In the summer of 1970 we were living in a missionary residence on the Assemblies of God campgrounds in Carlinville Illinois. Don was still recovering from his first brain surgery he had six months earlier. He had problems with mobility, balance and severe double vision. However, he insisted on driving. The first trip we took was a four mile drive to the quaint little town nearby. Marty and Mark were in the backseat, and I was nervous about the excursion. We did get safely to Carlinville, but we went off the road twice. I tried to be kind to this independent 30 year old so I appealed to his emotions. I told him we knew that he loved us very much and he would be sad if he had an accident that brought injury to his family. No fuss! I took over as the new chauffeur. Driving through the major cities of Illinois prepared me for my van driving days years later in Madrid, Spain a city of 3 million people. God always has a plan, and He knows how to work it.
In July of 1970 we were special missions speakers with Pastor Darwin and Ona Heuser at their Church in Waukegan, IL about an hour north of Chicago. After the service and a super meal with the Heuser family we left for Joliet, where we were to speak that evening with Pastor and Mrs. George Mandel at their Church. It was a very hot day in the 90’s and a few miles down the interstate, I-94 I noticed steam rolling out from under the hood. I pulled over to the side of the road with cars whizzing past, put the hood up to see steam flying everywhere and knew we were in trouble. I have two short prayers I have used all of my life. The first one is, “Jesus help me.” I stood by the car waiting, but nobody stopped to help us. Suddenly, I noticed that a vehicle had stopped in the other lane that was headed north and a young man got out and was crossing the wide median that separated the lanes carrying a 5 gallon pail and a small bag of tools. I was so happy to see help coming that I said my second favorite prayer. “Thank you Jesus.”
This dear young stranger taped the broken hose, filled the radiator, and told us to take the next exit and get to a garage as his fix at best was only temporary. Don got out of the car to thank him, and said, “What are the chances that you could help us in such a wonderful way?” He then told us the rest of the story. He had just left his wife and was going to live with his parents in Wisconsin. Since it was a hot day and he had an old car, he was prepared for whatever might happen.
I thought to myself, dear Lord you prepared him for us. Don likes to pray and bless people, so he said, “Let me pray about your situation and bless you”. After Don prayed the young man seemed very broken. He shook Don’s hand and said, “I’m going back to my wife.” I am sure the people in the cars whizzing past that afternoon did not understand the miracle of a short prayer in the name of Jesus and all that transpired in the heart of that young stranger. When we got into our car I said my second favorite prayer again, “Thank you Jesus.”
Being a Christian is a wonderful privilege! Our lives are filled with wonder! Remembering that day in 1970, I have to stop and thank our wonderful Lord who heals the brokenhearted and takes wonderful care of His children and provides for us when we trust Him fully. Remember, the One who judges us finally is the same One who loves us fully.
Thank you Lord for the kind young stranger on I-94.
BLESS HIM wherever he is!
Copyright:Bonnie Stuckless 2021
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