Roller Coaster Year.

It seems that for the last 10 months I have been on an emotional roller coaster. Last January, Nick broke his two front teeth....that was a hit of $3000 in debts....in February, Nick had a five day hospital visit due to dehydration and that was about $22+K for five days; since we do not have insurance, the hospitalization treatments and services just kept adding up.

In February we were blessed by good friends from California who donated to Breath of Christ Ministries a 1977 RV for our 3rd Walk Across America for Christ....well, our friends are good Christian people with wonderful hearts...what they did not know is that the RV was not as road worthy as they thought. We had an adventure of replacing the engine, the radiator, airbags, shocks, and more stuff than I care to remember.

Our wonderful friend Bob Leavitt, made a point to help us with this RV and he got a new stove, he rebuilt a new bed for us and created office space for me to be able to do my work while on the road.  He also replace a sealing fan, the shower and put 3 mirrows in the RV so I would feel more at home.  He gave all of himself for us to be able to go on the road.  He gave his talent, his time, and cash out of his own pocket for us to keep walking for God.  This project took several months and still the RV was having problems.  I can hardly describe all of it. It would take another year to tell you all the details.

By the end of March, Nick and I found ourselves in a quicksand of debt, we were stuck $40,000!  It was not a pretty picture. We tried to figure out how to get out of it, because of all the repairs on the RV, plus the hospitalization and the dental was a combination of expenses we had not planned on. We did not know what to do, we were confused, stressed and overwhelmed. So, Nick said to God in a prayer....We do not know what to do, Lord but our eyes are on YOU! (2 Chronicles 20:12)

I mentioned to Nick that at the end of March, I had celebrated my 50th birthday and in Scripture it talks about the Year of Jubilee....on the 50th year. So I explained to Nick that I was going to claim my birthday as my year of jubilee and I was going to believe for our debt to be forgiven. He just looked at me with tender eyes like saying....Okay dear, whatever you say. I knew that God could do it.  I knew that He loves us.  I did not know when or how He was going to do it.  However, I did not want to open the door to doubt, but some times it creeps in.

One day in May, Nick and I drove to our mail box, as we did several times a week. As I went to pick up the mail, I was opening the envelopes of donations and I handed Nick all the bills.  He opened one from the hospital and it said: "Dear Nick..." well, we thought when you are in a first name basis with the hospital..we saw it as trouble.  However, as Nick continued to read we discovered, that the hospital had forgiven $20000 out of the $22,200 we owed.  The Monday prior to receiving this letter from the hospital, we had received a donation of $2000, so we only paid $200 for that bill.....Is GOD faithful or what???  I was so overwhelmed I was crying and thanking God all over the place, the people at the mail box just looked at me and did not know what was going on......I marvel at our Lord.  He loves us sooo much it is....Amazing!!!! The best part of it all is that He loves you too!!!

People like you also sent gifts to help us out so we could do our walk for Christ and we thank you, because we know that God had provided for you and He placed us in your hearts for you to give.  Thank you soooooo very much.  We ask the True God that He prospers you for your obedience and faithfulness.

Through the guidance and love of God we paid off the other part of the debt. Since late October we have been debt free!

On August 31st, we started our 3rd Walk Across America for Christ, however as you have learned through our news letter, emails, facebook and blogs.  We had continued to have problems with the 1977 RV.  It got so bad that the toilet was not working, then we had a water leak that created mold on the carpet, the black water came in the RV some how and it was bad.  Then the  generator needed a new starter.

By the end of September we had a propane leak and we almost met our Creator.  I got very sick....a few days later Pastor Harold from South West Community Church and the church family, purchased a 1994 Winnebago for us to continue on this journey because they felt the other RV was not safe to drive any more.

November first. our son-in-law had and accident, he fell from a 2 story building and broke his back. As I write this he is not able to have any feeling from mid-chest down, he is in the hospital and has a tracheotomy.
We do believe that the same God who has been with us all along and has gotten us out of debt....He is the healer and will bring restoration to Alex.  We stand on God's promises and we know that He is Faithful and He is the healer. (Psalm 103)

The storms of life come and go, but we know the One who calms the storms and we stand on the Rock.We are in God's side and we know that He is able and willing. He is faithful and true, therefore, we shall not be moved! (Psalm 16:8, Psalms 62.6, Acts 2:25)