I’m writing this blog on behalf of Craig.
For a long time Craig has known and said that whenever he is headed in the wrong direction “God blows up the bus.” By this he doesn’t mean that God literally blows it into pieces, but that it stops working and he is left to pray and discern the direction God would have him go, how to get parts and to be aware of the people he may get to talk to along the way.
We left Stanfield, AZ headed for Wenden AZ for some much needed work on the bus. Just tune up stuff really but very necessary for our summer plans of travel. As we were driving we decided to stop and get some gas and use the restroom in Tonopah AZ, before getting to Wenden that night. We already had reservations at a motel and were not expecting anything out of the ordinary.
The “town” of Tonopah consists of a Mobil gas station, a Pilot gas station and a small family restaurant with a large parking lot that long haul truckers use to park in and sleep.
We took care of our necessities and started to get back on the road when the bus started acting up so rather than get on the road we pulled over in to the big parking lot, once stopped, that was it, the bus would not start. So here we are in the middle of nowhere again, and the bus won’t go.
Craig is prepared for this, as anything can happen when driving a classic car. He checked all the “normal” things, but to no avail. As it got dark and it became apparent that we would not be able to continue, we resigned ourselves to sleeping in the parking lot. Morning came with the realization that we would have to find the cause and fix it with the items available to us either in the bus with us or at the gas stations. Craig’s search of the bus led him to the fact that somehow we had lost the wire that goes from the front of the bus ignition to the alternator, actually cutting off power to the bus. We don’t know where it went?!?, But it was not there. Craig had a wire and replaced the offending wire and we were on the road again. But not before spending almost 14 hours working on the bus.
So what did God want us to learn from this? Well, Tonopah is the town where “it all started”. We gave up what we wanted to do and thought we wanted to be for God, and prayed “God show us what You want us to do! You sent us on this adventure, now show us what to do!” After that God led us throughout Arizona, looking at petroglyphs, taking star photos and learning a little about UXO work, all the way to where we were now! Getting ready to go back east, visit family, build up the bus, get a trailer, all so Craig can go to school in September and we can keep on the UXO trail, so to speak. In other words we were saying “Thanks, God! We got this now. Glad You gave us a road map for our life.” It wasn’t until Craig realized this, and that Tonopah was the place of surrender that he found the problem and we could get back on the road. God was saying, “I still want to lead you one day at a time.” We are still missionaries, just to a different crowd, and tentmakers too.
So the adventure continues…
PS A word from Deborah –
I was reminded how important it is to be prepared for the things that may happen, if Craig had not had the tools and the stray piece of wire we would still be in Tonopah as neither of the gas stations had the things we needed.
Hebrews 12:7-11
If you endure chastening, God deals with as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore we have had human fathers to correct us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Blessings, On the road with Craig and Deborah <><