Last month we took a 9 day trip all the way to Lancaster PA. We made a variety of spots along the way, visiting family and friends. Reason being for the trip was a gathering with Jerald’s family for his parents’ 40th anniversary this year. They chose Lancaster as the area to visit. We had a most beautiful Airbnb at Beechdale Farms in Bird in Hand.
With the many miles to travel, I was inspired to create bags to pass out to beggars we may see along the city intersections. I had gotten some ideas elsewhere, then we added other items we thought would be beneficial.
Here’s what we put together in a gallon ziploc:
A paper back New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs
Five dollar McDonald’s gift card
Granola bar
Apple
Water bottle
Propel packet
Our family enjoyed packing them up one evening. I prayed for the people who would receive them and we even prayed we’d find people to give them to. I know God knows where they all went, but I actually don’t know what happened to most of them. And I wasn’t throwing them blindly out the window. Just hang on.
Josie wrote, “God loves you” on a sticky note. We put the sticky note at John 3 and highlighted verses 16 & 17. We did not want these beautiful verses to be missed by someone who may not have a clue what the Bible even is!
Here’s what happened. We fixed 20 bags. Our first stop for breakfast on the first day, we noticed the remnants of a beggar at a corner but no person in sight. By the time we were getting back on the interstate, the person was there but was way out of our reach with lanes of traffic. We were so disappointed! So near, yet so far!
We drove on to Richmond KY to visit my parents and spent the night there. The next day in Richmond, the children spied a beggar while they were driving with Grandma. So later we loaded up and purposely drove out past him for special delivery!
We were all pleased we were able to get one handed out on our second day! My mom said she sees this man on a regular basis, so who knows if he’s really poor or making a living off of begging. But it doesn’t matter. Every soul needs Jesus if they don’t know Him yet! It felt good to know we weren’t simply handing over cash, but actual necessities as well as knowledge about God, if he’ll take time to read the Bible.
The remainder of the trip we saw only one other possibility. It looked like he was crippled and stood at the side of the road near the bushes. He was empty handed, and there was no baggage around. So we’re not sure what was up. We would have glady given him one anyway. But we were not in the lane closest to him! In fact there was much urging going on inside our vehicle towards the driver, to please just get over in the other lane so we can hand him one! And soon there was traffic which definitely made us unable to hand one out. We were very disappointed!
And that was the last opportunity we saw! I couldn’t believe it. We packed all these bags and only handed out one! (Actually 2. My parents found the bags interesting and wanted one to keep, so they could show others when they come to visit Dad in the Assisted Living)
Then before the Rhodes’ departed ways in PA, we handed out a couple bags in hopes they encounter beggars along their routes home. One or two got passed out like that.
Our trip returning home was quite eventful and full of needs of our own. I don’t think we saw any possibilities for passing out bags. Hang with me till I finish explaining the bags, and then we’ll dive into our own neediness.
We returned home with way too many bags. I felt let down with our minimal progress. I thought it was a great idea; but after traveling over 2,600 miles we still had 80% of them left!
So one Wednesday night, we took them to church and announced that people feel free to take bags if they’re going on trips or downtown somewhere. That took care of all but 2 bags. I was so grateful! God knows where all those bags went, and I trust many of them got handed out to truly needy people! With more people going different directions and miles, God could still bless our efforts and beggars could be reached that we never could have. And we hope we can still bless someone with the 2 leftover bags when we get to a big city sometime.
Our return trip home from PA began with lots of pain for me. At 5 A.M. as we were loading up for the 19 hour drive home, I slipped on the hardwood stairs. My left foot bent backwards and I came down on it. Talk about a tripping trip! It hurt so bad I feared it was broken. But we had no desire to wait at an ER for half the day and still possibly be unable to get satisfactory assistance. So we drove for 6 hours and located a Quick Care.
Now, we don’t keep painkillers on hand. We simply endure and/or use natural remedies. I just absolutely detest taking anything that’s hard on the body. (Unless, of course, I’m undergoing surgery, I prefer anesthesia to being awake) But in this case, we stopped for Tylenol immediately; I even took a full dose; it was that bad.
As we started off the trip, we had prayer as we generally do. Afterwards, Jerald told me adamantly that I need to ask others to pray for me. This was 5:30 A.M. I was in alot of pain, we had a long way home, and we needed wisdom to know what we should do. We had a makeshift bed in the back where I laid and kept my foot propped. I laid there praying and crying simultaneously. In between that, I sent a message on my church ladies chat, and a couple more groups and friends asking for prayer.
We can not forget the power in prayer!! And we need not think we must be close to death before we ask for prayer either. It is humbling to expose one’s need and ask for prayer. But it is good for the soul! I know I’m getting off the highway of my current traveling, but it is a passion of mine, that we ought to be more open with each other. Especially as a church brotherhood. It’s easier to ask for prayer for physical issues, but I think especially when we are facing spiritual struggles or needs, it’s too easy to keep silent. If we paste smiles on our faces and answer the “how are you” with a trite “I’m fine”, when we are actually discouraged and struggling, we are not being honest. I don’t mean you have to spill your sorrows to the first and every person you meet, but we can at least be honest and say we’re not doing so great and we could use prayer. We don’t have to go in-depth, but if a good friend asks us, please, let’s be honest! None of us have our lives so neatly packaged up in godliness that we have zero needs. We’re all broken, needy vessels. And that’s the sort of vessels that God can use best!
Back to the travels. We drove until Zanesville Ohio where Jerald had researched and found an Orthopedic quick care. He wheeled me in and they took care of us in record time. And praise be to God, it was not broken! A very bad sprain to be sure, but I felt I could manage that after envisioning a cast, maybe surgery and being laid up for many weeks. They fitted me with a bulky boot and we were off!
We felt so so blessed to be able to keep heading towards home! We stopped at Chipotle and Jerald and the children went in to order and use the restroom. We ate both lunch and supper on the road and I did not get out unless I absolutely had to use the bathroom. The first couple times I had to go in, it hurt tremendously. The last stop I could tell it was slightly more manageable. And no, I didn’t take any more Tylenol!
The children handled the traveling quite well. They were more pleasant with each other than sometimes, and I myself could hardly believe how cheerful I felt in spite of everything! Those who know me well, know that being positive in negative circumstances is a bit of a stretch. Prayers of the saints, people. We can not forget the impact of prayer!
There was two more things we were grateful for on that trip home. On our first leg of the trip, while I was weeping and praying and messaging friends, we heard sirens nearby. And what do you know, a police was stopping us!! I truly wondered what calamity would befall us next. But he was in a good mood. He stopped us for driving too closely to the vehicle in front, as well as speeding. My good man was driving as skillfully and rapidly as he dared, to make good time with getting me to the Quick Care, plus we had a long day in front of us yet. So we were super grateful he didn’t peer in the back and see me laying there, neither did he give us a fine! The cost of it could have been high, combined with the Dr bills of the week, (This was only my second visit to an Urgent Care in 3 days time; the first visit being a reason I won’t enlarge on) Thus, we had extra bills besides the usuals, besides our income in July being slim picking. Asking the Lord to supply our needs was definitely in my requests that morning as well.
Secondly we were so grateful our vehicle held up! The transmission has been sounding weird now and then, for about 6 months now. It uses too much oil, has missing pieces on the body and seemingly overall is in its last remaining days. We’ve decided to just run it till it kerplunks on us to give us time to save money for something else. It reminds me of the widow’s oil in the Bible how it just kept coming. And somehow God just keeps our rig running too! We arrived safely home soon after midnight.
I had to take it pretty easy the first week and a half. It was hard on me to not be up and active. But Josie did well in being my maid. She does good with the laundry and some days mostly took care of it herself.
I took Complete tissue and bone capsules to aid the healing of my sprain, along with the Complete tissue and bone healing salve. These capsules are definitely some to keep on hand for sprains or breaks!
While the Rhodes’ were together, we got a photographer to do family pictures for us. This is Jerald’s complete family, Luke and Arlene Rhodes.
It’s been over a month since I last posted. Ironically, I should have had plenty of time to write since I was laid up. But I was simply not in the mood! For the longest time, I did not feel like rehashing this trip, and just the thought of it seemed to almost trigger nausea. But I wanted to share about the beggar bags and didn’t have another post that I felt ready to write about. Pregnancy blahs going on…..
Yes, you read that right! We’re having a baby!! I could hardly believe it myself when I found out! It is a definite answer to prayer. I feel so blessed and unworthy of the privilege to be carrying a precious little life! ♥️ (This was also why I hated even more to take Tylenol for my foot)
And no, I’ve not been really sick. Fatigue 100% yes. Nausea sometimes, but not horrible, just kinda a blah feeling afternoon and evenings. Food aversions were/are a definite thing.
With my health challenges, and food allergies in the past years, there were many times that I had fatigue, stomach aches, and nausea. There was plenty times I couldn’t help thinking, “if only it was for a good cause.” So, in my current case, I could not complain. I am too grateful for the gift of life and a good reason for these minor afflictions! This gratefulness also helped me in the trial of my sprained foot. Over and over I reminded myself how much better this was than losing my baby!
This was our pregnancy announcement. When we took the family photos, we told the children it’s a surprise in the box and they will find out the next week. The box held ultrasound pictures and a riddle for Josie to read. We had them open the box at a later time. Then when they opened it, Josie guessed, and Reece was keenly disappointed there wasn’t a toy inside.😅 But they are both happy about a new sibling!
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of windowsills and breezy hills 