June was a very busy month dominated mostly by camp in New Mexico. With Sarah left behind in Mississippi to tend to things at home, we (Paul, Abigail, Esther, and Daniel) all packed in the truck and headed out to New Mexico for three different camps there. The first was normal camp, whatever that is, and the other two were horsemanship camps. God richly blessed in all three camps. The horsemanship camps are by nature smaller attended than normal camp, but God really worked in all of them, with several salvation decisions in the normal camp. This camp was unusual in that God began His work right away. It is not uncommon for there to be a period of camp where people are not very receptive to the preaching and they have to warm up to the very idea of camp. This time, we saw the Lord work from Monday night onwards.
We formed themselves into a work crew and took on the project of reroofing the bathhouse this year. The leaking roof had caused several problems in the past, and it was time for a new one. We tore it off, replaced all the dry-rotted wood, built six new skylights, and put a new metal roof back. It was a hard job in which all were reminded of how difficult roofing work is, especially in the triple-digit temperatures of New Mexico in June. The project was not completed until the very last day of the very last camp. On that day, we installed six skylights, had the final service, loaded all our things, and drove 640 miles to our next meeting in Texas. It made for a long day. We are excited to see the things that God will be doing in camp in days to come.
After a couple of days at home, during which time we dove into a home remodeling project, I was off to a meeting in Wilson, North Carolina. On the drive, I experienced for the first time something that continues to haunt me even as I remember it. The phenomenon is commonly referred to as death wobble. As the steering system components wear, the truck can become unmanageable at times. For me, it was every time I hit a bump on the highway. Death wobble causes the front end of the moving vehicle to shake uncontrollably, and in my case, continue to do so until the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
My experience with the first problems of steering came on the day that I was to drive over 800 miles to my meeting in NC. After a routine stop, it seemed as if something was not quite right with the steering. I pulled the vehicle over and crawled underneath, but could not find anything that looked out of place. I got back on the road. After another stop, the same thing occurred, and it seemed that I could not turn the vehicle to the left as far as it was accustomed to go. Again, I examined it but found nothing. Finally, inside the I-285 beltway of Atlanta, GA, it seemed that something fell out from under the truck. I could not tell what it was, nor was I certain that something had indeed fallen. Then the death wobble began in earnest. Before, I had suspected something; now, I was certain. Just east of the I-75/85 junction with I-20 in Atlanta, I pulled off the highway in a rainstorm and was stuck there. One of the steering system bolts had come loose and fallen completely out of the vehicle. Pastor Steven Chambers came to my aid, and we were able to get the truck back on the road. I arrived at the church where I was to preach shortly after 1:00 on Sunday morning.
After a wonderful day with the Trinity Baptist Church, I set out to head back to Mississippi when the death wobble occurred again. Deeming it of great importance to get the problem fixed, I found a recommended repair facility in Selma, North Carolina. There the truck sits now. I am back at the prophet's chamber of the Trinity Baptist Church with my family 825 miles away. As I have researched death wobble, I have discovered that it is a problem that has seemingly become more common as more parts are manufactured in China. It happens even on new vehicles with far fewer miles than I have on my truck. As I reflect on all that has taken place, I am very grateful that God protected me through all of this. In all my years of driving, I have never encountered anything behind the wheel that was as frightening as this.
Thank you for your prayers. It is easy to take something like road safety for granted. I am grateful that God is still in the business of caring for His people.
