CAUTION: Read at your own leisure...this is a very lengthy post!
Thank the Lord for safety and traveling protection on our recent move to Mexico!
We left the Rio Grande Valley, TX on Jan. 14th. Our truck was loaded inside and on top and we were pulling an overloaded trailer! We stopped at the TX/MX border to pay duty on a few items, and then we were on our way. We had no problems with our papers and visas at any of the checkpoints.
We decided to make a quick stop for gas about 1-1/2 hrs. down the road. We got our gas, then pulled around to another spot and parked the truck so we could do potty breaks and let the dog out to exercise her legs. When we were finally ready to leave, the truck would not start! Oops! We had forgotten that this same thing had happened the week before and we forgot to have it looked at. Seeing as my husband nor I are experienced mechanics, these problems could make for an interesting trip! But, the Lord already had people lined up to help us. We no sooner got the hood open, then an American and two Mexicans drove up beside us and offered to help. Whew! It was decided that a clamp on our battery was loose and so they drove a screw down in to help hold everything together until we got to Tapachula. On our way again, we had no more troubles. We spent the night at a very nice hotel near Tampico.
We left the next morning prepared for a not too stressful day. All the roads we traveled seemed to be two-lanes and we were always following semi's or rv's who were just creeping along. The roads were also a little curvy and hilly, and therefore not good for passing! Needless to say, this part of the trip was taking forever and we were not sure if we would make it to our planned stopping place.
It was nearing dusk when we started on the bypasses around Veracruz. We made a turn, and heard a thud, thud, thud.......our back, right, truck tire was flat! Oh no! We got out and was assessing the situation, when once again, God already had a helper in place! We were pulled off the road in front of a propane gas station, and one of the men there came out and volunteered his services in changing the tire. He tried to jack up the truck, but it kept sliding off. We tried his co-workers jack, same problem. We had WAY too much weight in the truck. It was decided that Michael would ride with the co-worker 5 minutes down the road to fetch a tire mechanic while I stayed in the truck with the kids. They returned with the tire mechanic and some better tools, and the tire was changed in no time at all. The next problem, we had to take the tire mechanic back to his shop, but there was no room for all of us in the truck. So, what's the best solution? We're still not sure, but this is what we decided to do. Michael takes the truck and kids to return the tire mechanic, while I stay along the side of the road with the trailer and the dog. Oh, did I mention it was dark already? Yeah, it was a "wonderful" moment in my life! Some of my fears were that someone would stop and I would have to try to talk in my limited Spanish or that Michael (who's not good at directions) would get lost trying to find where he left me! Thank the Lord nothing happened, but I was starting to get concerned after waiting almost an hour and Michael still wasn't back! He finally returned, and we decided to call it a night at a hotel down the road that had been recommended to us by the mechanics. The hotel was not the greatest thing one ever stayed at, and we were feeling a little unsure as to how secure our truck and trailer were going to be out by the road...but we didn't know of another quick solution, so we just had to trust God.
After a not so restful night, we were up real early in the morning hoping to make up some time. After a slight delay trying to find an ATM machine to get money out for the rest of the trip, we kept on trucking. Halfway through the day, our truck started making noises...then the check engine light came on...then our truck's braking system lights came on. Superficially, we couldn't see anything wrong, so we just kept on driving, and praying that our dear, overloaded, truck and trailer would make it the whole way! It did...and we pulled into our new home early in the evening! Our new "Home Sweet Home" never looked so good!
We know many of you were praying for us along the journey although you may not have known all the details at the time...Thank You! Your prayers helped us to make it safely to Tapachula to begin our new ministry. We are forever grateful to you!
Thank the Lord for safety and traveling protection on our recent move to Mexico!
We left the Rio Grande Valley, TX on Jan. 14th. Our truck was loaded inside and on top and we were pulling an overloaded trailer! We stopped at the TX/MX border to pay duty on a few items, and then we were on our way. We had no problems with our papers and visas at any of the checkpoints.
We decided to make a quick stop for gas about 1-1/2 hrs. down the road. We got our gas, then pulled around to another spot and parked the truck so we could do potty breaks and let the dog out to exercise her legs. When we were finally ready to leave, the truck would not start! Oops! We had forgotten that this same thing had happened the week before and we forgot to have it looked at. Seeing as my husband nor I are experienced mechanics, these problems could make for an interesting trip! But, the Lord already had people lined up to help us. We no sooner got the hood open, then an American and two Mexicans drove up beside us and offered to help. Whew! It was decided that a clamp on our battery was loose and so they drove a screw down in to help hold everything together until we got to Tapachula. On our way again, we had no more troubles. We spent the night at a very nice hotel near Tampico.
We left the next morning prepared for a not too stressful day. All the roads we traveled seemed to be two-lanes and we were always following semi's or rv's who were just creeping along. The roads were also a little curvy and hilly, and therefore not good for passing! Needless to say, this part of the trip was taking forever and we were not sure if we would make it to our planned stopping place.
It was nearing dusk when we started on the bypasses around Veracruz. We made a turn, and heard a thud, thud, thud.......our back, right, truck tire was flat! Oh no! We got out and was assessing the situation, when once again, God already had a helper in place! We were pulled off the road in front of a propane gas station, and one of the men there came out and volunteered his services in changing the tire. He tried to jack up the truck, but it kept sliding off. We tried his co-workers jack, same problem. We had WAY too much weight in the truck. It was decided that Michael would ride with the co-worker 5 minutes down the road to fetch a tire mechanic while I stayed in the truck with the kids. They returned with the tire mechanic and some better tools, and the tire was changed in no time at all. The next problem, we had to take the tire mechanic back to his shop, but there was no room for all of us in the truck. So, what's the best solution? We're still not sure, but this is what we decided to do. Michael takes the truck and kids to return the tire mechanic, while I stay along the side of the road with the trailer and the dog. Oh, did I mention it was dark already? Yeah, it was a "wonderful" moment in my life! Some of my fears were that someone would stop and I would have to try to talk in my limited Spanish or that Michael (who's not good at directions) would get lost trying to find where he left me! Thank the Lord nothing happened, but I was starting to get concerned after waiting almost an hour and Michael still wasn't back! He finally returned, and we decided to call it a night at a hotel down the road that had been recommended to us by the mechanics. The hotel was not the greatest thing one ever stayed at, and we were feeling a little unsure as to how secure our truck and trailer were going to be out by the road...but we didn't know of another quick solution, so we just had to trust God.
After a not so restful night, we were up real early in the morning hoping to make up some time. After a slight delay trying to find an ATM machine to get money out for the rest of the trip, we kept on trucking. Halfway through the day, our truck started making noises...then the check engine light came on...then our truck's braking system lights came on. Superficially, we couldn't see anything wrong, so we just kept on driving, and praying that our dear, overloaded, truck and trailer would make it the whole way! It did...and we pulled into our new home early in the evening! Our new "Home Sweet Home" never looked so good!
We know many of you were praying for us along the journey although you may not have known all the details at the time...Thank You! Your prayers helped us to make it safely to Tapachula to begin our new ministry. We are forever grateful to you!
