Monday – Friday, November 8-12, 2010
Well… we had survived a very scary and potentially dangerous situation – stranded on a lonely stretch of Alaskan Highway in the Yukon. We spent the week in Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory, Canada. It was a booming town – population of 30. We increased the population by almost 30% for that week. The motel was roomy and in a beautiful location overlooking Kluane Lake and surrounded by snowy mountains. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We did laundry there and bought a few groceries in the little motel store. A half-gallon of milk was only $7!
Chris went to Whitehorse with Charlie and got Big Bertha all settled in with a mechanic and was told we were in line. It would be at least a week, maybe more before we could get her back. While they were in town, Chris bought some groceries that we would need for the week. He bought dagwood sandwich ingredients, stuff for bacon and eggs, grilled cheese toast, juice, milk, etc.
We had paid $1,000 for the towing (3 hours) to Whitehorse and the repair was estimated at being $5,000 - $7,000. I have to laugh in retrospect. This was crazy. We barely had enough money to get home and live until Chris found a job! What in the world was God up to?!?! Well, we had learned over the past few years that even when it doesn’t work on paper, God can make things happen and provide miraculously. He provides daily manna.
For us in our walk of faith, He didn’t provide a plan of action and the money to make it happen in advance. There was no weekly plan, no monthly plan, and absolutely no yearly plan. We learned to live and follow Him day by day. He provided exactly what we needed for the day at hand. And this journey would be no different. It started out different; we had the funds before we left Fairbanks. However with this one event, we were almost wiped clean.
We joked about staying in Destruction Bay. Joked about an aborted plan to return to the South and how God relocated us to DB, Yukon. Ha! Actually we wouldn’t have minded living there. Wilderness, adventure, off the grid. But it was TOO far from home.
We were happy to have a few boring days although we were anxious to make it home for Thanksgiving. We would dream about eating turkey and gravy and dressing and ALL the fixin’s with our families. We imagined what it would be like to hug everybody and laugh and carry on like only we can do at Thanksgiving gatherings!
I remember sitting at the little table in our room, emailing and blogging. That was my communication with the outside world. Gail had phone cards for us to use, but the payphone was not cooperative (and it was outside) and the cell phone had no signal. So my computer was my link to our beloved family and friends.
The children played outside in the mornings and afternoons. I have lots of pictures and video of the children playing and exploring. Mostly during the baby’s naps. They were a little fidgety at times. But overall it was a very peaceful time. We were trusting God to provide the next step.
My Journal Entry: Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sometimes the messiness of real life seems contradictory to your calling. Your circumstances disagree with what God has told you. This is where faith steps in. Hardship produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint. (Romans 5) So our family is rejoicing even though it is tempting to be overwhelmed. I have confidence that one day I will be blogging more about the fruit our lives produce.
Judges 6:12-14...
The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?"
God has told Chris and I, "Go in the strength you have. Have I not sent you?"
Oh, Lord, what little strength I have is yours. May Your will be done in my life, in my family's life, and in the lives of those we touch.
Judges 6:12-14...
The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?"
God has told Chris and I, "Go in the strength you have. Have I not sent you?"
Oh, Lord, what little strength I have is yours. May Your will be done in my life, in my family's life, and in the lives of those we touch.
Friday, we got the unexpected news that the truck would be ready early – 5 days early! And it wouldn’t cost quite as much as we had thought. Yay! Leaving early meant saving money on hotel and food expenses, on top of saving money on the transmission! God sent a couple of people into our lives who wanted to loan us some money to help finish out the trip. In retrospect I can insert here that we operate cash only. We have only used cash for years, probably 6-7 years. We have debit cards but zero credit cards. So we do not like having to take a loan. However that was how God chose to provide. And glory be to Him, we were able to pay everything off in a matter of months after Chris found work. When I look back at how much that trip cost us, it is amazing! We had everything totally paid for by God’s grace so very quickly.
Chris and Charlie made the trip again to Whitehorse trying to make it before the shop closed and this time victoriously brought Big Bertha home. We were so happy to see her and yet a little nervous to travel with her again. We packed and prepared to leave very early the next morning.
(Click the links below to read my original journal entries.)
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