We have been in need of a vehicle in Santa Cruz for quite some time to carry students, patients, volunteers, supplies to various places or simple to do errands around town. So, we started looking into what it will take to purchase a car. Since the type of trips vary a lot from transporting people or hauling food on a trailer, and it does rain in Sta. Cruz, we decided an SUV would work best rather than a pickup or passenger car.
Initially we thought of buying a 10 or 15-year-old SUV for maybe US$2000 – 4000. As we looked at the SUV’s on the market we found they cost US$10,000 – 15,000! Bolivia does not make any vehicles in country so every vehicle is imported. It is because Customs adds another $5000 to the price of the vehicle for duty tax when it’s imported.
Well, we don’t have that kind of money, but we know who does ~~our Father in Heaven. So we prayed He would provide a vehicle for us.
We prayed for about 4 weeks until we heard that one of the missionary families was selling their SUV. Turns out they were praying for a buyer so they could move to another place to do mission work!
As we discussed and evaluated the SUV we knew it had a history of problems but we both believed God had brought us together on this issue. Since we didn’t have $10,000 to pay for the car they would allow us to make payments. Knowing it was sold, they believed God was giving them the sign to move forward.
So we bought the car and thanked God for giving us both an answer to prayer. Then next day we drove the car to the market and were so thankful we had wheels. That afternoon we were on our way to a birthday party for one of the missionary children and the car overheated and blew a head gasket.
As it turns out there were numerous other problems with the car too. One of the volunteers told me that in these situations people will usually take the car back or get the price lowered to compensate for the issues. I told him we both believed the transaction was of God and I would not do that. I knew the car had issues and God would provide a way to fix it. He said, “OK, I trust in that too.”
The next day, he called me and said, “Guess what?” He was talking with one of his friends about what happened with the car and the friend said, “Tell me how much it will cost and I will pay for the repairs.” Wow! God provided a donor to fix the car!!
What a great lesson I learned. If we believe God has given an answer to prayer, then believe! Also believe that God will provide the means to make that answer complete. We cannot be like Abraham and Sarah who tried to answer God’s promise in their own way by having a child with a second wife. Waiting patiently for His answer and letting Him solve it in His way will allow it to turn out perfectly!
We praise God for answering our prayer for a car and for providing a way to get it fixed. Now we wait on Him to provide the rest of the money. We paid $2000 so far and need another $8000 to finish it.
As of now, this is the condition of the car…
