The Great American Adventure! Pt. 2

Last evening, we stopped in Concordia, MO to get a pizza and steal some wireless internet from a Day's Inn. As we left the hotel, we hit a very strange intersection which caused us to bottom out.

Ten minutes later on the highway, Brenden said, 'I think something is wrong with your van.' I said, 'something like what?' 'I'm pressing the gas, but it's not accelerating,' and so he pulled over. He tried to start the car again, but to no avail. It didn't turn.

A police officer pulled up behind us and called a tow truck. When the tow truck driver arrived, he went to hook it up to the chain. He said, 'that's not good,' and showed me his finger. 'That's motor oil. Your engine is dead.' He proceeded to tell us that he would take it to his dealership and they would look at it first thing in the morning, but the news would be bad. He then took us back to the Days Inn whose internet we had stolen and whose bathrooms we had used, where we checked into a room and weighed our options--try to repair the van (a costly endeavor) or admit its loss and search for another vehicle.

This morning, we woke early and called the dealership, who immediately informed us that we needed a new engine, which would cost two grand. I stammered and told him I would call him back.

I called Chet, who also stammered at the thought of two grand, and told me to look around for other options. With that, I went to Craigslist, where I found a conversion van nearby for a low price. However, all we had was $800, and that was a little less than their asking price. Not to be discouraged, I called them and explained our plight and made our offer. Not only did they accept, but they offered to drive it to our hotel, and said that it would definitely make the trip.

And so, here we are in our hotel, waiting for them to arrive so we can test drive and see if the Lord really has sent them. I certainly hope so.