Just Thinking.........Again

I prayed this morning and specifically asked God to help me recognize opportunities to help the kingdom. Just before lunch, I was busy at work (I always am). I had my "work face" on.  Just then, my cell rings. It is a man who did not immediately identify himself to me and did not speak well. He started talking about his boy who attended Blount and something about a van.

 

Well, I interrupted him and told him that I did not know what he was talking about and that he must have the wrong number.  Soon after, I begin driving to lunch and it comes to me that this guy could have been referred to me by Tina or her boss, Kim. I had an awakening.

 

(God had given me an opportunity and I had hung up !!!!!!!!)

 

I called the number, still on my phone, but got no answer. So, I left a message. I called Tina - same thing - left message. Tina calls me back and confirms that Kim did give this man my name. I tell her to have the man call me again.

 

The man did call. His name is Joe - I think, he does not speak clearly. He and his wife have a boy named Joshua. Joshua has cerebral palsy and he and his wife have to carry him everywhere. He says that Joshua is now getting so tall that his when his wife carries him, his feet drag the ground. Joe told me that someone was getting him a wheelchair, but he could really use a van with a wheelchair lift.

 

I told Joe that I would do what I could - no promises. I begin driving back to work and I begin crying. I think part of it was sadness for this family and part of it was that God was answering my prayers.  I prayed again and told God that I needed his help because I really did not know what to do about this.

 

I went and told a good friend, and brother, in Christ about the situation. He told me to call ETHRA. ETHRA is just down the street from our plant and they are the ones with the vans that will haul people that need help (you probably know this). I went upstairs to my office and told another brother the story. He said "Call ETHRA".

 

Well, after a while, I went to ETHRA. I went inside and the waiting area was packed. I do not know if the people were drivers or riders. There was no one at the desk. I  am thinking that I cannot be away from work very long and that maybe I should come back. Then one guy in the waiting area asked me what I needed. I stumbled around and finally got out the words, "I was wondering if maybe they had some used vans for sell".

 

This man said, "You need Tim". And immediately, he yells, "Tim !". Tim comes and I ask him about used vans. He sends me out to Dennis in the garage. I ask Dennis if he ever had a used van with a wheelchair lift in it for sell. Dennis said, "Well, I got 16 vans out back."

 

I almost fell down. I tell God that I don't know what to do about one van and minutes later He is showing me 16 !!!!!  Dennis says, "Yeah, I might have 18 for sell". These vans are being retired. They have 3 - 400,000 miles on them. Dennis told me that everything works on them because his garage has serviced them. Everyone of them have a wheelchair lift !

 

Dennis said that someone above him just needs to okay the vans for sell and that he anticipates that word any day. I asked him how much would they sell for (ballpark price). He told me about $1500.00. I said "WOW" to myself. I looked at one of the vans and it was clean. I did not see anything broken.

 

He took my name and will call me when they go for sale.

 

Sorry to be long-winded.  I will buy a van for this family, assuming that I agree that they are in need when I visit them. But I need your help in prayer. I need your advice on how to get others involved. I do not want to come across negatively to my group by asking from them more than they are capable of.

 

I will pray. I know that God will give me answers.

 

I came home to tell my wife about today and she began telling me that she had anonymously given a girl at her work some money. The girl has a very sick kid and is hurting, financially. My wife is something !

 

What a day !!! What  a God !!!!!!!