next couple of days, Nick worked on the carpet and we were checking to see where the leakage was coming from, and we finally found it. It seems that the water is seeping up from the tank every time we drive the RV,so we need to keep the tanks half full. Next Tuesday, we will be going to Tulsa RV to get all this checked out.
Last Tuesday, we crossed from KS to Oklahoma and Nick was walking down the road, when he called me and said, "You are not going to believe this, come quickly...." I did not know what he was talking about. I did not know if he was in trouble or if it was an animal he wanted me to see or what. So I got on the driver side of the RV, turned the engine and I was on my way. As I was approaching across the street from where Nick was, I saw a car and a couple standing next to him. Nick signaled me to come on the side of the road. As I drove over and a was getting closer to their car, I was able to see that the people who were with Nick, were our friends Randy and Elizabeth Davenport. You can check their photo on Facebook. Wow! What a wonderful surprise. We spend few minutes chatting with them and then they continued on their merry way back to KS.
As you may remember at the beginning on this week we had another incident with our bathroom facilities, and that's not all. God knew about it so He, brought our friends Don and Pat Knepp. They treated us to a night at the Hampton Inn and not only did we have a working bathroom, we had a couple hours of prayer and worship together. We even Skyped my aunts in Mexico City and they were able to join us. It was wonderful!
Back home when we were in KC, every Tuesday night, we gathered at Don and Pat's for prayer. Their ministry is Upper Room Ministry. It is a ministry of worship and intercessory prayer. As a matter of fact, my aunts are part of this prayer ministry via Skype. And several people have been healed, through Upper
Room Ministry and the prayer that goes on there.
So Pat and Don decided to bring their prayer meeting to us. Wow! I was very touched. We had a very nice time and I felt that we were immersed in God's presence and love.
The next morning, we got up and took a wonderful shower and by 6:40 we were on the road. Nick was walking and I was there for anything he may needed. Don and Pat got to sleep in. By 9ish or so Nick called me and asked me to go back to the hotel and to wait for him there, since we did not have many places to park... When I got there, I made myself a cup of coffee and Pat joined me few minutes later. After Nick arrived to the hotel, the four of us chatted for a while, and had a time for prayer. You cannot have too much of that. We said our goodbyes, they left and we continued our walk. It is good to know that God sends his angels to let you know He cares for you.
On the way we found a Wal-Mart and we knew for sure we were going to spend the night there. (It is our home away from home).
Nick had finished walking by 12 noon. When he got to the RV, he mentioned that he had met two young men by the name of Jeff and Jeff, and that we were going to be speaking to a group of young men and also to a High school gathering. So we went to Wal-Mart and we took a very much needed nap. We got ready and by 4:00 pm we were on our way to the church. It was a group of young men and Nick shared about how God asked him to do these walks. Also I had the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them, we stayed with them until 5:30.
From there we went back to Dewey, to the High school gathering. It was a group of about 500 young people from Dewey and Bartlesville area. They had worship, a speaker and a comedian. Other ministries were represented there and they shared their vision with the audience. We had about 10 minutes to addressed the group....and what else can you talk about but Jesus.
We mentioned to them that God wants to use them for His kingdom and we asked them not to belittle their influence in this world for Christ. After the event was over, we were able to speak one on one with some of the young people and pray with them. Wow! I love to serve my God. I wish I could do this all the time.....but what am I saying...I am doing it. Thank You, Jesus!!
Yesterday, after we were done walking, we were invited for lunch to Jeff Holley's home. He has a beautiful young family and you can sense the presence of God in his home. Jeff has a ministry of his own....well... God called him into ministry. But I will spare you the story, because you will be able to get more details on Nick's blog. I just know that Jeff if a true man of God, who is bringing other Godly men to serve the way the 1st century church did. It is soooooo refreshing to meet people like him, Ken, Don and Jeff Berg.
God just keeps blessing us and giving us one serendipity after another. Really and truly is all about Jesus!
Yes, indeed. Some days we have wonderful roads with wide shoulders, other days no shoulder at all, and some other days are rainy with dark skies and yet others with sunny skies; but one thing is for sure, in all of them, God is always there to help us through every day.
This week started with the challenge of the bathroom. It looks like our holding tank for the black water has a leak, and our recycling toilet is not holding the water in the toilet, therefore, we cannot use the facilities ... ooops, it looks like there is a challenge before us or should I say underneath us!
However, God has given us a brain to create and improvise in any difficulty that we may have. So, my beloved husband has helped me improvise the restroom facilities during the walking periods....I will spare you the details. However, in a rainy day like today, it is hard because there is water everywhere....except where we need it..hahahaha... I made myself laugh. We just adapt as we go-- Some times I feel like I am in the jungles of Africa or in the middle of the Amazon...I feel like we are in one of those reality shows, living our own adventure. I am not sure if I am crazy or just going with the flow or maybe a little of both, but as I think of some of my girlfriends I wonder what they must be thinking of this crazy life I am living.
However in Scripture, (2nd Corinthians NIV) 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned;struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
It is my belief that all these challenges are helping us to build character. Perspective is everything: we are healthy, we have each other, we are not in any life threatening situation and we have all of you in the background praying for us and cheering us on and for that I am most grateful.
As we do this journey, the only concern I have had is that I really do not want to be between God's will and Nick. I know that God has asked us to do this walk.
Each journey has been like a child. Any parent knows that although their kids have grown up in the same household, ate the same food and had the same set of rules, yet each child develops his or her own personality. Well, it has been much the same with these journeys. The first one was a struggle between fear and faith. I was always concerned about Nick and fearing that something was going to happened to him and I was not going to be able to be there for him.
The second journey (in 2005/2006) was more like walking with God across America. He was guiding us and we felt more in His hands. We were at peace.
This walk has been more like child birth... uncomfortable, challenging, emotional and sometimes painful. This walk seems to have developed a personality that says "I am going to do it my way!"... "I don't want to go and you can't make me!" We've had so many difficulties with our home on wheels.
Which makes me think. What did Sarah and Noah's wife do when their husbands talked to them about what God had asked them to do... go on their own journeys.
I think about their fears, frustrations, their faith.... Lord, I know that your mercies are new every morning. I also know that, You have not changed, O God. The way you took care of Sarah and Mrs. Noah, the way You took care of us in the previous walks and the way You are here with us right now reminds me....Lord, You are the Way! Thank you for holding my hand and telling me not to fear, but to trust in You.....and I do.
Well, it all started in 2001, when we did our first walk for Christ. Nick was having this conversation with God and one day he came to me and said. " I have been talking with God and I am going to do a walk across America for Christ. It will be 3,300 miles, 100 miles for every year Jesus walked the earth."
My first thought it was..."Happy trails, dear, I am going to miss you." I was very happy with my job at the Crystal Cathedral. I had been working there for about 13 years and I did not think much of this walk idea, however, God had other plans.
One day I came home for lunch and I looked around our one bedroom apartment....and I really did not feel attached to anything and just then I heard a voice that said...."Sell everything and follow Me". I looked around and I did not see anyone and so I heard it all over again. "Yes, sell everything and follow Me."
So we did, we sold all our belongings and took off on the road in a 5th wheel and a pick-up truck.
In 2005, we did our 2nd 3,300 mile walk for Christ and now 2009 I find myself in a 1977 GMC Kingsley. You may wonder how is life on the road....as far as I am concerned, home is always where Nick and I are together, no matter if it is in an apartment, a house or in a RV. Home is where the 3 of us are......yes, three of us. Jesus, Nick and I. ....... more to come.
