Julie

We met Julie a week after she'd been parked next to us. During our first conversation, she told us about her recent divorce, her blown truck tire from a couple days before, and her stolen toolbox. She'd been through so much. We talked, told her we're right next door, and we're there for her if we can help at all....and then we walked away.

After taking two steps I felt the Spirit say, "Turn around. Give her your number." It was a definitely a palm to the forehead emoji moment for me. Why didn't I think of that? We exchanged numbers.

Over the next few days, we waved at each other a couple of times but that was the extent of our communication; until the next week. I received a call from her while I was at the clubhouse with the kids. Her voice was shaky. She was crying. I couldn't understand her.

Leaving the kids at the clubhouse, I jogged to her site where she was packing bags and hurling them into her truck. Her barely-adult daughter (who was three hours away) had a seizure and was being taken by ambulance to a hospital.

I asked her what we could do. She said she didn't know, but she was supposed to leave the campground tomorrow. No way was she even going to be back by tomorrow let alone leaving the campground.

There was a brief, addled discussion about what to do with her rig and her Jeep go-cart. She threw out amounts she would pay if someone could get the Jeep in the garage of her rig, then followed those with, "Burn it all, I don't care." (A sentiment that anyone who has had a child with a medical emergency understands.)

I asked her if I could take a minute and pray for her. She looked at me with red, tear-filled eyes and hesitantly said, "Sure." John removed the hitch from the bed of her truck and I threw snacks and water in the cab while she finished getting together the things she needed.

Over the next 36 hours, we went to the park's office to explain the situation and ask for more time for her. They were so gracious (this particular park is packed in the winter). John and I learned how to prepare a rig (with which we were unfamiliar) to travel including how to operate the garage of a toy-hauler. That was a huge learning curve for this travel-trailer towing family. We figured out how to operate her go-cart thing (think, tiny squirrely parade vehicle) and get it in her rig. Drained the tanks. Packed up the hoses, mats, and other outdoor stuff. And helped the person she sent to haul her rig get it hooked up.

Julie is still in Dallas with her daughter who has been transferred to another hospital for surgery. Please be praying for her and her daughter.

I hesitated to write about this for fear that it might seem like anything that we were allowed to do for Julie was done in our own strength or interest. It wasn't. It was only God from beginning to end.

After encounters like these, I can't help but look back at all of the ways the Lord surrounded every detail. Here are just a few of the ways that I could see:
- There are about 380 sites and well over 100 acres of campground. Julie was right outside our front door.
- We were at the campground when she called.
- I had just gone grocery shopping so I had food to pack for her.
- John is gifted in figuring out how things work and not afraid to handle someone else's black tank.

Those are just a few of the things that come immediately to my mind. I know there's so much more.

It's impossible to do these kinds of things, let alone write about them, without thinking of you--our encouragers and supporters. I could hear your warm words as we worked in the cold rain. I could see your faces. And feel your hugs. You were there with us; the body of Christ. Thank you for the innumerable ways you love our family.