God at work — when you might least expect it, yet when you need it most. That is how it was for us not long ago.
God At Work
We received news that my Dad was near death. He had been fighting Parkinson’s disease for more than eight years. The disease had taken its toll. He was now so weak he could not open his eyes. He lay almost motionless in bed, the faint rhythm of his breathing barely recognizable.
Knowing this, Ken and I quickly hooked up the RV for the long, arduous drive home. Ahead of us were the narrow, winding mountain roads of Oregon and California, followed by the wide-open stretches of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Pulling a camper nearly two thousand miles would take at least a week.
With every mile came difficult decisions. Should I fly home and leave Ken alone to pull the camper? Daily reports revealed Dad was becoming weaker. We increased our driving time each day and prayed we were making the right decision.
Even then, we could see God at work throughout the trip. After all, we arrived safely each day. And one unexpected stop at a rest area revealed our trailer tire was throwing tread. Only the hand of God could explain why we stopped there at that exact moment, before the tire came apart on the highway. We had a safe place to pull over and change it. God was at work.
Upon reaching New Mexico, we decided to drive through the state so I could catch a plane in El Paso while Ken finished the drive alone. Timing would be critical, but we were still on schedule.
God at Work in Deming, New Mexico
Then suddenly, our carefully maintained truck began to rattle, shake, and sputter. White smoke poured from the exhaust. We found ourselves stranded on the side of the road in Deming, New Mexico.
Now what?
It was Saturday evening in a small town where help seemed unlikely. Yet even there, God began to work — quietly, almost unrecognizably at first.
We found a campground just a mile down the road off the highway. Amazingly, it was a campground where we already had membership, and they had plenty of space available. Somehow the truck slowly hobbled and jerked its way there. We had a safe place to stay while we figured out the next step. God was at work.
We checked online for rental cars in town, but that seemed doubtful. Apparently, demand was high and very few cars were available.
Then we noticed there was a small airport beside the campground.
Small airports sometimes have courtesy cars for pilots. Maybe they could help us with a car — or perhaps even a pilot willing to take me to El Paso.
God at work: The Man at the Airport
The next morning, we made our way to the airport, praying God would work a miracle.
At first, the place appeared completely deserted. Gates were locked. Buildings were closed. Not a single car sat in the parking lot.
Then, just as we were about to leave, a car drove up to a gate. A man punched in a code and drove through.
Afraid the gate would close before I could get his attention, I began running toward him, waving my arms and yelling, “Mister! Mister! Help! I need your help! My Dad is dying, and I need to get to El Paso to catch a plane!”
The kind man turned toward me with a huge white smile and listened to my story. With a twinkle in his eye, he said, “Well, I have one car, but it has an oil leak. Do you care if it leaks oil?”
“Will it make it to El Paso and back?” I asked.
“Yep,” he replied.
By then, Ken had caught up with me.
“Ken, do you care if the car leaks oil? It can make it to El Paso and back.”
A few minutes later, the kind manager handed us the keys and said, “I almost rented this car yesterday, but something told me not to. Bring it back full of gas, and we’ll call it even.”
He also recommended a local mechanic — Zumwalt’s Garage — the only mechanic in town who specialized in Chevy diesels. We immediately recognized the miracle. God was at work.
I caught the plane in El Paso and made it home two days before Dad passed away.
But God never does things halfway.
God Provides Again
David, the mechanic, had just returned from medical leave the very morning Ken arrived at the shop. Although already backed up with work, he spent the day carefully inspecting our truck. The first diagnosis was a failed injector. Unfortunately, it would take a week for the part to arrive from Las Cruces.
Trying to save time, Ken returned to the little airport, praying for another miracle. There he found a man working inside one of the hangars.
“Hey, I’m looking for the airport manager. Have you seen him?” Ken asked.
“I’m the airport manager,” the man replied.
Ken was confused. This was not the kind man we had met the day before.
“Well, I got a car from here yesterday to get to El Paso, and I need one again today,” Ken explained.
“We don’t loan cars,” the man said. “And when we rent them, they can’t leave town. Are you a pilot?”
Ken quickly shared our story and explained why he needed to get to Las Cruces.
The man pointed toward a car and said, “See that one over there? Take it and bring it back full of gas.”
No paperwork. No questions.
Was He An Angel?
Ken gratefully climbed into the car and drove the sixty miles to Las Cruces. Once again, God provided.
To this day, we still do not know who the kind man from Sunday morning was. Was he an angel? Who was the real airport manager?
What we do know is this: normally, it is difficult to rent a car in Deming on short notice. Yet every door we needed opened at exactly the right moment. God was clearly making a way for us.
After returning with the injector, David resumed work on the truck. This time, however, the diagnosis was more discouraging: we needed an entirely new engine. Repairs would take two months.
Then came the next challenge — where to store the camper.
God’s Continued Provision
David told Ken, “There’s one storage place in town. Go see Trudy at Diamond Storage.”
Amazingly, Trudy, who was very kind, had exactly one spot available — precisely what we needed. Again, it was obvious God was at work.
Our son, Justin, drove twelve hours to help Ken and get him home in time for the funeral.
What are the Chances?
Now, just three weeks later instead of two months, we are back in Deming, New Mexico, where this story began. We are staying at the same RV park with both the truck and camper, planning our next adventure.
Along the way, we have been deeply touched by the kindness of people in this small town. More importantly, we have witnessed the greatness of God as He provided for us over and over again in remarkable ways.
Our youth director, Walker Moore, used to say, “What are the chances this could have happened?”
The answer: “One hundred percent when God is involved.”
God is still at work.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
— Ephesians 3:20 (NASB1995)
Everywhere I go, I enjoy camping with Jesus — on the road and in life.
Enjoy your journey, and feel free to reach out.