Sad Day with Great End

9-8-10

Beautiful countryside

Today started well as we got breakfast and coffee at the hotel.  The people were very nice.  We had been experiencing some overheating on the uphills but nothing too bad.  We figured the thermostat was bad.   Most of the day we had been driving next to the coast.  Absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking at times.  We passed through many towns that looked quaint, colorful and lively.  It would be endless fun to explore them.  So far everyone we talk to for direction is friendly and helpful, d not always knowledgeable, but trying to help. 
   We suddenly came upon the flood area which we had heard about yesterday.  We were following a Semi.  There were rigs coming our way that had made it, so we decided to make the plunge and cross the flooded area.  There obviously was not turning back.  It was several miles long and had all of our hearts racing a bit.  The water on the truck was up to its bumper quite often.  We started passing submerged buildings, and were joking that that was our next hotel and it had a lake view.  After we entered the City of Lerdo, it wasn't so funny.  The main part of town was about four feet deep in water.  Many homes and business were awash.  I am sure many people had great losses.  Praise be to  God that we had no troubles getting through the water.

Tell me they're not spearfishing next to the van

Wow

Let's go for it

After the flooded town, we started climbing again.  We noticed the van was really overheating now.  We had to stop once to cool it off. When we went down or level it seemed to recover.
In the next town, Clint  pulled over to look for a mechanic to either remove our themostat or loan us tools as thats what we thought was responsible.  The mechanic was busy so we decided to get something to eat.  God led us right to a place where a family had an open air restaurant.  When we got to looking around, it looked like they might be Christians. We asked, and they were.  We were instant family.  Caroline the wife fixed us a bowl of delicious stew and tortillas, and her husband Juan made us feel welcome.  Their business was in an outdoor area with beautifull brightly painted walls.  After the food, Clint and Jerry went to work on the car, and the rest of us chatted with them.  They are new Christians and seemed glad for the encouragement, and we were glad of the wonderful visit with our newfound brothers and sisters.  Their son and daughter were there with their daughter-in-law.  We prayed for each other and found it difficult to part.

Su Leing, Aracely, Maria, Juan, David and Isabel
holding Nina, Jerry and Catherine (the dogs)

Now we are in a charming hotel in the next town.  Clint was able to get the van into a pretty tight parking lot behind a wall so that we can stay here.  There may be a mechanic that can help us as the removal of the thermostat didn't help.  They let us swim and all it took was a few minutes as the pool was cold.  It did feel good to be cold for a few minutes.

Hanging Out with Bellies Hanging Out

09-07-10 2:30pm


We are on our way to Vera Cruz or as close as we can get. We hear there is some flooding we may have to go around, plus we have to go around the city itself. We heard from Jacob (from back at the Brokers) that if you go through Vera Cruz instead of around, you will be stopped and fined $200.

This fining business seems to be very prevalent and popular. We have been stopped twice two times today. The first time was about ½ hour out from our hotel. They stopped us for speeding, even though we we not going any faster than the cars ahead and behind. It seemed to be all trucks and us. They wanted one amount, and started to write a ticket, and then they had us pull ahead and give them about $20. We never really got a ticket. Clint said if you refuse, they will take you to the station and write it up and it will end up being hours and $200. We were not happy, but relieved with the results.

We have been driving south and Clint took us on one small side-trip to the Playa or beach of Miramar. We so much wanted to set foot in the Gulf of Mexico. We stopped there for a local breakfast of scrambled eggs with bacon, black beans and cheese, and yeah coffee. Not great coffee, or even good coffee, but coffee.

Ticket Number 1

Next we went to the beach this place Is set up for many thousands of people, but it was almost a ghost town today. There were hundreds of umbrellas and beach chairs set up. Great white sand beach. The water was warm and glorious. It was nice to smell sea air again after being an inlander in Colorado. There is something untamed about even a resort beach.

The Gulf of Mexico

As we tried to get back to the main highway we tried to find it in Tapico. We got into town with very old buildings, parking on both sides and increasingly narrow streets. It was getting barely passible to us and we were afraid that we would get stuck and attract more policia. We did find a way thanks be to God and also gasoline just as soon as we prayed, and are long gone from there.

Before we actually got to the beach, we got stopped by the policia again. It was a small town, and it was evident that they just stood out there and picked off likely subjects. This was for following too close, and not having wide enough mirrors. We can see around our trailer fine, and we were close because we were pulling up to a stop sign. The officers looked pretty serious about our crime spree. We got out after Clint and he haggled a bit for about $50. Expensive beach trip. Sorry Clint

Most of the countryside is lushly green with lots of trees. This is a very beautiful country. At least this part.

Everywhere beautiful vistas

Now parked for the night, fed and just swam in a pool under palm trees. It is 11 pm. We have been trying since 5:30 to get a hotel. Every town was the same no hotels, or hotels with no parking for the van and trailer. We went through Tuxpan and Posa Rica and several small towns I didn’t write down. Each had amazing central areas with some great big hotels but no parking lots. We even got stopped twice more at check points with police, but not for tickets. Everyone we asked about hotels pointed up the road, but didn’t really give us any leads. It was like trying to find a garage sale by the signs. You can’t get there from here. We drove through some of the prettiest country I have ever seen There were terraced hillsides, orchards, sugar canes, banana and orange trees and possibly a tea plantation. Finally finally at the last police stop we asked and officer and he told us yes there was a hotel ahead. We didn’t spot his, but a guy ran out into the road and flagged us in to his. Pretty basic rooms, but clean sheets and we are not in the van. Also they had a restaurant, so we were able to get dinner right here on the grounds. We are in a beach town, and may wake up to ocean views nearby. It is weird to think of the ocean to the east of us.

Nick wanted me to name this blog, “guys hanging out with their bellies out”, because they like to stand around in groups with their shirts pulled up over the top of their bellies to keep cooler.

Then we got in Line

09-06-10 4pm.

Francisco's key chain

Wow, today has lots to tell already. We are in Mexico, on highway 53, we think. Many blessings today and interesting encounters. We left the hotel 8ish. It was a clean, comfortable place which served a good breakfast so we didn’t have to mess with that. We got to the Brokers called Transmitgrantes America. They are the ones who process our paperwork. They look at the load and tell us how to package everything for the border, and write up an audit for immigration of what we have. Anything expensive that we didn’t declare, they can confiscate. We found that the brokers would take until noon to fill out the paperwork, so we waited. Nick met a man named Jacob Hershberger from Costa Rica bringing a load of milk tanks down. Turns out he was the father-in-law of a friend of theirs. He drives a white Freightliner.

Jacob's truck

                                                                           

We prayed for his toothache, backache and sore throat. We will probably see him enroute. Its nice to have a friend on the way.

Also while waiting we met a man named Francisco who was selling keychains for a ministry. He was delivered from drugs, gangs, etc. and was inviting others on the street to come to the same deliverance ministry called Outcry in the Barrio. We prayed with him and bought key chains of course.

Installing the hasp--so glad to have it

Next we left for Los Indios where the border is. People from California drive to this border. It is great we were near it.

The border was very uneventful on the USA side. I can’t call it the American side, cause we are in the United States of Mexico and still in America. When we got close to the Mexico side, we had to wait in a line for about a half an hour for officials to go over our papers and look at our trailers. One potential glitch came up. They needed hasps on all of the trailer doors so they could put seals on the locks. The side door just had a key lock. It seemed likely that we would have to punch a hole in the side of the trailer in order to put a chain or lock around the door.

Clint rummaged around and found a hasp that Seth Dunn had given him.

Hallelujah. He was able to mount the hasp across the door to make it look like that was the lock. The agent was satisfied even though it was evident that it was kind of a token effort. At least proprieties were satisfied. Clint gave him the $20 that he needed to do his part and we were on our way. Almost.

Next we got in line so that they could look at our papers and X-ray our van and trailer. We had to hand the papers way up to the guys because it was the truck port of entry.

Next we got in line to just wait in line. Then our line went and our convoy made a complete loop around immigration only to get in line to pay $3.00, only they wanted $14 when we got there.


Then we got in line to get our tires sprayed against germs and bugs, etc.

Funny thing is we had to pay $8 for the privilege and they only did the tires on one side. It was a guy with a garden-typed sprayer, a mask and a white suit.

Then we got in line after making another loop around to park outside of immigration. We got out.

Then we got in line to go to show our passports and get a form.

Then we got in line to get our now filled out forms stamped.

Then we got in line to pay $23 each and get a new form to add to the other.

Then we got in line with our new form to go to the same person for the 3rd time and get our passports stamped and our immigration paper back.

Clint stood in a very short line to get some money exchanged.

After the line marathon, we were off we got to the border at 12:30 and left at 3:50.

Other than bordem, which is inconsequential, it went very smooth. Not long after the border, we hit a large flooded area across the road. It was apparent that it had been deeper, possibly impassable. We are glad that we didn’t try to come here yesterday. Now we are in an increasingly fierce deluge of rain. We are trying to figure the best way to travel to avoid the tropical storm headed this way. Yesterday we were not sure if the border would close because of it.

It is about 5pm.

Oh oh, then we got in line. There was another stop miles from the border. We waited in line to talk to some soldiers and show them our papers, then they said we were in the wrong line even though the first guy said to go there and we circled around the building to get in another line. This was a military group with camouflaged sheds with guys with big rifles sitting in them. Even though it seems a little intimidating, it is still comforting to see their presence in light of the murders lately. I think we’re done. We are happy to be about 4 hours from the border. This part of Mexico is beautiful. Just like the parts you see painted in the Mexican restaurants. I love the colorful buildings. The rain is behind, but there is evidence that it has been fierce here lately.

Blurry but green, It is beautiful

I forgot a good joke that Judith Streng came up with. One of the foods she made for us was a green slaw with orange slices and amonds. She had toasted them and they got a little overdone. She said they were not almonds because she had burnt the “L” out of them.

Now in Ciudad de Victoria. In for the night after a good dinner.11pm

Wacky Waco

9-5-10 2PM


We just left Waco Texas. We have encountered our first, no make that second little glitch. Very little. We are driving in a van headed for Costa Rica singing along to the Revelation Song. What could be better. The first one was a state patrol stop. Our temporary licenses were not taped to our trailer because of the danger of them getting damaged. We got a warning and taped them on. After we got under way our water temp began to climb, and our AC quit. We drove around a neighborhood until we saw someone with a hose. They were having a BBQ and I think we were the entertainment. We put water in to see if that would help, but not to be. We are continuing on without AC, but the temp seems stable.

After leaving Waco, the AC seemed to come back and the temp normalized.  It is nice to have it. Although it is cooling off a bit as we get close to the sea.  I think we are at sea level.  There are palm trees and seagulls around.

Earlier we left the Strengs lovely home. They are the kind of people that seem instantly like family. So gracious. They basically gave up 3 days for us, just taking care of us and showing us around, etc. Besides which they are very fun and on fire for the Lord. You go guys!!

Yesterday afternoon we went to church at Gateway Church.  It is very well known for the worship.  Rod says they produce the most new worship songs second only to Hillsong.  It was amazing.  Huge, modern, beautiful, and the people there really seem to be worshipping.  I have never been in a church so big.  It is already too small, and they are building a Huger campus which will be done in November.  A great place to go to get a blast of good worship.

Last night we had a devo time. Dale gave a message, and 2 of the Streng’s couple friends came over with fresh homemade peach cobbler. The Millers, and the Cranors. Like-minded people of God. They were both encouraging and entertaining. The Millers and the Strengs are headed for Novia Scotia this week.                 

Judith and Rod

                                                           

We are planning to stop in Pharr for the night, God willing, and then hit the border in the am.

We did get to Pharr and our motel is pretty decent. I am happy because I can send this out.  Who knows when the next post will go out. We are treating ourselves to a good place tonight.  I think we may do some van sleeping soon.  It is now 10:20 I think.  We were on the road about 12 hours.  Not too bad although great to be unfolded at last.

Flower Mound Power

9-03-10




We traveled the rest of the way to the Dallas –Ft. Worth area with only a couple of pit stops. It was comfortably unremarkable. There was one interesting side line for us. We were stopped at a traffic stop for construction. The flaggers said it would be 15 or 20 minutes to wait. An older gentleman jumped out of the car ahead and came back to talk. He had a white cross on his hat, and Dale asked if there was significance to it. He said that he was a believer named Clyde Rogers, and we exchanged stories. He proudly told us his wife LaVada is a wonderful professional western painter. He said a mural of hers was on the side of a café ahead, and we would have to stop and see it. We did, and the mural was on the side of the Campo Café. It was wonderful and they were so charming. Apparently he gets out to talk at every traffic stop. He must have millions of friends. That was a lesson to me on taking any opportunity to connect with people, especially to tell them about the Lord’s goodness in some way.

We then went on to Flower Mound which is a city north of Dallas-Ft. Worth. The Streng’s, Judith and Rod, left their door open for us and we slid into beds around 2:30 am. In the morning we met a couple that made us feel instantly at home. Judith calls herself the “sugar nazi” but she was encouraging about health not condemning.

Both Judith and Rod have been very active in a ministry called Angel’s Attic. It is a consignment store described as upscale resale. They use this store to fund lots of mission’s projects. They have bought school uniforms for kids in Costa Rica, enabling them to go to school. They also purchased the larger of the 2 trailers that we are taking down. The store is quite beautifully and artistically laid out. We met the manager, Dave, and saw a picture on the wall that was taken at a church in Costa Rica that we had worked on. It blessed us greatly. We could see some of the artistic painting that our team had done. Shari had helped with that.

Photo op with trailer

Dave Manager in Angel's Attic

                                                                          

Angel's Attic

Picture in Angels Attic of church we painted the inside of in Costa Rica

                                                                     

The store was operated by White’s Chapel Methodist Church. After a photo-op at the store, we went to see that church. We went into a small chapel, Ponder Memorial Chapel, to hold a team meeting. There was a mural on the ceiling and AC inside. We had a great time of prayer, praise and worship and our first team meeting. It was spectacular.

Mural on ceiling at Ponder Chapel

                                                          

We then went back to Angel’s Attic to have another photo-op with the trailer, and met Rev. Jo Ponder who used to pastor at the Methodist Church, and was active in this ministry. We went out to a great Mexican-food dinner and now back to the Streng’s home. Tomorrow Shari and I will try to get to Starbuck’s and post these latest blog entries. I will be learning to add photos to the blog. You all can see how it works out.

It's 11:20 People

09-02-10


This entry is the first written on the road. I know Dale, Shari and Katie left on Saturday from Washington, and we left yesterday from Greeley, but this is “the official leaving.”

Wray was a total blessing. It is beautiful and charming and very friendly. It would be the ultimate great place to raise your kids.

Last night we got to the Swanson’s home in Wray. Jim and Louane Swanson, Marv and Vicky Southard, Randy and Sabrina and Glen and Tracy Kline were there. They make up the board of Simple Wisdom Ministries.

We had prayer, food and lots of stories. Then we went to Clint’s sister’s home. That is the Southard’s.

They have a really great place on the edge of Wray. It is a log cabin full of interesting memorabilia, pictures, old west stuff and antiques. We were totally blessed by their hospitality, and desire to help us all. They basically kept asking if there was anything else they could do to help us. What wonderful servants. How can you not love them?

We had breakfast which included pancakes with Vicky’s family recipe of chocolate syrup. Oh man!!! After the usual loading fire drill, we left did some business in Wray including mailing the titles to the vehicle and trailers to the border. Apparently after the border gets the paperwork we have to wait 3 days at the border for them to process it. It sounds like we will, God willing, be leaving the US on Monday at 9am when the border opens.

We went to Hillcrest Care Center in Wray on our way out of town. While Clint visited with his mom, we talked with Corky who is a resident there. She is still working for the Lord despite having just fallen and broken her wrist. She is writing an article for the Wray Gazette about Clint and his adventures. If I reach that age, I want to still be doing interesting things for the Lord. She said she would like to go with us if she was able. I believe she would be great fun to take along too.

As we pulled out Clint said its 11:20 people!

Trailer in the trailer

LaVadas Mural in Campo

Vicky and Clint

Southards at home

                                                                       

Weerrrre OFF!

Today around 2:30 we are leaving for Wray.  I am quiet happy to see the place as so many world renowned people are from there,  who'da thunk?  The plan is to meet Clint's church folks in Wray and go on from there tomorrow.
Our van cast should be Clint Wisdom, Nick Wisdom, Dale Weide, Shari Weide, Katie Weide, Jerry Chilcote, and Carol Chilcote (primary blogger).
We feel like true celebrities as we have been taken out to dinner, prayed over many times and hugged lots.
My next post should really be from the road.
It will be interesting to see in other countries how many hotspots there will be.  We are looking for the computer kind, not the political kind. :)