Weekend Report

This was posted on January 14, 2008 by Sarah Maxwell.

We are grateful to each of our conference coordinators for all the work they put into the conference. After set up Friday afternoon, we had family devotions in the bus, and then the coordinator brought us dinner: a delicious taste of the southwest.

The music session went well, and our audience was the most interactive of all the groups we’ve sung for so far! In between sessions, a highlight for our family is being able to speak with families. Our prayer is that the Lord Jesus is glorified in everything shared during each session and in the other conversations.

After listening to our church service via cell phone to the nursing home yesterday morning, Dad, Joseph, John, and Jesse were out at the bus, when a car pulled up with a mom and son, who had attended the conference, They had been surprised to see our bus behind a hotel as they were returning from their morning church service, which is amazing since they didn’t know where we were staying and would have only had a second to see the bus between buildings. They decided to go to Trader Joe’s and purchase John some birthday gifts since yesterday was his birthday. They brought a large bag of goodies and a huge several foot-long box of cookies! We were very touched by their thoughtfulness to John. Thank you :-)!

Tonight we’ll be going to Fountain Hills (outside of Phoenix) for an evening conference.

Only for Jesus,
Sarah

John, with the goodies that a family blessed him with!

Christopher speaking to the young people Saturday.

Anna and I at the book tables (Mary and some of the others are on the other end of the tables.).

Joseph took this picture yesterday of a palm tree.

The Beauty of God’s Handiwork

This was posted on January 11, 2008 by Steve Maxwell.

Our family was really looking forward to visiting Carlsbad Caverns and seeing the wonder of God’s handiwork. That is why there was some disappointment when Uriah was “broken,” and we would not be able to stop at the Caverns on our way to Tucson.

Oh, but God’s handiwork is not limited to old, cold stone, and it is best observed in the lives of His children. We simply exchanged one opportunity to praise God for another. Late in the morning, it became obvious that the part we needed was simply not available in Carlsbad and to overnight a part in would mean we would be late for our Tucson conference.. We had been to every parts store and machinist in Carlsbad and there were no local options. Without God clearly intervening, we were stuck.

I have to admit, in my flesh I really prefer to be “in control” and have no problems. However, if difficulties mean my children (and their father) grow to a deeper level of trust in the mighty hand of the Lord God, then that is my desire.

So after all options were exhausted, God began to work. He opened doors to make a fabricated part to get us going and then provided a new factory part in El Paso. I was clearly out of my comfort zone driving Uriah in downtown El Paso rush hour traffic as we tried to find the coach lines that was going to sell us a new part. We even had the opportunity to meet new friends and share Christ’s love with them.

Serving a risen Lord sure beats a stale, dead religion any day even though it will mean we are out of our comfort zone.

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

In Christ Jesus, Steve for everyone

Beautiful mountains.

Downtown El Paso.

Joseph, with a bus mechanic, where we were able to locate the part we needed in El Paso.

Sunset in El Paso.

Safely Here in Tucson!

This was posted on January 11, 2008 by Sarah Maxwell.

Just a quick note to say that we arrived safely here in Tucson this evening. We’ll write later about our “adventure” in downtown El Paso tonight…

We’re excited about the conference this weekend.

Serving Jesus,
Sarah

On Our Way Again!

This was posted on January 10, 2008 by Sarah Maxwell.

After several hours of working, a mechanic took the bearings Dad had purchased locally, to a machinist who machined a part, to make the bearings work. Then, he assembled it. We are very grateful for his help! We are bypassing touring Carlsbad Caverns, and we’re headed for El Paso. A bus place there has the part, and we will see if we can get it from them yet tonight. We’re so grateful that Uriah is back on the road.

Serving Jesus,
Sarah

The mechanic who kindly helped us and Dad.

Uriah’s belts are working again!! Praise the Lord.

New Mexico Disappointment

This was posted on January 10, 2008 by Sarah Maxwell.

We’re still in the city of Carlsbad, not visiting the Caverns like the original plan had been. As we were packing out of the hotel this morning, John discovered that a pully (which is used to cool the engine) had self-destructed. We were able to drive the bus to an auto parts store, and from there, we’ve gone to many different auto parts stores in Carlsbad, and no one seems to have the part we need. Dad, John, and Joseph are working to try to get a temporary fix. If that doesn’t work, we’ll stay here and wait for the new part to arrive tomorrow morning. Then, we’ll be on our way to Tucson for our weekend conference.

Please pray that we can get Uriah working very soon!

Sarah

Now in New Mexico

This was posted on January 9, 2008 by Sarah Maxwell.

We’re now in Carlsbad, New Mexico – a first for most of us, with the exception of Dad and Mom.

Last night’s conference in Waco was a blessing. We were delighted in seeing two families we have known through e-mail: one we’ve met before, and the other we hadn’t met in person. What a blessing to be able to see them.

Uriah continues to hang in there. We stopped at a truck repair place today, because Dad was concerned about some oil leaking from a wheel hub and wanted to check it out. A man was very helpful and even came out to look at it and give Dad a little informative lesson (tonight we saw we lost that hubcab – oops!). Mom is a pro at making lunch, and the bus makes it very easy to spread out a bit. We wrote postcards to our nursing home friends today; Mom even has a system for that.

We’re excited to be able to see Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow morning. We normally don’t have time to sight-see on these trips, but we are getting up early and will drive late to be able to see the Caverns. We’ll be sure to post pictures later.

Only for Jesus,
Sarah