The Lemon

One problem with having 4 kids, like we now do, is you have to figure out how to get them from place to place. This is especially important while living in a foreign country, because A) a lot of the driving that we do is VERY long distance, from Wyoming to southern Mexico, and B) you REALLY don't want to have vehicle problems in while driving in a foreign country with 4 kids in the back. Also, we tend to travel with a lot of luggage, which comes from having a large family, and comes from us many times heading to places like retreats, youth camps, etc, all of which require instruments, supplies, sleeping bags, and other large items. So, when Samuel was born, we had to make a vehicle switch. The old van we owned, a Toyota, would fit 4 kids, but with 4 kids we wouldn't be able to fold up a seat to fit more luggage, so we would be very limited on space for items. We decided to buy an older, MUCH larger 7 passenger Dodge van, with plenty of room for kids, luggage, instruments, and finally with a hitch for hauling even more supplies to camps and retreats. We knew the gas costs would kill us, but they'd be offset by the blessing of being able to get around with everything we needed.

The beast of a van we bought to bring to Mexico.

At the last minute, we decided to leave the old Toyota behind with family instead of selling it, in case we had problems and needed the van again in some unforeseeable future.

Well, that future has arrived.

Unfortunately, the van we purchased has been a lemon. Right off the bat, it was in the shop with some fairly costly problems, and it has been in the shop nearly every month since then for a variety of issues. And those problems have added up to a point where we can't keep paying each month just to have a vehicle that might work. It's not a wise use of our resources financially, and it has been an added stress that we just don't need.

Our van earlier this year, stuck in a parking lot with a broken ball joint and a tire about to fall off. One of many mechanical failures we've experienced this past year.

So, next week, I'll be driving back to Wyoming for a very fast trip. While there, I'll leave this van behind to sell, and pick up the Toyota to bring it back to Mexico. It's too small for us, but I know that it's more reliable that the other van, and we'll have to make it work for a time until we're able to get something more appropriate for our family and our ministry here.

So please pray! Pray that I'll have safe travels there and back (6 total days of driving, assuming I have no car problems). Pray for Sara and the kids as they stay behind in Mexico while I'm gone, that they will be protected and provided for in every way. Pray for God to give us the right vehicle at the right time that will be perfect for us and the ministry here.

And most of all, pray that the Gospel will keep going forth here in Mexico, no matter what vehicle we have!