We’re here!
We can hardly believe it, but we now live at the House of Cornelius in Fabens, TX. The whirlwind that took shape through God’s steady preparation of our family and lifted us high above our prior lives and expectations has touched down in a new world. As we slowly spin down, the dust is settling to reveal a picture; a picture of God’s unfathomable loving kindness. We are not worthy of such an incredible opportunity to preach the gospel and minister to the poor and needy, all in a setting of peace, beauty, and fellowship. As Rosemary put it, “Mom, this is our home! Where have we been all this time?”
Fierce opposition
1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Getting here was not without trials. The enemy tried many things to discourage us from going and to discourage us while on the road. The incidents and their timing were such that it is clear to us we faced spiritual opposition. The attacks began less than a week before we were to leave!
Next we began to be discouraged by finances. We stood, albeit timidly, on His word and testimonies, knowing that He will supply. The morning before we were to leave God led me to ponder how we will so readily trust in a paycheck. But what lies behind that paycheck is merely a company, products, sales people, and an economy. We all know how fickle those things can be! He then led me to consider His unending faithfulness. How much more could we trust our Loving Father than a measly, earthly paycheck? In prayer I asked that He would give me a renewed sense that we were in His will and also that He would give us a check that day. He answered the first part by bringing a family friend by the house. We talked about what we were about to do. As I recounted what God had done and was doing, I could hardly keep the tears back as His wonderful confirmation of our being in His will came about in our conversation. Shortly after that the mail came…no check. But later in the day I had to go to the IFM office to do some last minute computer network tasks. There, on the table in the office, was an envelope containing a gift check for our family that had been dropped off earlier by the giver. I had told no one except my Loving Father of my request. God had answered my prayer precisely and in such a way that His hand was clearly evident. Praise God!
The next morning we met some friends at the IFM office who were to help us drive to Texas. We loaded last minute things into the moving truck and set off. About 10 miles north of Pueblo, Colorado (about 3 hours of driving) we were a bit spread out. The truck was first. Our Subaru followed, driven by our friend Josiah Brooks. And our van was a few miles behind having just stopped for a potty break. Kathy Hart was driving and Erika and four of our kids were in the van when a plastic bed liner from a pickup truck in front of them lifted up into the air and struck the two bicycles on the roof of the van. The bikes were locked onto the roof rack with a cable so they didn’t come off. Instead, they swung around the back and smashed out the rear window of the van. The force also tore the stock luggage rack mostly off the roof, leaving holes and dents. We praise God that no one was injured, nor even scratched. In fact, although the glass shattered into thousands of tiny pieces, not one made it into the passenger area. All of the glass was in the luggage area or on the road. Of course, one can easily imagine how much worse it could have been. Kathy kept her cool and every one was safe. Praise God!
The driver of the pickup went back to retrieve his liner. Kathy approached him and they ended up talking with him, sharing the gospel with him, and praying for him. The ladies got all his information and license plate number. But he had no insurance and did not join us in talking with the State Patrol. Unfortunately for him, they will track him down and ticket him for that among other things. We have comprehensive insurance on our vehicle so it is covered and is at this moment at a body shop being repaired. Shortly after the accident I called my insurance company to ask what the next steps should be. They told me that they would cover the damage and then take the guy to court to recover their losses. This put me in a very difficult situation. The guy had no insurance because he couldn’t afford it. And now, because I can afford it, he will be sued in court to pay for something else he can’t afford. I know that’s how the system works and that it is “fair” but I had no peace about it at all. I couldn’t imagine Jesus taking a guy to court over an accident of all things. But I felt I should proceed anyway. A few days later when the insurance adjuster called and got the story, she said they would not pursue the guy in court because there was no way they could prove he was negligent. It was truly an accident, so they would cover our vehicle and leave the guy alone. Praise God!
After the accident report which took several hours, we went into Pueblo for lunch and to Home Depot for plastic and duct tape. The rest of the trip was uneventful until just outside Socorro, New Mexico. I was driving the moving truck and was the first vehicle. The van followed and then the Subaru. I was talking to Joe Krejsa who was in the passenger seat. I was looking at him briefly when he yelled, “Look out!” I turned just in time to see the hind quarters of what must have been an elk, maybe a skinny horse, but of an animal whose back was level with the bottom of the truck’s windshield, fully six feet off the ground. I was in the right lane and it was calmly sauntering across the road. It was mostly in the left lane by the time I saw it, so I was able to ease the truck to the right around the beast. Erika saw it from the van behind me and was astonished. I can only imagine what disaster would have occurred had I hit it, or had I reacted too quickly to Joe’s shout and the fearful sight. We made it safely. Praise God!
Next, as we approached El Paso, Texas, we came upon the scene of an accident between an SUV and a semi-truck. Large parts of the SUV were scattered all over the road. I had to slow down and steer the giant moving truck carefully around them slalom-style. This was about 3:30 in the morning.
Finally, we decided to stop in El Paso to fuel the truck. It was almost empty and we still had about 30 miles to go. We got fuel without trouble. But when we went to get back on the road, we got separated by a long traffic light. I was driving the truck, saw headlights behind me, and continued on. Unfortunately, the rear two cars got lost! They wandered around various highways and exits, talking to Joe by cell phone, until we finally met up in downtown Fabens, having taken two different highways to get there. By this time it was nearly dawn and I was beginning to wonder if we would ever get there. With the first rays of the sun, and the songs of seemingly thousands of different kinds of birds (more on that later), we arrived safely at the House of Cornelius where rooms and beds were all prepared and waiting for us. Praise God!
--Thaine