Over the last couple weeks nearly 10 people have given us sizeable financial gifts. God knew we would need it soon. He’s so good that way!
Debbie and I made a ministry trip to the cold ‘Nordt Country’ Thursday Feb 1 through Wednesday Feb 7. Our 2001 Accord still looked good, but it had 320,000 miles on it. I thought it would serve us well on this trip. Even so, as we drove out of our driveway, I said, “This will probably be the last trip with this car.” I didn’t know how true that would be. Without previous coolant problems, I had to unexpectedly add anti-freeze twice before we arrived in Richland Center, WI. In addition, we realized gasoline was leaking from under the car.
Early the next day our friend Johnny, repaired the rusted gas line leak. It seemed that the engine may have blown a head gasket. And as we had it up on the hoist, the water pump sprang a significant leak. We added ‘stop leak’ to the radiator and replaced radiator cap. That stopped the loss of water… and we found that the water pump only leaked when the engine was cold. So we continued our trip, but had to add water before starting the car each time. 😦
We spent Saturday and Sunday with our good friends at Mel Wild’s Cornerstone Church in Prairie du Chien, WI – three great meetings with lots of help from Heaven. 
On Craigslist we found a suitable car in Sioux Falls, SD at the right price, but I couldn’t reach the owner via text, phone or email… and we wouldn’t have time to see it for two more days.
Sunday afternoon we continued to Rochester, MN to join a favorite event: a two-day Global Legacy Leaders Advance at Rod Marquette’s Destiny Church. As usual, it was a Holy Spirit anointed time.
Tuesday noon we decided to head for home early, just to accommodate any problems we might have with the car. From Rochester, MN I had about 1 ½ hours of driving before we had to make a decision to turn south on I-35 to go home… or continue west on I-90 to Sioux Falls to look at the car. Several things had to happen for us to continue to Sioux Falls. 1) The owner of the car had to answer the phone. And he did. I ask questions and was satisfied with car. 2) Now we had to have cash. We had money in the bank, but not in hand. 3) A good friend in Sioux Falls had to be home. We called… and he was home. 4) Would he have the cash to temporarily give us in exchange for a check from us. He did. He wouldn’t normally have that much money, but a medical bill hadn’t been paid yet, so it was available. 5) The car test drive had to yield good results. It did. 6) We bought the car… but now we had two cars in Sioux Falls? So we donated our old Accord to a local young man who I’ve mentored for the last 5 years. We gave him permission to keep it and fix it… or sell it and keep the money. He was happy to receive it.
Each of those things were ‘make or break’ issues… but we didn’t ‘forced’ any of them to make them happen. If any one of these issues had not happened we would have gladly accepted that divine guidance, without forcing the issue. I really love being led by our Lord! His ways don’t require (or allow) sweat!! This is very much in keeping with our two-word life motto: Follow Life. (click to read more)
Interesting side note: That next morning our Sioux Falls host planned to participate in an early morn prayer session at the local House of Prayer. He was to leave the house at 5:10 AM. I told him that if I woke up at 4:30AM I would go with him. I did. We got to the prayer meeting and I thought I would just enjoy the atmosphere… but they discovered that their worship leader was sick that morning and wouldn’t be coming. Hmmmm. Somebody just happened to have left an acoustic guitar there… and so they asked if I would lead worship for their team. I did. God had a great plan for all of us! 🙂
Deb and I acquired a car and retired a car in Sioux Falls. Then, ‘happy as a lark’, we drove to KC in our new vehicle – a 2015 Accord with only 17K miles. Nearly new!
Thank you so much, for your prayers, care and gifts… and THANKS to our over-the-top Lord!!!!
— MLH
Mark Hendrickson
Beyond the Map 