What started out as a typical partnership development trip ended with our old van totaled and a “new” one in the garage.
Most of you knew that we were heading out at the end of January for a 10-day trip to Rhode Island and New York, with stops in Massachusetts and Connecticut along the way. We were scheduled to speak in two different churches on the weekends and then we planned to visit some college friends during the week.
We enjoyed a wonderful day on Sunday with the church in Rhode Island. We visited a college friend, stayed in a hotel with a pool so the boys could practice their swimming and even got to watch a little bit of a UConn hockey game. Everything was going along fine until Wednesday when a winter storm hit eastern New York and Massachusetts. Just as we crossed into New York on I-90, our van slid around, hit the snow at the side of the road and rolled a few times. Some welcome, huh? It was so fast that we hardly knew what had happened until it was over. The windshield was smashed and Titus was upset that he lost all but one of his pretzels, but none of us was injured really. Emily just had a bruise on her cheek. We won\’t bore you with all the details. A policeman and a tow truck finally arrived and took us to a garage where we waited for our friends to come and rescue us. Thanks, Wilsons!!
As we look back on the accident, we are grateful for the Lord\’s protection. There are so many ways in which this story could have ended differently. No other cars were involved. We landed on the tires, not hanging upside down. Everyone was buckled in , and while things got thrown around in the van, no one was hit by any flying objects. It is sobering to think that Wednesday January 28 could have been the day that we all met our Savior face to face. But He must have more for us to do here!!
So, what\’s happened since the accident? Well, we had a very encouraging time with a body of believers in Albany that are already committed to be part of our support team. We also heard that the church in Rhode Island voted to begin supporting us. We are excited to be an extension of the ministries of both of these churches!
Through all of this, our insurance company has been very helpful. Our van was deemed a total loss, so after having Emily\’s parents drive up to Albany to retrieve us and our stuff, we began the hunt for a new vehicle. In just a few days, a classmate of Emily\’s from high school found us a 2002 Honda Odyssey. It is now parked safely in our garage and we are trusting the Lord that it will serve us well in our remaining months of partnership development.
It was not quite the trip we expected!! How thankful we are that as Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” He is in control — even in winter storms in New York. We have seen the Lord provide everything we need and more. Praise Him!