Let me first say that EVERYONE IS FINE! We can't begin to say thank you enough for all the prayers that started out our trip - because they were certainly here today!
The first 6 or 7 hours of our trip were relatively uneventful and quite peaceful, until we hit just north of Ashdown, Arkansas - which in case you didn't know is right before Lockesburg, AR on Highway 71. After coming back to his first mission trip in a few years, and getting behind the wheel of the church van, Kenny did a tremendous job keeping everyone in the van safe while one of our tires shredded. Turns out the tire was SO HOT and shredded SO INTENSELY that we actually started a small grass fire when the van was pulling over onto the shoulder because of the tires. So now on top of having to worry about a shredded tire and changing it, we were also wondering just when the fire department would show up to put out this grass fire that was moving toward us.
Then, while we were waiting on AAA to come help us, just in case something happened with our jack and spare tire, the parable of the Good Samaritan came to life before our very eyes.
A lovely, lovely man came to help us with the tire - because while we all knew how to use the jack, and how to change a spare tire, we were also all a little frazzled by the burning fire behind us, unsure of how that would all work out. Thankfully the fire department came and put out the fire, and so did this amazing man and before we knew it, we were on our way! Kind of...
About 150 miles down the road, this time with Amy behind the wheel, Amy noticed the steering wheel pulling a little, and shaking a little, so she pulled over only to discover #2.
But by now we are all old pros - and can all change a spare tire on a 15 passenger van (important life skill to know!) Luckily we had made the decision to stop about an hour north of the FIRST tire blow out and purchase a spare so that we weren't traveling without a spare - and its a good thing we did - we needed it! (We'll also be heading to Sam's Club first thing in the morning for some others.) You'll notice we're on a better stretch of highway with a bigger shoulder, and now even the kids are helping. Turns out this day doesn't seem so "lost" after all as now EVERYONE on the trip knows how to change a spare tire.
In the end, we are all safe. We are a little frazzled and extremely thankful to be out of Arkansas. We are at the mission station and showered and in bed. Now we just need to pray the rest of our group here as Tom, Lucy and Carol will be arriving late tonight. Keep those prayers coming - we know they worked today... twice... and we'll need them throughout the rest of the trip!
So as we prepare for this week, join us in this prayer..... that we might all be the body of Christ in this world - whether that is for helping to change a spare tire, remove debris or listen to someone's story, we are ready. After a day like today... we have to be. :D
Join us in prayer... Holy and Loving God, we know that Christ has no body but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours, ours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world, ours are the feet with which he walks to do good, ours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Ours are the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, we are his body. Help us to use our bodies, our minds, and our hearts to be the body of Christ in this world. Helps us to be carriers of your light to all those we meet. Grant us the courage to accept change in the ways we can. Grant us the serenity to accept those things we cannot change. Grant us the wisdom to see the difference. Grant us the compassion to live one day at a time, as your body here on earth. Amen.
Rev. Laura & Crew
7 comments:
Praise the Lord that everyone is safe and well after such a harrowing day! And GREAT JOB KENNY and AMY for keepin that van under control during those flats. WOW, and Thank the Lord for Good Samariatan that stopped to help as well. We serve an AWESOME GOD, and you are doing HIS good work. Be safe!
Dave B - (Kienny's Dad)
Gee Whiz - sorry, but I DO know how to spell, sometimes - it's KENNY, not kienny!!
Wow! Talk about deja vu! 14 years ago my wife and I were taking the FCC BRLA high school youth group to Chicago, IL for a summer mission trip. If I am not mistaken, from the pictures it looks like the same church van? We used to call it "The Powder Blue Holy Wagon".
We also had two blown out tires! The first one blew out even before we got to Hammond and the second one blew out (leaving us without a spare) in McComb, MS...at about 2 am in the morning! Like you, we were all ok and it it ended up being a wonderful trip.
The funny part about our adventure was this...when the tires blew out and we didn't have any way to get anywhere. So the local police department brought out their "Paddy Wagon" and loaded up our entire youth group into the back of the van where the prisoners are normally transported. They even let us take some fun pictures of the kids with the police 'shaking us down'.
We often think about the amazing experience we had on that trip to Chicago. We worked with Habitat for Humanity building a new home...we packed personal care products at a distribution center..we worked in a soup kitchen...and we had lots of time to witness God's transforming power in our lives.
We wish you a blessed and safe journey and pray that you'll see God in the faces of those that you see this week.
Peace & Love,
Kevin & Michelle Kelley
Mickleton, NJ
I'm so grateful that the driver could keep control of the van in these two very dangerous situations.
The fact that two tires failed indicates that probably all four tires were ready to go. The most common cause of an overheating tire failure is under-inflation. Did anyone check the tire pressures before leaving? More importantly, if the trip will continue with the two remaining old tires, could someone check the pressures in those?
The second common cause of tire failure for vehicles in the deep south is degradation of the rubber in the tire over time...the rubber ages faster and becomes brittle faster in the high heat that we have here, compared to other areas of the country. So tires that are seven or more years old should simply be replaced regardless of the remaining tread wear. I don't know the age of the tires on the van. But the fact that the first tire overheated is probably more indicative of low pressure than brittle rubber.
Best wishes,
George Cochran
I am so sad I missed such an EVENTFUL trip! I do have to admit when I got a text from Laura and read the blog that I laughed for a good 10 minutes straight! I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but what a GREAT story to put down in the books!
I am sending my love and prayers to all of you on the mission mission trip!
I will say an extra prayer for the Powder Blue Holy Wagon and the roads of Arkansas!
Love,
Amanda
we have to watch our tires on rv because they dry rot after about 4 years, those are probably the tires the kellys replaced years ago.(ha ha) i can tell you about a couple of blow outs i have had and the good sematerian we have had come to our aid. god always provides you with a gardian angel who travels along just for the ride and is there when you need him. good luck and safe returns. leatus
To all who are wondering we have a couple of very dedicated volunteers here at the church who are diligent to check out the van throughout the year, and especially when we are getting ready to travel. We had the van checked out in great detail a few weeks before the trip, and then again a good once over just two days before-hand. We are VERY thankful for those volunteers who keep the van in good shape, because the even though the tires failed us, the rest of the van did quite well, especially with such an intense start to our trip!
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