Early this morning most of the Glenwood team and the GUPpies left for the Dominican Republic.
We planned on leaving Greensboro last night at 6:30pm to drive to Pastor Will Dungee's house. The team had to be at the airport by 4:30am, and his house is a bit closer to the airport. We loaded the Grace van and started on our way, only to be met by a horrible smell and smoke pouring from the van. After a long conversation with both Will and Tripp (king of the van), we decided it wouldn't be safe to chance a trip to Raleigh and back.
So, we developed plans B & C.
Plan B - drive 3 cars, Will & I would bring two back and pay for parking for the third.
Plan C - ask the Pastor of the Vietnamese church (who lives across the street from Grace) if we could borrow his church's van. Mind you, none of us have ever spoken to this family...we've waved, but for all intents and purposes, there was no real relationship. As odd as it was though, we found that this was the choice option.
So, Marshall, Suzanne, & I headed across the street to ask. Marshall had barely begun to explain that they were travelling to the DR for a missions trip when Pastor Vo sent his daughter to get the keys. No questions asked. No proof of who we were needed. Instead, he apologized that the van didn't have air conditioning!
On the drive back to Will's house after dropping off the team, Will commented that he was humbled by the ordeal. When it comes to forging new relationships, we so often think of what we can do for the other person - how we can help them, when sometimes the Lord just wants to bless us. This was one of those times.
We had nothing to give at the time, no collateral to ensure safe return of their van -- only the amazing provision of God, and the peace he gave them in loaning their van to us.
