Day 6: Answering His Call

Ever since the recent earthquake in Haiti, I've had this tugging at my heart to go to Haiti.  I kept ignoring it... But, tonight something happened... We've had A LOT of car, well Tahoe, problems lately!  It's the dead of winter and the truck over heats on almost a daily basis.  Tonight we were on our way to church when the dashboard's thermometer went WAY past the red.  I never saw the truck get that hot before!  The check gages light came on, and Mark and I could see the steam coming out of the truck's hood reflecting off the street lights. Mark told me to turn around and go home so that he could put water in the radiator.  Instead, I pulled into a church parking lot, and prayed.  I asked God to safely deliver us to church.

As I drove the clouds of steam floating off the hood of our truck grew bigger, and bigger until I knew we had to pull over. We were on a back road with not much of a shoulder.  So, I drove at 25 mph until I came to a stop sign.  I turned off the truck, but kept the head lights, and hazards on.  I did this so that other drivers would see us on the road and not slam into us.  After about five minutes, and four passing vehicles, I tried to start the truck.  It made the "ek, ek, ek" sound, meaning that the battery was dead.  There we were, my entire family on a dark back road, in a dead, over heating vehicle without a cell phone on a cold rainy night.  I knew that we would REALLY be in trouble once the headlights and hazard lights completely died.  As the lights grew dimmed I began to freak out.  I lost my cool for only a moment. I then, without even thinking, opened the truck door and stood on the door frame.  I shook my keys at all the passing vehicles.  A few cars drove by without doing as much as slowing down for my family.  But, then the car came with a family of four inside, just like mine. The driver drove by, and then reversed.  I jumped out of the Tahoe, and asked the man to "give me a jump" because my car died on our way to church.  The man then pulled up in a lane of incoming traffic which was directly in front of our vehicle. As a vehicle drove around the man's car  I began to worry more about his family's safety than my own. I then said another silent prayer.  Within moments Mark, the nice man, and I got the car going.  The man also put a gallon of water in the radiator, and refused payment for it.  The truck started with no problem, and ran perfectly with normal temperatures all the way to the gas station where we added coolant and more water to it... We arrived at church right after the offering was taken.  I grabbed my husband's wallet and gave our last five dollars to the church...

The message of the sermon was "pressure".  While the pastor was talking I felt as if 1,000 tons were resting on my shoulders.  I kept thinking of the cries, lost family members, and chaos in Haiti... Then, I started thinking about the man that risked his family on the side of the road to help mine... The next thing I knew,in that church I told God I wouldn't run anymore.  In that church I told Him I would go where every He may lead me. 

I got home, and logged onto the Red Cross.  To my disappointment they are not taking volunteers to go to Haiti at this time.  Then, a link caught my eye... One thing lead to the other.. And, I became a Red Cross volunteer, and should be receiving a phone call shortly.  Then, just like that, as if a magic wand waved a crossed my face, the pressure was off.  It was almost as if, that was the plan.. As if the plan all along had been for me to volunteer with the Red Cross.

The feeling of listening to my heart, the place where Jesus lives in me, was so good that I asked him if there was anything else I could do... I then e-mailed inquiries of interest to volunteer for Project Cuddles, and the Pro-life Action League.  I've volunteered places before, but never anyplace that God sent me to.  Tonight, I followed... I'm not sure what will become of it... Who knows, I still may end up going to Haiti.. But, I will go wherever he leads me... So, the "new" thing I did tonight was to listen to God when I didn't want to.  It's easy to help a homeless person that I pass on the street, and to have money deducted from my bank account from WorldVision... But, it's not easy for me to leave my children, and go to a different country and not see my children for a while, or possibly, ever again.  But, tonight, I accepted whatever fate is given to me.  Tonight my heart took that final plunge... I will not only live for Christ, but I will also die for Him.  If, it's His will... If His great plan for my life is to live a short one in order to do something great, something extraordinary... Then, it's my honor to do so!

Tonight God sent a stranger in my time of need.  He was kind, and equipped with a gallon of water.  If any other stranger would have stopped, they may not have had the water we needed.  If the man didn't stop... Then someone could have slammed into our truck once the lights died out... And, I possibly would not be sitting here right now typing this... Someone in Haiti may need me to bring that gallon of water before their lights dim out.. If I'm the one that's suppose to go.. If I'm the one that's suppose to do anything, no matter how hard it may be... I will do it.. With God, all things are possible!  With God, I could save a life... With God I will do extraordinary things!