What is going on?!?!

 

It is not everyday that you get to be pushed 30 miles through the deserts of Northern Mexico.  For those of you who saw the picture posted on Facebook, here is the story!

Every 180 days it is necessary to Americans to return to the border to renew our tourist visas.   If there is car imported with US plates, we also have to renew the vehicle’s visa around the same time schedule.   Failure to return the car to the border on time can result in the person who brought it in from being blacklisted from ever bringing a vehicle into Mexico again.   And the Mexican government has the technological means to track both drivers and cars.  Ol’ Blue is a 1997 blue suburban that came down in May as an extra vehicle for our team to use in General Cepeda.  As a missionary vehicle she has had her fair share of miles and off-roading.   We often joke that Mexico is the place where FMC vehicles go to die.  With Intake 2017 arriving during the first three weeks of November for the formation and training of new FMC missionaries, we decided to drive Ol’ Blue up to the other FMC post in Allende, Mexico for exportation and to do a quick border run for supplies for the 35+ individuals that will be here for November.   It was also a great excuse to visit our missionary friends Tonio and Mari Garza and their family.  (Click here to read about the first time we met the Garzas and entered Mexico back in May) 

This past Monday Aron and I drove Ol' Blue while Maria and the other kids followed in our suburban ("The Beast").   It is about a five hour drive, and we didn't want to push Ol' Blue given her geriatric state.   She has been getting AARP mailings from the DMV for years.   As we began Aron and I prayed for safe travels and that God would set up divine appoints with anyone that we met along the way.  We were about two thirds of the way when I heard the unfortunate squeaking sound of the serpentine belt.   I began looking for a possible place to pull over when the sound suddenly stopped and I noticed the battery gauge crawl lower and lower.   Physics determined our final stopping point as Ol' Blue died on the shoulder.   Maria pulled ahead of me and met me at the hood as we began to consider our options.   At this point we were closer to Tonio and Mari, but we were still a good hour and a half away.   Of course we know no one in the area and were about thirty minutes from the closest substantially sized town or city.   We sent Tonio a text (thank you Jesus for Google translate) and gave Ben Schumann, our community leader back in General a call.   At the end of our conversation Ben led us in a quick prayer, asking for God's assistance and that He would send the right people.   No more than sixty seconds after hanging up the phone, two gentlemen in uniforms came from behind Ol' Blue.   At first I thought they were cops and my heart crawled into my throat as I saw the red and blue lights flashing on their truck.   But, praise God, they were with Angeles Verdes (Green Angels).   Basically, the Mexican equivalent to roadside assistance or AAA.

 

They introduced themselves as Juan and Javier.  When they saw the engine, they asked where we were going and they offered to give us tow us to Sabinas, about thirty miles in the right direction.   They told me that I needed to put Ol' Blue in neutral and that I needed to stay in the right lane.   I should have realized that they didn't have a tow cable or chains and that they planed on pushing Ol' Blue the whole thirty miles.   Seriously, this is an experience that everyone needs to have in Mexico!   Getting pushed at 45-50 mph up and down desert hills and into a town is a guaranteed way to get the heart rate up and the palms sweaty.

When we arrived at the mechanic Juan and Javier asked if we were missionaries.  I was wearing an FMC shirt.   When we told them yes they were both really excited and began quoting scriptures.   Quoting 2 Timothy 4, they explained how important it was to have missionaries that can preach and share the truth in a world of so many false teachings, empty promises, and materialism.   We took a couple moments to thank them, to pray with them and for their families.

We then talked to the mechanic, Raul, he noticed that it wasn't just the serpentine belt that needed to be replaced but that the tension pulley and water pump were also blown.   Nevertheless they could have it done in about two or three hours and that it would run about 2,500 pesos for parts and labor (only about $140 in USD!   A water pump alone runs about $200 in the states.)

About thirty minutes after arriving Tonio showed up with a friend and we decided to leave Ol' Blue to get repaired at to return the next day to pick it up.   That way we would avoid driving at night, seeing at best she would be ready around 6:30 pm.

That evening we gathered with the Garza family for a family night prayer.   Tonio shared Acts 5: 27-32.  In the passage Peter and the apostles are brought before the Jewish leaders and are corrected for continuing to teach and preach about Jesus.   Peter responds by saying, "We must obey God rather than men."   To be obedient to God, is to be in the palms of His hands.   There is no better place.  No matter what happens, whether something small and somewhat trivial like breaking down along the side of the road in the Mexican desert, or something truly tragic, we remain in the Him hands.  We may never know why something happens, but God is still present with us.   He sends His angels to journey with us.   Sometimes the angels are colored green.

I feel asleep that aware of God's grace and peace.   Late Tuesday afternoon, Maria and I drove back down to pick up Ol' Blue.   We drove about 5 miles from the mechanic, when I began to wonder if the headlights were working properly.   They just seemed dim and the dash wasn't as bright as it should have been.   I pulled over to a gas station when the battery light came on and Ol' Blue died again.  Why Lord do You like to prove how much we are in Your hands?

Maria was able to pull around and jump Ol' Blue with our suburban, but we were again not comfortable with trying to drive her or push her all the way back.   By this time it was dark out.   So we asked the gas station attendant if we could come back tomorrow to get Ol' Blue, and drove back to Tonio and Mari's without Blue... again.

On the way we began to think through our options.  What if it is the alternator?   What about the battery?   How much more money should we be putting in to Ol' Blue before dumping her?   Do we try to find a mechanic in Sabinas?   Do we just tow her back ourselves?   Do we jump her, drive her as far as we can, and then repeat as often as necessary?   Tonio and I decided to go back the next morning and try to figure it out.

Wednesday morning I woke up anxious.   God, how are we going to get this car back?   What is it going to take?   I just want to be done with it!!   Tonio and I drove the 45 minutes back to Ol' Blue.   Of course she started right away without a jump, but the battery gauge only went about a quarter of the way, not the halfway point where it normally should rest.   So we let her run for a little bit to see if the charge changed.   Slowly it began to dip, so Tonio went to find the closest shop.   Praise God, it was literally right behind the gas station.   The new mechanic took 30 seconds and identified the problem... simply a loose wire that ran from the battery to the alternator, a five minute fix.  God has us in the palms of His hands.  Third time is the charm, we were able to get Ol' Blue exported and settled.

Please pray for Intake 2017 as the begin their three week stay down here in Mexico.  It is such a blessing getting to know the new FMC missionaries during this time of training!

We are beginning to make plans to come back to Ohio and Western NY to visit family and friends in December and January!   We hope to see as many of you as possible.

STAY TUNED!   We will be releasing a new video this week with an important announcement and update about our family's missionary work in 2018.  (Here is a hint... we are not pregnant)