offline...

I will be offline until further notice. I'm not sure I will be able to check emails or post comments. I will not be blogging.

day 10

Still at Caryl's. Will post more later.

Day 9 - Lafayette - Caryl

I dreamed dreams all night about gas stations and Johnny and every time I woke up I knew I needed to leave right away. When I woke up in the morning, my first thought was about my friend Caryl.

Last year, When I first started this trip, I was staying at my aunt's house while my aunt was away and my cousin is a meth addict and a very mean meth demon is at work in her. It was my first real confrontation with the spiritual battle. I felt very alone and inadequate. I prayed to the Lord that I could find a strong Christian who I could talk to about things. That day I was reading the paper and there was an ad for "Overcomers Outreach." Since the concept of being an Overcomer was such an ingrained part of this trip I called the number on the ad. That was how I met my friend Caryl.

So I called Caryl this morning and she was free for lunch and we agreed to meet. I said my good-byes to my mom and went out on the road once again.

Caryl and I spent time catching up on things and so much of the things we talked about were confirmations of things we were hearing about online. Like I told her that I had seen a blimp at the park the same day I heard about the Hindenburg Omen She told me that she just learned that it is approximately 40 days AFTER the Hindenburg Omen that there would be a huge stock market crash. There has been 3 Hindenburg Omens so far in August the last one being August 20, 2010. That would put the stock market crash some time end of September, beginning of October. How's that for an October surprise!

We had lunch at the American Cafe:
As we talked about how America's days are numbered and that we are literally at the edge of very very dark days.

I am staying at her house tonight. A safe house. It will be a nice evening of fellowship. Please pray for me to have clear instructions on where to go next.

Thank you Dear Heavenly Father for how you always meet our needs, even in the little things. In Jesus name. Amen.

Day 8 - At the folk's - Mom and Dad

My parents were very happy to come home and find me here. My dad said, "Maybe the Lord has brought you here to stay." He was not very happy to hear about my travels this week. He reads this blog. They ordered pizza last night and we sat around the dinner table. My mom was telling me about the family reunion.

"Your uncle Russ is VERY worried about you." she said.

"Oh yeah?" I answered.

"Yes! They travel by RV all the time and you heard about that old couple didn't you?" she said again.

"What old couple?" I asked.

"The old couple that was MURDERED in the RV park? It is very dangerous out there on the road."

I sighed.

There is a group of people out there, including my parents that think I have some kind of choice in what I am doing and where I am going these days. When my one sister found out that I was going back on the road she was mad. "Where are you going?" she growled. "I don't know" I answered. She said, "What do you mean you don't know!"

Do you think I LIKE to drive around in over 100 degree weather in my un-air conditioned van watching my gas gauge go down, having no money and not knowing where I will be sleeping at night. Hello?! I dont even like to camp! Trying to explain to people who HATE GOD why I will leave the safe cushy places of this world and go to the scary hot places because that is where the Lord has directed me to go. The Lord is teaching me how to listen to His voice, how to tell between the spirit and the soul.

Do you want to know what is scarier than being in the lion's den with no money and as far away from safety as you can be and still be in the state of Oregon?

Being outside of the will of my Heavenly Father.

He chose for me to be in Brothers and Ontario with no gas. I went there in utter vulnerability and trust that He would protect me because I was obeying Him. And I'd do it again. The only choice I have in the matter is - I could choose to disobey. I could stay here in my parents air-conditioned house with perfect internet access. I could get my job back at Worst Western or even better, just stay here and quilt to my hearts desire. Or I could look for a better job, I have 15 years of accounting experience and quite the nice resume. I could get an apartment, hook back up with my ex-boyfriend (he's a Christian too) watch some tv, go to church on Sunday - and stop annoying everyone with my constant exploits.

No.

I'd rather be all alone in the badlands wilderness and be in the Will of my Heavenly Father more than all the air-conditioned comforts and riches of this world. If my obeying Yahweh's directions to get in my van and drive bothers you, don't read this blog. Because I can bet that very very soon, He will tell me where to go next and I will be on to the next grand adventure to go where He tells me to go and to stay where he tells me to stay.

Dear Heavenly Father - yeah thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. I love you and I will go where you want and stay where you want and obey in everything and if I die, I die. I love you so much and I NEVER NEVER want to be outside of YOUR WILL. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Day 4 - Tearing down the house - Randy

So the Lord has basically told me to follow Johnny around. We talked till 12:30am last night about the Word and stuff. This morning was quiet. Not much going on, not any direction on what to do. I took a nap until the van got too hot. So around 12:30pm, I ran into Johnny again because he had some errands to run. I'm pretty much limited to the park and the library since my gas gauge has yet to be above E, so It's not that hard to locate me.

Johnny said that he talked to another local pastor who told him about some work. Johnny asked me to drop him off, if I had enough gas. I drove him up to the place, and Johnny said, "get out with me and we'll talk to the guy." So I got out with him.

The man's name was Randy. He and his wife Linda bought a fixer-upper house and needed some help for the day. Johnny introduced me and I told my story about being stranded with $42 in Canadian money and Randy pulled out his wallet and said, "well then here is a $10 advance." So we were employed.

And work we did. We ripped up flooring and edging and paneling. We worked very hard (I would just like to interject a side note here. Today is Thursday. My hand is able to work today after it's 4 days of sabbath rest.) We did a pretty good job. But that flooring is bonded to the hardword floor underneath at the molecular level. So it took alot of work for very little to show for it. But Randy asked us to come back tomorrow to start at 9am.

So then Johnny gave me the $10. I put $8 in the tank and bought two bags of ice. The pastor of the little church let me take a shower at their house and will let me park the van there too. So once again the Lord has come through with the vital necessities. And when I put the $8 worth of gas in the tank, it came up to a hair above Empty. Thank you Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for a great friend in Johnny, for an amazing adventure and for showing me so wonderfully that you are trustworthy and miraculous and AWESOME!~ Love you so much in Jesus name! AMEN.

P.S. Thank you so much for all the wonderful emails! I promise I will answer everyone but it may be tomorrow or the next day because I don't know when I can get online again.

Day 3 - Ontario - Part 2 - Johnny

Ok. So I am at the library again, cooling off. It is very very hot outside and there is hardly any shade in the town. Definately a edge of the desert, badlands sort of town to say the least.

So I counted my change a couple of times but never could get an exact amount. Too many pennies and too hot in the van. But I knew that I had over $5. So I went to the little gas station (I am very stratigically located, near the park, library, gas stations, pool and catholic church used clothes store, more on that later.)

I got $4 gas and a bag of ice for 99 cents. So the Lord has provided me with a hot shower, gas and ice all before 3pm, when at 10am it seemed all but impossible. Thank you so much Heavenly Father. My gas tank is still below E after putting the four dollars in. That shows me that now I dont have to try to walk everywhere in this stifling heat, but I'm also not leaving at this point. The Lord has more for me in this town. Maybe I will find out at church tonight.

O don't get your panties all in a twist! I'm just going to check it out and see what the Lord wants me to see. I'm not signing their membership card or anything!

So I was concerned about the dress. I went over to the little used clothing store that the Catholic church was putting on. Guess what? They were having a 25 cents sale. All clothes 25 cents. I had 57 cents left over after my gas and my ice. So I bought a nice blue shirt to go with my only long blue skirt and I found a nice light purple handkerchief out of my fabric stash to wear as a headcovering. I figure my everyday grunge cap won't due for church.

so Johnny just came into the library to find me and invite me again to come to his church tonight. Now it is established. I told him that I was planning on coming and that I would wear a dress. He said I didnt have to because I was a guest. I said I didnt mind wearing appropriate clothes for church. So now I feel like I already have two friends in this town. The Lord is so very amazing.

Thank you Lord for taking care of all of my needs, for introducing me to nice friends. Thank you also for Cassie who is on this journey with me as she prays for me. In the name of your son Jesus Christ. AMEN!

Day 3 - Ontario - Hejinio

So I was able to park behind the library and use their internet even though they were closed last night. I slept back there too. Thank God for my little battery operated fan. It is ridiculously hot out right now.

so all the money in the whole world that I have was $42 in Canadian dollars and one real silver half-dollar.

I wrote a list this morning of the things I needed. Gas. Ice. Hot Shower. Emphasis on the hot shower. p u. I drove up to the Bank of America and went in with my $42. Of course they don't exchange money at this bank and they called around but no-one exchanges money, AND there are no pawn shops either so selling the silver half-dollar was out.

So I went outside and stood by my van and cried. Both of the gas tanks are below E. I said, Ok Lord. I am truly at your mercy now. I will go back to the park and sit at a table until you tell me what to do. So I went back to the park and sat at a picnic table in the shade. There was a man sitting at the table a ways in front of me with his back to me. The Lord said, go talk to that man. I said, aww Lord, I thought you were going to open doors for me. Shouldn't he have to come to me? The Lord reminded me that he told Philip to join himself unto the Ethiopian that was reading Isaiah. The Lord said, go join yourself to him. I said, Ok. (There may have been some sarcasm involved.)

So I went and sat down next to him and introduced myself. He said his name was Hejinio, pronounce (E HIN E O). I asked him what his name meant and he said he didn't know, but it was his grandfather's name and he also named his son that. I tried googling it, but it didn't come up with anything. Strange, I thought google had the answer for everything. We got to talking and Hejinio said that he was on disability for his back and offered to buy me lunch at the burger joint near the park. I accepted. We went to the restaurant but he didn't have anything to eat, said he had just eaten a big ol donut, and told me to order whatever I wanted. So I ordered a burger and a diet coke. After eating snack foods and peanut butter on crackers for the last two days, this burger was heaven.

After that we walked back to the park. I stopped to use the restroom, and was thanking the Lord for the burger and seeking what I should do next. I thought to myself that maybe I would ask this guy if I could take a shower at his house. But I thought, no.

I walked back out to sit across from Hejinio and he said, "I live near here. Do you want to come over and take a shower or something? I have clean towels." I know it sounds bad, but I was very peaceful and knew it was from the Lord.

So we walked about 15 minutes to his house and I was able to take a very refreshing shower. And brushed my teeth. Then Hejinio gave me a huge handfull of change. I will put this money in the gas tank and buy ice. (Thank you Lord!)He apologized that he couldn't give me more. I thanked him and told him that he was very kind and generous to me already. I asked if I could pray for him. He said yes. So I thanked the Lord for introducing me to him and that the Lord would heal his back and cast out any spirits of infirmity that maybe attacking him in the name of Jesus Christ. Hejinio thanked me and we walked back to the park.

Hejinio's friend Johnny was waiting for us back at the park. He said he knew the Lord as well and offered to help me get a gas voucher. I followed Johnny for a while but the place he first took me didn't do gas vouchers but that city hall did. Johnny said are you going to go to City Hall? I said, I don't know that I will. I can go get on the government tit, but I'm not sure that is the will of the Lord. Johnny said, probably not.

I asked Johnny about the church he goes to. It is called Bible Missionary church and they are very strict about stuff. Especially clothes, the woman can't wear shorts but have to wear long dresses. So he sortof gave me hasty directions and then rode off on his bike. I was walking to the library by this time, because I'm trying only to drive for emergencies until I can get more gas. A few minutes later, Johnny rode back. "Church starts at 7:30pm tonight. He told me to come and tell you." I just smiled.

Where am I going to get a dress?