We took the new transmission, got on the night bus, rode 12 uncomfortable hours to the East, arriving in the morning tired and disheveled. We got a taxi and arrived at the mechanic’s place just as he was opening. There we were given two disturbing pieces of news.

First, after not hearing from us for a week, he thought we didn’t want the car anymore so had begun to sell parts off of it! Second, after looking at the new transmission, he asked, “Where’s the old one?” Well, I’d left it in at home.

 “Ah,” he said, “that’s too bad because I need several parts from it for the new one to work. You won’t find them here. You’ll have to go back to your city and get the old transmission.”

Trying to apply what God had been teaching us, we thanked the Lord for this unexpected happening, and asked Him for direction. The mechanic’s widow neighbor, who had befriended us on our first visit, came over and invited Barbara, our German friend, Renate, and the boys to stay with her while I went back to the capital.

 This gave Barbara and Renate a wonderful chance to see more culture and make lots of new friends. Being the only foreigners that many there had ever seen, they were quite the attraction! The Lord had His reasons for our difficulties, and I would see another one on my trip to and from the capital.

Prayer: “When things all seem to go wrong, when I can see no solution, help me to praise you for what you are going to do in it all, Lord, giving you honor before men and angels. Amen.”