I think four wheel drive is a real touchy thing on a thirteen year old Mitsubishi pick up truck, that does extreme off-road driving with heavy loads.
I know the angels of heaven are doing so many things for us here to keep us alive and functioning. Our truck is beginning to be a major problem for us right now. Thursday the Pastor, BletJaw and I headed out to Meta to make a “quick” one day trip for re-bar and cement. We are building a wall to hold the bank up in front of our house before the rainy season starts. On the very steepest part of our trip the truck went “BANG!” It was very loud and also jerked. It is a tense moment because you don’t want anything to go wrong on those straight up and straight down mountain passes because it is a life or death situation. It is something we pray about every time we travel these roads. The pastor was so nervous that he climbed into the back of the pick-up so that if we didn’t make it he could jump out!
We did make it out, but the 4 wheel drive had broken completely. The back wheels slipped and spun and skidded all the way up the steeps, but I know angels excelling in strength had pushed us up the bad places and held us back going down the other side without 4X4.
We decided the Pastor and BletJaw would stay at MaeLaCamp while I took the truck to MaeSot for repairs. It took until the next day to fix it. The mechanic told me that it is perfect now, the rattles were all stopped and the 4 wheel drive is great!
We purchased a heavy load of re-bar and cement and happily headed back up the mountain on the steep inclines, because now the 4 wheel drive is working! Alas, just as we got to the first dreadfully steep place we heard “BANG – BANG.” Should we proceed? We really had no alternative because there is nowhere to turn around on this narrow strip of road. It is much too steep to attempt a turn-around, plus another truck was coming up behind us. With prayers ascending to our Saviour, BletJaw courageously guided the truck through the hair-pin right hand turn which is almost vertical! Many “BANGS” later we reached the top! The road still went uphill, but we found a small area to stop, catch our breath, collect our thoughts, let the truck rest, and thank the dear Saviour for safety thus far. Though this is the steepest part, the road is nasty all the way to BYT. Even though it is banging, at least the truck still has 4 wheel drive. We need it desperately.
Now the last section of this trip is a shortcut from the pagoda to BYT. This is a home-made road, dug out quite recently by the villagers and is extremely rough. It saves us 2 hours of driving! However, it has many very steep winding down-hills, along with tight turns next to drop off cliffs. We had another problem at this point. It had begun to rain! Yes, rain! Sometimes in April there is a little rain, and it chose to rain right now. Inwardly we all groaned and became silent. This shortcut would be treacherous and impossible with a lot of rain, but this was not too much yet, so down we went. Before even reaching the worst places, the truck began to slide. The pastor decided he did not want to be in this scary truck anymore, so he got out and walked. We picked him up on the level parts and he would get out on all the steep places. I really don’t blame him because it is an ordeal. BletJaw just prayed and kept the truck somewhat on the road. By another precious miracle of the Lord we made it all the way home! I am still remembering to thank God for all His loving care.
“Often the Christian life is beset by dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin. . . Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, “Go forward.”
“The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. . . The dealings of Providence bring to the unbelieving, darkness and despair, while to the trusting soul they are full of light and peace. The path where God leads the way may lie through the desert or sea, but it is a safe path!” PP 290