Bryson and Mindy White Culture/Language Acquisition in Paraguay 
Turn. Click. Turn. Click. Wait. Turn. Vroom. Rumble, rumble, rumble. It started again. This “procedure” to start our van began in Oregon and grew more frequent as we traveled through California and across the country. It even came with us down to Chihuahua, Mexico. At the mall in Chihuahua, in the midst of a downpour, I ran out to retrieve the van. The “procedure” this time took two full minutes. I knew that something was wrong with the van, but I did not know what. I worried.
Leaving Chihuahua a couple days later, the van did fine. We stopped in El Paso to pick up our trailer before continuing on to Albuquerque and there was no hint of a problem. We camped in Albuquerque and the next morning…turn. Click. Turn. Click. Turn. Click. Wait. Two minutes (and a prayer) later, turn. Vroom. Grumble, grumble, grumble. We were on our way again. I was apprehensive.
We pulled up right in front of my sister’s driveway in Oklahoma and stopped. After unloading the suitcases from the van, I went back to move it out of the way of the driveway. Turn. Click. Turn. Click. Turn. Click. I was frustrated. Turn. Snap. Uh, oh. Turn. Turn. Turn. It didn’t start. It didn’t do anything. I thought, I guess we’ll be driving a different vehicle into Missouri. I doubted.
Honestly, during the next week, I prayed the most that I had prayed in a long time. My sister’s neighbor was a mechanic. He used to tear down and repair Ford steering columns for side money. Our van is a Ford. He knew exactly what the problem was. We had the steering column completely out of the van and the steering wheel off. After buying the new part, the neighbor put the column back together and did not charge me. He also left the work of reinstalling the column and wheel into the van to me. For that, I am still concerned, but I’m learning. But after turning the last screw, I put in the key. Turn. Vroom.
I don’t know where we’ll end up. I don’t know how we’ll get there. I don’t know how far we’ll get with what we have. One thing I do know is that I can look forward to more worry, apprehension, frustration, doubt, and concern. Another thing I know is that I drove our same ol’ van into Missouri. Despite my doubts and everything else my flesh can muster up, God is faithful to take care of us. And we will go as far as He’ll take us.
