Below is a journal entry after the first service on our current trip mingled with pictures form a VA service a night later.
July 17, 2013
"It was the first
day. The first day on the road after having been home for two months! We were
so happy to be doing the traveling life again. I awoke from my bonk as Father
started the bus engine to start driving and was comforted by that familiarity
then fell back to sleep. I got up a few hours later to make whole-wheat French
toast and smoothies as we headed down the highway. The forenoon was spent in
personal Bible time and general traveling activities.
We arrived at
destination and promptly proceeded to have much-needed family time during which
Father announced the theme verses for the trip (we don’t usually have a theme
verses, but we do this time.)
'Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.' Phil. 2:14-16
Little did we know how much we would have opportunity to have this verse tested
in our lives this day. After this it was quick, late lunch, naps for some,
system set-up for others. I rose from a short nap to eat some food before
heading in, then, several hours before the service, I heard the generator shut
off. Problem. We made the traditional, during-sound-set-up, 'there’s a problem
in the motor home', call to Father. He came out to fix it: no go. By now I was
getting ready for the service and it was getting WARM. Remember the theme verse!
(Harp tuning before service #2)
I headed in with
the harp for tuning, practice, and sound check. The service that night was to be held in a 'Veterans of Foreign Wars' building. On the sign was posted things pertaining to the 'bingo night' and 'jackpot'. Grace thought it was a church we were going to and concluded from the sign that the activities at this church were quite different from the norm. ;) I walked in to the building: “It smells like smoke” were my first words. (Also the first button pushed. The men were WELL aware of the
smell. J )
They then mentioned the heat in the room (which I didn’t understand since I
came from the bus and thought anything was cooler then that!) Remember the theme verse!
We proceeded with
a long sound check/practice since it was the first service for the tour. We
were running late, cords were determined not to work, whenever I played bass
notes on the harp a strange crackling sound proceeded from the speakers, and now
it really was feeling warm in there.
There were things we just decided to leave out of the service for lack of
patience and time to practice. Mother proclaimed that we would have to bring
our clothes into the building bathrooms to get ready since it was too warm in
the bus. Remember the theme verse! She
brought us healthy ice coffee during sound check. Bless the woman who is “glue”
to us.
(Running through a few things right before the service)
The the building's bathrooms weren’t….horrible. Mother simply said: “at least this lighting
doesn’t reveal all our flaws” referring to the dim and poorness in the
lighting. I smiled. Remember the theme
verse! I stood in front of the mirror next to Mother doing my
hair when the theme verse mingled with 'in everything give thanks' (1 Thess. 5:18) ran through my head and I said aloud: 'Thank you Lord that we don’t feel prepared for this service so that we don't do it in our own strength. Thank you that we have a bus to travel in. Thank you that I feel inadequate in singing...' Finally ready, I left
the bathroom to greet a few people, make 'Order of service' list, and apologize
to certain members of the family for wrong attitudes on my part during all this
process.
The service happened.
We were shaky with nerves, we saw the flaws, but it wasn’t about that. I felt
His peace and thought of Him as a sung, inwardly smiling at the potential of
what His thoughts may be, being with us through every detail.
The service was
over. We ate delicious food with wonderful and encouraging people. Bunches of
little girls came to me, introducing themselves, and how fun it was. They told
me their ages, they sat with me to eat and told me all about their little
lives. They asked if they could play my harp. I went with them to the front and
we had a swell session of little fingers taking turns running across the
strings. Finally I looked at Derek who was wrapping up cords and said with 'rescue me' eyes in a hushed tone: 'can you come take the harp to the bus' to
bring the session the to a close. J
Tactfulness- yes. There was also a session of "Play with the 'Red Tie' door" which resulted in 'CRAHS, BANG, BOOM.' (No children were injured, thank God. :))
Here’s the thing.
We were all wrapped up, most people had left, and there was still that problem
with the bus. We could hardly stand to be there for more then a few minuets.
It was cooler out-of-doors then in there. There were generous men who stayed
behind to help Dad diagnose the problem. The building was to be locked, so us
ladies went out in the parking lot and sat on the black-top with the wives and
children of the men who were helping Dad. It was an incredibly joyful
experience- the whole night- even the hard moments. Honestly beautiful.
Honestly character building and memory making. I felt so alive in it all. So fulfilled
to have Him with you through the annoyances, work though you in your weakness,
do it in the spirit of 'togetherness', and giving you the privilege to meet
such delightful people.
The problem was
a torn belt on the generator. Great diagnosis! Easily fixed (if it weren’t
11:30 at night, that is.). So men stood around on their phones trying to locate
a willing vessel to get a belt from. In good spirits Daddy finally announced
that we could get in pajamas, make a stop at the local Wal-Mart to make sure we
couldn’t find a belt there, and if not, take our stay at one of the apartments
at Mountain View nursing home that was nearby. The people were so generous to
accommodate us. So, we went to Wal-Mart in our pajamas with two of the men to
try to find a belt. We were ridiculously silly as we waited in the van. Mother
thought it would be a brilliant idea to go dumpster diving, then she remembered
her night-gown-adorned state. We thought that her being found out would be a
good reason for the remaining services on the trip to be conveniently canceled.
J
(The cupboards were so warm from that no air-conditioning night that our chocolate chips turned chocolate melt and so we put it to good use for an after-service snack!)
Needless to say,
we are now sitting in a beautiful guest house at Mountain View Nursing Home. We
are exceeding grateful and happy after a deliciously eventful day. Behind me
are two brothers who have much energy to release and are doing so via
wrestling. I’m talking big men…fighting, laughing, grunting and it doesn't even phase me anymore. :) Grace takes it upon herself to brake them apart (problem.). Oldest brother
is chillin’ on the bed, Mom and Dad are in the next room, and I’m writing to
the beautiful noise of being apart of a siblinghood.
Day one down.
Joy unspeakable
because of His love for us
and pouring that
to others is beyond privilege.
Happiest in His
will- long and the short of it.
Goodnight,
Deborah
