“Hey, Sara found a truck for sale!
How much money do you have?” Cornelio told me when we arrived in town today.
Normally we don’t come to town on a Friday, but we made an exception this week
to avoid coming during carnival, an international, multi-day holiday when it is
customary to bombard unsuspecting by-passers with balloons full of water,
paint, and even cow manure.
Cornelio called Sara over to show me the pictures.
“Hey, that’s the truck I saw last
week in the plaza by the mayor’s office!” I recognized the grey Toyota Tundra
with the en venta stickers in the
windows that had caught my attention a couple of days ago. I wanted to write
down the phone number, but I was passing on the back of a motorcycle taxi on my
way to the bus-stop and wasn’t able to read the complete number.
“How much do they want for it?”
“Fifteen grand!”
“Really? Does it have papers?”
“I don’t know. It has national
plates.”
“Call me if you go to look at it.”
About half an hour later Cornelio
told me to come to the plaza. The truck soon arrived and the owners let us take
it for a drive. It is a 2004 V-6 with a Hilux engine and based on our short
test drive and limited inspection it seems to be in pretty good shape. It has all
the legal papers in order. The owner is from Japan, and bought the truck in
Santa Cruz. He said he doesn’t want to sell it, but has to travel to Japan and
has no choice. He has had the truck for sale for two weeks and has already
dropped from his original price but was unwilling to go lower. Many people are
interested in buying but since he wants the full amount up front, he hasn’t
been able to sell it yet. Toyotas are coveted vehicles in these parts because
they last longer than the Chinese vehicles. Parts are also easier to get than other
vehicles like Ford and Chevy.
Could this be the answer to our
prayers? I don’t know. Pooling our meager missionary resources at this moment
we have just about half of the asking price. I am no expert in picking out good
vehicles, but I know a God who is an expert in everything! The story of Charlie
horse comes to mind. If God can help his servant pick the right horse for her
travel needs, I know he can help us find the right vehicles. We are praying and
know that God will answer in his time! If this is to be the truck, He will make
it clear and will provide the means. If not, He will have something better in
mind for us!
