Why I need my car back

It’s entirely true that one can survive in Kenya without a personal vehicle. Most of the population does so their entire lives. However, it seems that I am frequently being reminded of the benefits brought about by having a car. I decided to share a couple stories that highlight this fact and to ask for your prayers that the car can be repaired sooner than later.
As most of you know this past month I became quite sick. So sick in fact that I had to travel into town to find a doctor and the proper medications (not to mention a hot shower and cold drinking water). I make this trip often and NEVER look forward to it but this time was even worse. For days I had done little more than sleep due to a lack of energy. I hadn’t eaten in several days and my whole body was sore. So naturally the idea of getting into a crowded shuttle at 7pm, traveling on ruined roads until 10pm, then sleeping on the ground in the cold until 2am so that we could get back into the car and finish the trip at 6am, was not at all appealing. Of course I am forced to consider that this is life for almost all of the people in the Valley as there are no decent hospitals and the sick are forced to either stay home or travel as I did. The realization is humbling, as is the idea that were my car in working order at least those close by would have another option when things got tough… and so would I.
Cut to Eldoret this week. I had just arrived back from speaking at a prayer day for high school seniors who are preparing to sit for exams. I had traveled a total of 6 hours and was ready to get home and get some rest. Then I realized it had rained. When it rains in Eldoret there is inevitable trouble: Mud. Because a motorbike could by no means reach the house where I stay I was tempted to just pay for a bed in town for a night. But was assured that a taxi could reach. What was I thinking believing that a rear wheel beat up car could make it on these roads in the mud? Obviously it didn’t happen and it took 7 young men to push the car out of the mud and onto better ground so that he could return to town, leaving myself and my escort to walk the remaining 5k barefoot reaching home at 1:30am. No worries though, my friend was carrying a machete to ward off trouble-makers.
Finally there is the problem of transporting supplies and helpers. If there is a large amount of food or paint or hand held goods to be carried I can easily pay for an extra seat in the shuttle (which never actually carries the goods as the shuttles are always overloaded with people, so I pay for 2 seats and sit in half of one. Life.) The problem there doesn’t come until reaching the valley when the shuttles refuse to go all the way to my village due to roads and I’m forced to find people to help carry the luggage to the house or a motor-bike to carry it. However, pipes, roofing metal, mattresses, seats, tables etc those things are too large for the shuttles and thus require the hiring of a truck which is a large expense. So far none of those things have actually been sent because of the trouble of getting transport although it appears that next month a truck will have to be hired to carry all of the above.
I hate to complain about something that is daily life and fact for the people I serve. It seems almost sinful to do so knowing how those around me struggle. But the church supplied the car so that help could easily reach these people and I could better serve the community where God has called me and it is a shame for that same car to now be sitting still, without purpose. So I ask you to pray that a solution would be found.
The new engine for the Freelander is around $2500. However, I have discovered that all Freelander engines tend to have trouble so if the car is repaired with its proper engine I will most likely choose to sell to someone who is not traveling off road and purchase a more reliable model. However, if it is possible to replace the engine with another model such as a Toyota, not only would it be much less expensive but the car could remain in the valley without problem. (If you know the answer to this question please let me know!)
These months have been expensive as there have been many repairs to be done, school fees to pay for children, sicknesses etc so saving for the car repairs has been put on the back burner as second priority. November and December are also going to stretch because of girl’s camp, opening the workshop and Christmas. It may be the New Year before money can start going towards the car, or God might provide sooner. I can’t know. I only ask for your prayers as that is all that is required for God to act. Until then, I’ll stick with the shuttle, and I’ll keep my Ipod charged up so I can praise the Lord all the way there and back!