End of the Trailer

Ever since 2003, my family and I have lived in a fifth wheel travel trailer as we have ministered in evangelism.  Although we have owned a house for over eight years, home was usually wherever we parked our trailer.  Through those years, we have had three different trailers that we owned and another that we borrowed.  Our most recent trailer was purchased in 2015.

As many of you know, we had problems with the unit throughout 2018.  At the end of the year, we were advised to trade the unit in.  The root of the problem was a i-beam that was bent, lost its camber, in technical terms.  Beginning in December, we began the process of trying to get warranty companies and the original manufacturers to stand behind their product.  Yesterday, I received my final answer.  No one will stand behind the defective i-beam.  That means that we now have a trailer that would make a great trailer to live in, but will not stand up to the travel that we do.

We will continue to travel in evangelism, just no longer in a trailer.  Wherever churches put us is where we will stay.  In the mean time, we need to sell our trailer to someone who can use it for its intended purpose: a home that only occasionally needs to be mobile.  We are not completely opposed to another RV, but we will be very picky about getting one that we believe will meet our needs.

While staying in Texas a few weeks ago, I (Paul) passed out and fell in the restroom.  Sarah and our hosts decided to call the paramedics because they could not find a pulse when they came to check me.  (The sound of my head hitting the door created a very disturbing noise, the more so because it happened at night.)  By the time the paramedics arrived, I had stabilized enough to speak to people, but they had a difficult time doing a blood sugar test because no blood would come out of my finger.  After three times of being pricked, they were finally able to get enough blood to test my blood sugar.

Although I declined to go the emergency room at the time, I did go for some tests the following day.  Everything came back normal, and I was told that it is a routine thing for healthy adults to pass out, fall, hit their head, lose blood pressure, and temporarily go into shock.  Who knew? 

Our meetings in California were abundantly blessed of the Lord, and we look forward to seeing what God will do in the days to come.  Our schedule is full throughout the rest of this month, March, and into April.  Please continue to pray that God will use us as we preach in different churches.  The open-ended nature of our trailer situation has the potential to distract us from what is most important thing: the ministry of the Gospel.

Thank you again for your prayers.  We are trusting the Lord for great things as we head east for many meetings.  We look forward to giving a report of more people saved, and strengthened as a result of our ministry.

Paul

No Excuses

As I write this, the Monday evening service at the Big Valley Bible Baptist Church in Lodi, California, is in the books.  It was an interesting service for two reasons.  First of all, there have been a good number of visitors in this meeting from all over this area (not far from Sacramento and Stockton).  Second, there is a very godly woman in the church who is a tremendous example of faithfulness.

Betty is 93 years old and never misses a service, except for the time when she fell and broke four ribs.  Other than that, she is in her place every time the doors are open.  When others less than half her age come to pastor and make excuse after excuse for why they can't be faithful, she is serious about serving God, even at her age.

This evening, the message on faith really spoke to her heart and she felt led of the Lord to respond in the invitation.  Being legally blind and somewhat unsteady on her feet, she called for help from my son Josiah so that she could respond at the altar call.  She told me afterwards that the Lord had really used the message to speak to her heart.

I could not help being amazed by her dedication.  Here she was in her nineties recovering from a fall in which she broke four ribs, yet she wanted everyone to be sure which side she was on.  In personal conversation after the service, she relayed to me that she has a life's goal to be an old woman of joy.  Too many, she said, were crabby and cranky.  She wanted to be known for being full of joy.  It was impossible to hear her speak without thinking of the fruit of the Spirit and how God produces joy in the life of a surrendered Christian.

There can be no doubt that she was a blessing and a challenge to me.  If God gives me that many years to serve Him, I want to be like Betty in two ways: first of all, in faithfulness, and second of all, in joy.

As always, thank you for your prayers.  Keep faithful and keep joyful.

Paul