Valentines Day!

We had a baby sitter and we were headed out on our Valentines date.  George and I had a lot on our minds.  It was a good week and it was finally Friday.  We were ready for an evening out.  George had spent the day with his second group of 20 boys at the Boys Academy.  Each day he spends with them, he comes home exhausted but with a sparkle in his eye. 

I had spent the day running “valentines” errands for my kids at their school, giving them valentines hugs, checking in on the parties in their classes, and delivering the much wanted pizza.  George and I both had a day where we could walk away and know we were exactly where God wanted us… ministering to others in the way God had asked us to.

When we drove away from our house for dinner… I look at George and said “I get it… 18 months in and I get it.  I understand why people just pack up and go home!”  I looked off into the dark sky, my eyes watering and I repeated, “I get it!”  And then I said “It was a REALLY GOOD day!” and George agreed “It WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY”

A few hours earlier I had just gotten home with the kids from school and I received a phone call.  “This is 1st Bank… were you at a restaurant using your debit card in the last ½ hour….” “umm no… I was at school with my kids?!?”  As the conversation continued, he questioned me about other purchases.  I went to my purse to get my debit card… and it hit me…I could barley concentrate on his questions. “THEY’RE NOT HERE!”  My cards were gone.  “Everything else is here but my two debit cards are missing.”  I continued to answer his questions, realizing my cards had been stolen.  

As my day replayed in my mind I wondered when and how did this happen?  I quickly connected the dots and it all became very clear.

I had called George to let him know my tire was flat but this nice Guatemalan man had stopped to help me.  George asked “Are you ok with him helping you?”  “Yes… strangely I am OK with him.  I will call you if something changes.  David and Lindsey are on their way.”

My Spanish is poor.  I kept looking for David and Lindsey.  I was in front of a school and a guard peeked out a few times to look around.  People slowly drove around us.  There is not much of a curb to pull off the road. The man was working hard to get my tire changed.  I was already late with the pizza so I started to help him.  

I recall him looking over my shoulder in the guard’s direction.  I cranked the jack while he loosened the lug bolts and pulled the tire off.   I was thankful I knew what I was doing and I was thankful he was there to loosen the bolts. 

We went to the back of my car to get the spare off.  He took the tire off and again I was thankful for his strength.  His phone rang.  He said something to me.  I said “No entiendo.” (I don’t understand)  I called George so he could talk to him. This time I fully understood.  He needs to go get his daughter from school.  He’s late but will be back in 10 minutes to finish helping me.  I remember thinking…that’s not what he told me.  Then he was gone.

I lifted the spare on, spun the bolts on and lowered the tire so I could tighten them.  Another Guatemalan man showed up on his bike.  Again he used his strength to tighten the bolts.  I told him “thank you”.  David and Lindsey pulled up and they continued to talk to him.  I’m late so I left to deliver the pizza! 

After I saw all my kids, I drove to our mechanic and walked home (It’s just up the street).  I walked back at 2pm to get my car.  He showed me three slits in my tire.  Slits in my tire???

As I replayed it all in my mind, the men saw me alone getting pizza and slit my tire realizing it would go flat.  When I pulled my van over one man stopped to help with the tire while the other stayed in the car until I was distracted enough to steal the cards. He was never looking at the guard but instead at his buddy in my front seat grabbing my cards.  He didn’t receive a call because he was late to get his daughter.  He received a call saying the job was done.  He didn’t come back in 10 min. 

I was sad and frustrated and wondered why?  Then I saw God.  “George…. I am strangely ok!” 

People get shot when they resist…what if I would have said no thank you?  What if I would have resisted his “help”?  What if I was not “strangely ok”?  I thought he was looking at the Guard… had I looked to see what he was looking at and seen the man in my car…what then?  How would I have reacted?  And what would they have done?

I know of two Americans who have been shot and robbed in San Lucas, where we live, in the last year and a half.  It could have ended badly. 

Then I see God again.  I was talking to my mom earlier that morning?  She asked how I was.  I told her I was good except that two different, random women had reached out saying God had put me on their hearts and they were praying for me.  I told my mom that it stressed me out a little “because I am really doing well!”  So that’s my little plug… when God asks you to pray… pray!  And those of you who were praying… THANK YOU!

“The peace that passes ALL understanding” guarded my life.  God delivered and He loves me.  HE alone is my safety and I will trust HIM.  And YES…. For only a brief moment I wanted to pack up and go home!  I won’t of course.  We trust HIM alone. 

I have told many of you, “I’m not afraid here.”  “I know my blond hair and light skin are a target & I hate that.” “I’m thankful my husband and kids can blend in”  “I know it is not a matter of IF I will get robbed, but WHEN.”

Looking back on it, it was a good day.  Thank you GOD for loving us!

I love my life and I love this country.