On the ROAD day 36 & 37 - ALMOST HOME

It's been a GREAT ADVENTURE
Last day of speaking

Bunkin with the BIG GUYS on the last night.

Flying J Truck Stop in Tallahassee, FL

Well, we're toolin down I-10 just outside of Tallahassee, FL on day 37..........almost home. It has been an incredible trip with places we've seen and people we've met along the way. We not only survived the 37 days "inside the box".........we had a blessed time. We also learned much about what to do and not to do in the RV world (as you have seen in previous posts). The Mighty T has run flawlessly for over 7000 miles with no mechanical problems..........getting almost 20 miles per gallon........climbing hills like a power wagon.........UNTIL WE GOT INTO FLORIDA. I am thinking that it must be the tainted gasoline in this state (way too much ethanol). Where this thing was made in 1988 (way before ethanol) that it just doesn't like what we're having to feed it.....so it rebels. We're back down to about 15 MPG and a marked difference in power going up hills (it's a good thing Florida is mostly flat). Oh well.........

Darcie's last 3 meetings were such a blessing with large groups of people really wanting to understand and then desiring to get involved. We really see God doing something in these difficult days to prepare His people to "stand firm" in the power of the Holy Spirit......just like our persecuted family is doing on a daily basis.

Thank you all again for your "prayers along the way".........we experienced them in so many ways as we traveled. Thank you also for wanting to "journey" with us, I pray we were able to communicate enough information to stay connected and engaged. We hope to continue to update this blog with the new and additional things we are looking at being involved in....

Blessings.................Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD day 35 - An excercise in CONTRAST

Walmart Campgrounds - Hammond, LA
Miramar Beach Campground - Oh My!

From sea to shining sea....in 5 days!

As you can see by the "day count" that we have gotten off.........somewhere.........I guess when your "on the road" for 7000 miles you can do that........real easy. Anyway.....somewhere back around day 33 we stirred out of our slumber in the Kerrville, TX Walmart at about 6 AM.......got some "brown juice" to get the other half of my heart going........and hit the road again for another "power drive" to Hammond, LA.......to another Walmart Campground. This one was quite unique.......with so many lights in the RV parking area that you couldn't tell when the sun went down. We arrived with about an hour of day light left so after a great dinner - imitation crab meat scampi, salad & leftover asparagus - we watched a movie on our computer (that we got out of the $3.00 bin at Big Lots) and went to bed. Our alarm clock was a truck mounted parking lot cleaning vacuum at 4 AM that had to make sure they got every little piece of trash from around the Mighty Toyota........the Mighty Toyota is not very sound proof. Since we really couldn't go back to sound sleep after that we decided to get up and get moving around 5:30......so with another dose of "brown juice" we headed toward Florida.

We pulled into our next "campsite" a little after 12 noon.......wow......what a contrast. One of the couples from the church where Darcie is speaking this weekend owns this beautiful beachouse in Miramar Beach and is letting us stay for the two days we are here. The Mighty T just fit in the driveway and with electric & water hookups we could have stayed very comfortably...........but we chose the house.......go figure. We're just praying the Mighty T isn't insulted and chooses to rebel on the last 300 miles home on Monday. Maybe I should at least wash it to get some of the road grime off.......... after all.........this is a "gated community".......and the Mighty T needs to maintain some dignity in its "old age". You can see by the beach picture that the occupants of the Mighty T have all sorts of dignity..........my VOM "I'm a criminal" T-shirt was almost clean!

Darcie is speaking at a brunch today and 2 churches tomorrow. We hope to drive a little toward "home" tomorrow night after the meeting and spend the night in one of Florida's "world famous" rest areas........... so it's back into a radical CONTRAST again.

Blessings.........Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD day 31

535 miles of nothin but TEXAS!
Perky Darcie got first shift

Tim in a trance for the last shift

Nuff said.........that was pretty much the day. We are bunking down at Wal Mart in Kerrville for the night........then start all over again tomorrow for another 530 miles to Baton Rouge, LA. The Mighty T just keeps on perkin along........still getting almost 20 MPG consistently now.

More tomorrow.......

On the ROAD day 30

Staying with OLD friends in Phoenix the night of the 29th
Darcie and Marcia had not seen each other in over 20 years

Our dear aunt Daryl, 86 years young

The dessert FOX on the Old West Highway

Sundown on the Arizona / New Mexico Border

Days 28 & 29 were jammed with speaking, driving and very little sleeping. We left Elk Grove, CA at 8:30 PM and drove until midnight to get a little ways through the valley toward Los Angeles.......didn't make it very far and spent the night in a rest area that was anything but restful. We got up a 6:00 AM and started making our way to Phoenix where we spent the night with some dear friends (and family).........the Strows. We hadn't seen them in over 20 years since we lived in Flagstaff so it was a great time of remembrance of the "good ole times". We left out this morning at about 9:30 and drove a few miles to see Darcie's aunt Daryl for a few minutes before we headed for our one night stay in Las Crusas, NM. We took the scenic route out of Phoenix through exciting towns like, Globe, Miami, Superior, Pima, and a bunch more. It took us a little longer but it was well worth it.

When we got almost to Las Crusas we spotted 3 bright lights in the sky that looked like and airplane coming in for a landing........but there was no airstrip. They kinda hovered over the freeway about 500 feet in the air........then flew in back of us for about 20 miles.......turned around and came back........and then just disappeared. We thought we heard the "do do do do - do do do do" music until we saw the sign for the UAV testing center.........guess they were tracking the Mini Winnie......

Thanks for your prayers............got another long day tomorrow.

Blessings.............Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD day 27

Sundown on the Golden Gate
Sittin on a rock on the bay!

A precious little Spanish speaking church in San Pablo

Darcie & Zaida

This has been a wonderful day with sleeping in (a little), a nice casual breakfast, a nice hot shower in the Minnie Winnie and a casual drive down to the San Francisco Bay. Before we got there we whipped a nice lunch while we washed clothes at a local Laundromat. We spent the afternoon overlooking the Bay bridge and Alcatraz and then drove the few miles to the little Spanish church for the evening meeting.

I am updating the BLOG while Darcie is speaking tonight as we have to drive 75 miles after the service to our camping spot in the church parking lot in Lodi.........where Darcie speaks tomorrow morning. We then have to drive up to Sacramento area for the evening meeting and then down to about Bakersfield before spending the night.......so I am not sure if the BLOG will be updated for a few days.

Blessings..............T & D

On the ROAD day 26

Me and the Mighty T
We have to go back UP that stinkin hill!

Home Group in hills above Oakland

The Mighty T on the top overlooking Oakland

We are spending 2 nights in a campground.........on a hillside.........that overlooks the hill that we are sitting on tonight at this home meeting. The home meeting last night was back down that same hill on the other side.........so the Mighty T has been gettin a work out........probably going to need a new clutch once we return to Florida (pray that we make it back to Florida). The occupants of the Mighty T got their own work out today with a hike up and down the hills of the campground...........we're probably going to need a new clutch as well.

Tomorrow starts the whirl wind part of the trip. We drive to San Pablo for an evening meeting then over to Lodi to spend the night in a church's parking lot as Darcie speaks in 2 morning services Sunday morning. We then drive up to Elk Grove (by Sacramento) for an evening service........then drive a few hours towards Bakersfield to spend the night.......somewhere.......we're not sure yet! We then have to make it to Glendale, AZ by Monday afternoon.........whew..........

Pray for us.

Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD days 24 & 25

Sunrise in the Los Padres National Forrest
We get in for 50% off........yippee!

Slap on the feed bag before the "Big Chill"

Around the good ole campfire before the "Big Chill"

Well, our 2 days off.........way out in the woods.........no phone.......no electricity.......no running water..........and plenty of "Big Chill". We had a home meeting in Salinas on Monday night after the "Big Rains" of Sunday so we stayed in the brother's driveway so we wouldn't have to drive up into the forest after dark. Tuesday morning we took our casual drive up the mountain and got settled into our campsite early enough to gather some firewood and rustle up some grub. I couldn't resist the "senior access" picture..........it's actually me (Tim) who qualified for lifetime pass........Darcie is still W A Y to young for that type of thing.

We spent the first night without electricity in pretty good shape. We sat around the fire for about 30 minutes and then went inside the Mighty Toyota to play some games we brought along (No "Chopped" on the computer for the next couple of days). We used our lantern for lights and only used the RV batteries for the water pump and a little heat from the furnace just before we went to bed. It only got down to 55 degrees that first night so we were toasty most of the night. I got up at 6:00 AM and flipped the furnace on and got it warmed up to 70 degrees in about an hour.........so Darcie crawled out from under the covers to greet the beautiful day ahead.

Night #2 was a little different story.........no sitting around the fire........drank lots of hot coffee and tea........played games by the lantern in sweat shirts and jackets.........put furnace on for about an hour before bed at 9:00 PM.........and hit the rack. I awoke at 6:00 AM again and flipped on the furnace as it was a balmy 37 degrees outside.........and a toasty 39 degrees inside.........the furnace stayed on for 2 hours this time before we got it to 60 degrees where Darcie very reluctantly crawled out of bed to greet the day.

You learn much about primitive camping.........in the winter...........in California!

It's been fun!

And we're still alive and lovin each other........even through the learning experiences.

Blessings..........Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD day 23 sunrise

I (Darcie) spoke at Turlock, CA this past Thursday to a group of retirees. After I finished speaking a woman came and said I should meet Marcella King. Marcella is 93 yrs and was in Oslo, Norway when Richard Wurmbrand spoke at their church shortly after his ransom from Romania. Marcella and her husband helped raise money and get Richard and Sabina to the United States. She was blessed to hear how God used their obedience when He directed them to help Richard and Sabina. I loved meeting this dear saint. She was filled with joy and thankfulness because had chosen to use her for such an important task. Marcella and her husband have been a voice for the persecuted without opening their mouths because their obedience made a way for many to hear what was happening in the hostile and restricted nations.

A little crowded for us!

Sunrise on the Mighty Toyota

Days 20, 21 & 22 were very busy days & nights with some quality time with a dear brother and sister that we have known for many years. After the Thursday night meeting at their church we decided to "Road Trip" together over to Clovis for the VOM conference the next day. It was really great to be with over 500 brothers and sisters who came from all over CA, some driving for several hours to and from Clovis. We were so busy with set up and then the conference itself that we failed to get any pictures so you will have to use your imagination. We got back to Los Banos Saturday night at about 8:30 PM and then stayed up as long as our eyelids remained open just to fellowship with our dear "California Family" who we stayed with. Sunday morning was a rainy time that lasted pretty much all day (no pictures again). Darcie spoke at a community church in Hilmar, CA........where they have one of the largest cheese factories in the world and supply most of the cheese for fast food restaurants.......quite a place for such a small community.........I guess California really does have contented cows......again, I didn't get a picture. After a great lunch at the Cheese Factory we trucked on down to this quaint little campground (over 300 spaces) where we drove around until we could find an available spot and pitched our aluminum tent for the night. We are sitting down to breakfast (bacon & schrooms omelets) and plan to take a little walk seeing as how it has stopped raining. We are off to Salinas tonight and then plan 2 days off.........in a primitive campground with no running water or electricity.......in the woods.......where I don't think we will have Internet access so you will again......have to use your imagination........and pray we make it out alive.

Blessings............Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD end of day 19

Calvary Chapel Los Banos, CA
A special, special lady

What an incredible day.........we drove the short 15 miles to the town of Turlock where Darcie was able to share with a group of senior saints in an extended care facility. One of these dear saints (the lady pictured above) came up to Darcie afterward and told her that she and her husband were actually in Norway when Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were ransomed out of Romania.......they were instrumental in raising the $10,000 needed for the ransom. What a precious saint. You never really know who you are going to cross paths with on this "Great Adventure"........... Darcie will probably add more to this tomorrow but I wanted to get these pictures out while she is sharing tonight.

The first picture is inside this tiny Calvary Chapel fellowship in Los Banos, CA where they had it all prepared for us to come complete with a great meal before hand. I thought this picture was such a picture of the right kind of focus for a church to have.........the cross of Christ and an emphasis on prayer. Everyone in the fellowship showed up on this Thursday night eager to hear and learn of their persecuted family.......we will be spending a couple of nights with some dear saints we haven't seen in a few years that moved to CA from FL

Darcie and I still can't believe God allows us to do this.......we are truly blessed.

Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD days 18 & 19

The PRIME parking spot
Cruisin after the schrooms

Day 18 was a nice travel day with a great breakfast at Marie Calendars with a sweet couple who are volunteer Reps for VOM in the Morgan Hill area. Darcie and I hadn't been in a Marie Calendar's since 1978 while in Bible college in Phoenix as they don't have any on the east coast. We drove to Modesto where Darcie spoke to a wonderful congregation and I started working on reviewing the on-line course VOM is starting next year, it looks like it is going to be really helpful for anyone wanting detailed teaching on Christian Persecution. I am hoping to be one of the facilitators of this course once I go through the material.

The top picture is another one of those "prime" parking spots we are discovering along the way. We had a fairly level surface with electric hook up and hot and cold running traffic on road 40 feet from the back of the Mighty Toyota..........not a very good nights rest. Darcie is taking a nap right now before she speaks to a retirement home audience......they are probably also taking their nap now as well. We have another meeting tonight in Los Banos before we can retire for the night at some dear friends home.

We did have a great breakfast of eggs and "schrooms" before climbing in the Mighty Toyota and heading out of our prime parking spot. Darcie is feeling much better with her cough almost gone.....thanks for praying.

Blessings............T & D

On the ROAD days 16 & 17

Gettin the "schrooms" dude!
Sunrise on the Mighty Toyota

A trip to California wouldn't be complete without pickin some "schrooms".........we got some little brown ones and some big ones to stuff and pop in the tiny toaster oven of the Mighty Toyota. Seriously though.......we spent the night in a town famous for their "Fungus Festival". We hope to go to the next town today where they process most of the garlic in California.......they say on a good day you can smell it for miles..........we figured we would permeate the old RV with the odor in case we have any bugs hitchin a ride.

Darcie had a meeting last night and even though she is physically feeling better she ran into some problems with her projector not working.......pray that we can get a replacement from Best Buy as it is only 6 months old.

We stayed in this quaint little RV park in the hills above Morgan Hills, CA last night mainly so we could empty the holding tank of the Mighty Toyota so I can fix the drain. Our alarm clock this morning was wild turkeys.........lots of wild turkeys.

Keep us in your prayers as we head back up north for the meeting tonight.......

Blessings..............Tim & Darcie

On the ROAD days 14 & 15

One of the more pleasant duties
You're gonna love this one!

Darcie - On the Mend

Days 14 & 15 proved to be days of challenge.......I failed to get any pictures of day 14 so the first picture above will have to suffice. We had a great morning with the folks at a Seventh Day Adventist church in Rocklin, CA with me giving a quick 5 minute intro in 2 services and challenging them to come back that evening to hear the full presentation from Darcie.........who was still "On the Mend" from the nasty cold she picked up while "On the ROAD". She was able to speak at the evening meeting and there was a great response from this group of people. We then had to drive the Mighty Toyota southwest about 90 miles to Napa to get settled in for the night at a Calvary Chapel parking lot. While backing into the spot they had chosen for us I failed to see a metal stake sticking out of the ground (it was raining though). We heard a funny sound in the way back of the RV so I stopped.........drove forward about a foot.......and heard a "snap".........not good......it turned out to be the sewer drain. Fortunately it snapped off after the drain valve and not before.........so we didn't decorate the church's parking lot with contents of the holding tank.......I am hoping to find a dump station today and empty the tank (as best I can) and then find an RV dealer that has one of the drain valve assemblies. Pray with us for that very "important" piece of equipment.

After the Napa morning we drove back up to Loomis, CA.......another 95 miles to a precious little Baptist Church where we had a prime spot to park the Mighty Toyota with a welcome sign (picture above). Darcie was able to share at both Napa & Loomis but is still having some trouble with a nagging cough.......keep her in your prayers.

That brings us to this morning........the "prime RV parking spot" is right across the street from a High School.......where the students arrive at about 6:30 AM......before the sun comes up.......and the drum section of the marching band starts their practice on the front lawn at about 7:00 AM (it was still too dark to get a picture or I would have put it in). The front lawn of the school is about 300 feet from the "prime parking spot". I was up and on my 3rd cup of coffee.....but Darcie was still trying to sleep........trying being the operative word. Needless to say it was a very interesting alarm clock...........but Darcie says she really enjoyed the morning drum serenade.

Today is a day off......right.......

Blessings.............Tim & Darcie