June 28th 2005

"Now for the rest of the story."

We are actually back in Oklahoma. We never would have taken the liberty to stay so long in Kentucky. Instead the Lord forced us to, and we enjoyed our time there.
God's hand was very evident during the whole month that we were there, and we are very grateful for all He has done and is continuing to do in our lives.

Happy Father's day Dad!

Here's a quick summary of what happened since our last update:
June 17th, We were supposed to go test drive the bus, and leave. Instead we recieved a call from the mechanic. He told Dad not to bother coming because he had started the engine and the radiator burst.

June 18th, We went to a graduation party for 3 of the Thompsons friends. Met some really nice families.

June 19th, For Father's day we visited the White family, and had a Bible study and sang together. Then we drove to Cumberland falls and hiked up to Eagle falls. It was very beautiful.

Cumberland Falls

Chris with his Cannon

June 20th, We waited for the radiator

June 21st, We waited for the radiator

June 22nd, Dad and the boys helped the Thompsons finish the vinyl siding on their house. And we still waited...

June 23rd, We waited for the radiator and we went to a tiny little town full of antique shops. Then we went to the Myers house for dinner. We can't see the Myers without somebody having an arm restling match...

She won!

The Myers Swing...

Annie in the Papa Chair. Glendale, KY

June 24th, Dad went to test drive the bus... The engine shut down after 1/4 of a mile. There were problems, problems and more problems. Dad and Justin spent the whole day working with the mechanic, and finally got it into drivable condition that night. We brought the bus home to the Thompson's house.

June 25th, Mom's birthday!!! Dad hired Lincoln, and they worked on the bus all day, fixing some other problems. The mechanic did a good job, he was trying to keep the cost down for us. In the evening the Myers came and there were 8 guys working on the bus at the same time. It was spectacular! Lincoln was totally black! (There was a debate about whether he got sooooo dirty on purpose or not. He said he didn't do it on purpose though.)

Looks like a hard worker.

After the Myers left we packed up the bus, and finally pulled away from the Thompson's house, just hours short of being there for 1 month! It was midnight. We drove about 1-1/2 hours down the road before we had to stop for the night because there was an electrical problem.

June 26, Dad called Mr. Myers and the mechanic early Sunday morning and we ended up limping back to the Myers house. We really enjoyed their air conditioned house, and later their company, (When they got back from church.)

Once again we had 8 guys working on the bus. They did a great job too!

June 27th, The mechanic came and resolved the electrical problem. After spending the night with the Myers, who treated us royally, we said goodbye for the 86th time. =D We left Kentucky at 2:30pm central time and drove straight through.

June 28th, We pulled up at 3am. What a trip it has been!

I came across this verse yesterday, not even looking for it. How fitting!

1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

June 7th 2005

We've been enjoying the beauty of Kentucky. Lots of trees and green.

As you all know, we went to 2 different weddings May 28, one in L.A. and one in KY.

Shortly after the family left the Thompson's house on their way back to Oklahoma, they were driving along, talking about a smokey smell and telling each other that it came from the truck in front of them.

Tiffany wandered into the back of the bus to use the sink and saw a wisp of smoke come through the back wall. She yelled a warning and Dad instantly pulled off the road. The bus was unloaded in record time!

Dad and Chris were at the back of the bus with the fire extinguisher, but not before 2 others who had been watching the smoke pouring out of the back while we were still driving.

A lady across the street, who was having a yard sale, said she saw flames and she went running after us hoping we would stop.911 had already been called by 2 different witnesses before we even knew there was a fire!

The kind lady across the street offered her yard and her house for our family. She even provided lunch for us while we waited for the Thompsons, and Mr. Myers. (The Myers have been a tremendous blessing to our family, we just met them at the wedding.)

The 3 who went to L.A. flew to OK. on Tuesday and were well taken care of by the Pastor and his wife there. They even delivered donuts for breakfast the next morning.

On Wednesday Dad told the threesome to go ahead and head for KY and they arrived on Thursday morning.

After much debate we finally have come to a conclusion of what we wanted to do with the bus, and it should be finished soon.

In the meantime we've been enjoying the Thompsons company, and working with them on Benji's house. (Benji is their oldest son, and he's been building his own house on their property.)

On Sunday we went to the Myers' home church. We had a very special day with them and the other families who were there. We ended up staying all day. And are possibly going to join them next Sunday before heading back to OK.

God is so good, He's been with us every step of our journeys. On Sunday we were encouraged to rejoice and give thanks in everything. Our God is definitely worthy of all our praise!

Fire Damage

Willie in a Cessna 172

Country Mechanic

A view from the diesel shop

What we saw instead of the wedding

"Saviour like a shepherd lead us"


BREAKING NEWS!!!
The bus engine started today!!! Then it promptly blew a hydraulic hose...the mechanic says that Friday afternoon will be the soonest he could be done. With many delays caused by rain, indecision and other difficulties, we have been "stranded" in Kentucky for 20 days. The time is drawing near for us to withdraw our feet and get back to work. "Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee." Prov 25:17 The Thompson's have been very gracious, even going so far as to elude to the fact that it was their fault that the bus caught firebecause they prayed we would stay longer!!! And now, pretending that they enjoy our company to the extent of looking forward to Christmas Caroling with us! Despite the kind considerations of the Thompson family, God seems to be calling us back to the work He has for us in Oklahoma.

Over and over again during these last couple of weeks, the Lord has been showing us why He has been delaying us.

We were blessed by the introduction to several wonderful families:
The Myers family lives about 45 min. from the Thompson's. When the bus caught fire they were summoned for advice concerning local mechanics. Mr. Myers not only had advice, he came to the scene of the fire, secured a tow truck and lent dad a car!

We were the recipients of some very generous hospitality given by two of those families and of course, the Thompson's, with whom we are staying:
On Sunday we were invited to a local "home church", hosted at the Overholt's home, there we received an excellent lesson in Christian hospitality. Then, we were welcomed to the same fellowship last Sunday, this time hosted at the Myers home. We were overwhelmed again by gracious hospitality and another excellent demonstration of brotherly love "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35

We were able to assist a young man in his construction company:
Jonathan Myers (24) owns a contracting business. Due to a basketball injury Jonathan was falling behind on his work. Dad, Chris, Justin, Willie and Jack, really enjoyed helping him and his father and brother, on a couple of his projects.

We were able to help Benji wire his house:
Benji had been building his own house on his father's land. When we arrived he was just getting ready to start the electrical portion of his project. We had a lot of fun working as a team to prepare for drywall.

We were able to investigate a local property that some friends in CA are buying:
This is the most amazing of them all. On Monday the 13th, 18 days after we arrived here in Kentucky. We got call from some friends that go to our church. "Are you still in Kentucky?" "You're not going to believe this but, we just bought a house and some land in Kentucky, is it near where you are?" After some discussion we discovered that the Thompson's not only knew where the property was, they knew the family that was selling it!!! Coincidence? I don't think so. God placed us here, if for no other reason, to go and investigate this land for our friends.

Now you and I both know why we are STILL here. These last 20 days would have been agonizing if it were not for all of these awesome opportunities to see God's hand, and to take part in His perfect plan!

Group Shot

Abraham Lincoln's cabin (inside the memorial)

Merrie and Heidi

Mandy and Annie in front of Benji's house

June 1st 2005

Wow! What a trip!! What a couple of trips!!!

The bus left for Kentucky at 3:00 am Thursday. They had 2 major setbacks but made it to the Thompson's house in God's perfect timing.Despite Mom and Tiffany's sufferings from terrible allergies, they've been enjoying their time there.

The Kentucky Thompson wedding was very nice!

On Monday they set out to return to OKC, (So they could pick us up at the airport on Tuesday). They didn't get very far before a fire broke out in the engine compartment. It took 3 fire extinguishers to quench the flames.

Thankfully we have a roadside service that gives us free towing!

Today the bus is in the shop of a mechanic who really seems to know what he's doing. Since the repairing of the bus may take a few days the 3 of us are heading out to join our family.

It's so strange being split up like this, we don't like it... We've all decided that bus problems are fine when we are all there to deal with it, and to keep eachother company.

After talking with everyone at home we realized that we need to set something straight. It's not that we HATE Oklahoma, we just prefer good ol' southern California, if for no other reason, it's because that's where most of our friends and family live.

Our whirlwind trip to California was very refreshing in a way.

We spent a lovely day, on Monday, with Grandpa and Grandma, Great Grandma O'malley,(What a treat it was to see her again!), Uncle Rick, Uncle Mike, Kimberly and Michael.We hear the wedding was nice, though Mandy was the only one who sat through the ceremony, Justin and Annie had to go help make the salad for 800+ people! (Only reason Mandy stayed was because she was too sick to get up.)

We also enjoyed a special time of fellowship with the Callis family and all the others who were at BBQ night.

And last but not least it was great to visit our church of 15 years... We miss it soo much.

So now you know the next part of our story. We would love to hear about yours!

Ben and Jennifer Torkelson, Congratulations!!!