It
was 1996 shortly after moving to Quebec that our ’89 Oldsmobile Cutlass
died. We had already been planning a
trip to New Brunswick. The girls were so
excited because on this trip we were going to a place they absolutely loved!
Magaguadvic Youth Camp. Both girls had been to that Summer Camp every summer
during our pastorate in Springfield and Back Bay. And since we didn’t know of
any Christian camp in Quebec we decided we would take them down to New
Brunswick.
We didn’t even have enough
money to buy another car and we knew we couldn’t borrow money to buy one! So, we just waited. For one solid month we endeavoured without a
vehicle. It was hard! I did have my motorcycle and once in a while
I would take Esther on the back of the bike to the grocery store to buy
supplies. We could only carry a few at a
time.
I remember feeling discouraged
about the situation and was wondering what are we going to do. As we got closer to the day that we were
supposed to go to New Brunswick, the girls became more and more anxious
wondering how we would be able to go.
The day came and still no car. But that
morning I told Esther, I think I’ll just go up the street and check out one of
the local car lots. Knowing that I didn’t have any money for a car, I must
confess that my expectation of coming home with a car was low.
Well, while I
was gone Esther entered into her “TURBO FAITH” mode. Now if you don’t know what
that is, it’s when you get this overwhelming sense that something is about to
happen and it’s gonna be good! You see, since coming to Quebec we have noticed
that when you live totally by faith you simply believe that God is your
supplier and that HE CANNOT FAIL!
It
wasn’t long after I had left the house that she called the girls into the
kitchen and said, Girls, I want you both to go to your rooms and I want you to
pack your suitcases and we are going to set them right out here by the front
door because, TODAY WE ARE GOING TO CAMP! One of the girls looked at her mom
and said, “Are you gonna pack your suitcase too? Esther responded, “YES!”.
As I was looking at the cars on the lot a young
salesperson came over to me and asked if I needed any help. I said, “As a
matter of fact I do.” I said, “Are you
the manager?” He said, “No, but the
manager is right there in the office.” I
said, “I’d like to speak with him.” He said, “Sure!”
As I walked away from the salesperson I
noticed he stayed by my motorcycle as I went into the office. I introduced myself to the manager and said,
“I have a problem.” He said, “And what’s that?” And I said, “I don’t have a car
and I need one today.” He said, “How
much money do you have? I said, “I don’t
have any money.” He said, “You do have a
problem.”
Without any hesitation and
without any forethought about this, I heard myself say these words, I don’t
have any money today but I do have that motorcycle and I can have money within
30 days. I no more than got those words
out of my mouth when the young salesman walked into the office and said to me,
“I want to buy your motorcycle.” I looked at the manager and he looked at his
salesman and the manager looked back at me and said, “Which car do you want. We
can make a deal!
The timing was like it had all been rehearsed. It all happened
within just a few seconds! We quickly drew up the details and that day I drove
off the lot with a beautiful, white 1994 Ford Taurus in perfect condition with
only 60,000 kms. I was so excited!
I
remember driving into the driveway and Esther and girls came running outside.
I’m sure the girls were thinking, Our dad is such a Hero!” while at the same
time I was thinking my Dad “up above” is such a Hero! Living by faith is like
walking a tightrope at times but there is one thing I know....MY DAD IS NEVER
EARLY AND NEVER LATE, HE’S ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME! SRR
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