A BROKEN FUEL TANK STRAP

September 11 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers;  Romans 8:28-29

While we were serving in the Central African Republic, we made a get-acquainted trip to the Chad.  At that time rebel activity made it unwise for us to go to Chad.  The mission allowed us to use the oldest, most decrepit pick-up truck for the trip.  As we entered one village in which there was a Grace Brethren Church, one of the straps holding up the auxiliary fuel tank broke.  One end of the tank was lying in the road.

It took me a couple of hours lying in the dirt to syphon the gasoline from that full tank into basins normally used for carrying water from the source to the village.  (Gasoline is not my favorite flavor!)  I removed the empty tank and put it into the bed of the truck.  By then the church had prepared a meal for us.  After the fellowship it was getting dark enough that we stayed the night. 

We continued in the morning to the next village with a Grace Brethren Church.  The pastor told us several times that he was thankful that we had not arrived the previous day.  When we asked why, he told us that a group of rebels with guns had sat there all day waiting for a truck to come along.  They were tired of walking.  None appeared, so in the morning they started off on foot.   

When we got back to the town which had been our starting point in Chad, the church members and the government officials were wondering where we were.  Our announced plan had been to return the previous day. 

It was a frustrating experience for us Americans to be thrown off schedule.  It was not a pleasant job to work under the truck in the dirt and the hot weather.  I had wondered why the Lord had allowed (caused) the delay.  Do we really believe that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28)?  We do not always understand the things we experience, but the sovereign Father Who loves us has it all under control.                                           

Les Vnasdale