Driver's Education 101

Katie with her Driver's Ed teacher

Last week we got an email from our co-worker, John, asking if we could be of assistance with Gail and his teenager daughters as they were flying back to the USA for Gail to help their recent High School graduate get set up and start her college experience.

You have two options to read the following

A Reader's Digest Version 

 Short and to the point

or

B Encyclopedia version

  with details on how God provided

Car #1

Version A

Friday - Glenn picked up the per-purchased used vehicle (Car #1), and Sunday delivered it to DFW for Gail to drive to Tulsa

Wednesday - Three days later, Glenn picked up Car #2, making sure it wasn't drinking oil like Car #1

Thursday - We left for our Stewart family reunion 1 day early to deliver Car#2 to Tulsa and Glenn started giving Katie some valuable Driving Lessons

Version B

When we picked Car #1, we drove it to DFW so Gail could drive it on up to Tulsa.  During the evening drive to Tulsa, Gail called us and said that Car #1 was drinking lots of oil.  That was not a good sign.  Fortunately, Glenn had purchased some extra oil and had put that in the trunk.  He hadn't had Car #1 long enough to know that it was drinking so much oil but had a suspicion about it.  Our hearts sank as we realize that Gail was driving through the night after having spent much of the day at DFW airport to see her youngest daughter head on up to Maryland to visit family.  Gail was tired.  Exhausted.  And now she had to stop very often to pour oil into a thirsty engine. 

We prayed that God would protect her.  And He did.

The seller of Car #1 was disappointed to hear the bad news but agreed to swap it out with Car #2.  This time, Glenn was able to check it over, do some maintenance on it and make sure that it was not using oil and such.  We left a day earlier than expected for our family reunion in Kansas, but since Tulsa was on our way to our Stewart family reunion, we drove 2 vehicles up there; our vehicle and also delivered Car #2.  We headed straight to the tax and title office so Katie could get correct Oklahoma state license plates.  Then Glenn offered to give Katie some much needed driver's education.  We all piled into Car #2 giving Katie some experience.  Katie needed to go to the AT&T store to get her phone working correctly, then off to the Toyota dealership to have an extra copy of her car key made.  Glenn suggested a near-by Auto Zone store for some other stuff for Car #2.  

All the while, Katie was learning how to drive in the USA.  Remember, Katie has spent the past 8 years living in Guatemala, where the driving rules(?) are quite different than in the US.  Glenn reminded her that pedestrians have the right of way here and that she must come to a complete stop, etc.

All this to say, I'm thankful for several things.  How the Lord allowed us to use our gifts of helps in connecting with the Conners and helping them with their Car #1 and Car #2.  I'm thankful that Glenn was able to give Katie some much needed tips in driving here in the states.  I'm thankful that we were able to be helpful.  We were able to be a help here in the states for a missionary family as they adjust to challenges and difficulties while getting their children set up for college and stuff.

Car #2