Someone asked me the other day about the Ohio trip.  It was long!  From Troutdale, OR to Salem, OH is about 2600 miles.  Marv and I drove that and returned in seven days.  Throw on  five wood-burning furnaces, eight tons of siding,  a half-dozen  250 foot rolls of ducting and an assortment of stuff that was tied down, strapped on and attached to the flat-bed and you’ve got yourself a load, son!  And, it was motivated by a simple request by the Indian Bible School in Alberton, MT...

 “Will you help us?” 

 You forget about how big this country is.  But when you drive cross-country in a big rig you’re reminded.  It takes a long time to get across Montana and South Dakota and there’s not much out there except antelope and  black-top.  Now-a-days  you can pull in at those strategically located truck stops and buy diesel fuel and those mystery pastries with secret additives to sop up the coffee from your monster mug.  Not long ago, folks made the same trip in a canvas-topped wagon with a pair of mules and a bag of flour.  To them the antelope had a very different purpose in the grand scheme of things, than they do now.  Never have eaten any antelope but those who have tell me it’s not great.  I guess if you’re really hungry, however, an antelope burger would be a lot better than nothing at all.  Now that I think about it, I didn’t even see any antelope burgers on the daily special.  Did see some enchiladas and corn-dogs,  though.  Buyer beware!

As I  worked my way through the gears of the Eaton-Fuller transmission for yet another time and drove through the night, I found myself praying and thinking about ministry and the motivation to serve and help Native Americans.  Remember when Jesus talked about feeding people and giving them clothes when they were naked and cold?  Remember about the prisoners and the cup of cold water?  Remember the poor?  Remember that?  That was awesome, right?  Well, the whole trip to Ohio was motivated by the desire to help and serve and do in a practical way what Jesus asked us to do.

Maybe next winter when it’s 25 below zero and the darkness of the night has gripped the land  in Montana there will be some Indian students inside those school buildings  who are warm and comfortable because of those wood-burning furnaces.  Maybe. 

 Until next time, keep on truckin’!