Skip to main content

A Cave and a Prayer



In the summer of 2014 while we were in the States on furlough, William decided he would like to go on back to Brazil.  The whole family couldn't go at that time but we had tickets scheduled for July and William wanted to go.  Uncle Byron had wanted to take at least one good camping trip while we were all still together.  So we set to some quick planning for a weekend camping trip and looked for a place where the boys could do some spelunking.  Do you know what that is?


Once William had read a book about the man that discovered the Mammoth Cave system and he really wanted to go there.  Sadly Tennessee was just too far away for a weekend trip, so we looked for a cave with spelunking that was closer and came upon the Organ Cave in West Virginia after some web searches.  We found a campground nearby and made reservations and got set to go.


The weekend looked to be rainy and things were not going very smoothly.  Dalton wasn't real keen on going on the trip.  Our plans were rather haphazard and we were not real organized.  There were some tense moments but somehow we got off and convinced Dalton to go along to Roanoke and spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandaddy.

The rest of us got into WV in time for a kayak ride down the Greenbrier River.  We got our tent set up before it was too dark and managed to grill some hot dogs and eat a camp kind of supper.  Even Aunt Michele rode the rapids, but that's another story!

The next morning we went off to find the Organ Cave and see about a spelunking tour.  We found the cave and were informed that the long, deep inside the cave kind of tours had to be booked in advance.  It would not be possible to do that day.  Sadly it was the only day we had as we had to head back the next morning.  We took the regular tour with a tour guide and tried to console ourselves with that.






We got in the car to leave.  Down in the gully spot where the cave entrance was we had no cell phone signal. Uncle Byron drove to the top of the hill and the little highway and stopped so I could try to call another nearby cave that advertised adventure cave tours, but they said the same thing as the first.  It was almost lunch time, so I said, Hey, let's go back down to the cave gift shop area where there were some picnic tables and have our lunch there.  So down we went, all trying not to be too sad.  I said a little prayer asking God to work something out for the guys to still take the big tour that they had wanted.

After a bit, we saw the lady from the gift shop/office stick her head out the door and look all around.  She saw us and started waving.  She said one of her spelunking tour guides had finally called back and said he could come in and do the tour and that he was on his way right then - could we wait a bit?

I believe God answered my prayer that afternoon.  William, Greyson and Uncle Byron got to go down deep into the cavern with lights on their heads, crawling around on their tummies through small holes with water and mud, and see parts of the cave that few ever get to see.  I stayed above ground!
William later said that it wasn't Mammoth Cave but it was one of the coolest things he had ever done.

The whole trip was by no means perfect but we made a memory, fulfilled a boy's desire and saw an answer to prayer...


p.s.  This week our new little puppy, Spunky, came down with some sort of intestinal virus.  She became very dishydrated and close to dying.  Since we live in a place without much medical help for dogs and cats, I wasn't sure what to do.  I did talk to a vet that had helped us some with Tiny and Girl and the cat.  He gave me some suggestions and I did some research online.  After four days of force feeding and giving liquid with a syringe, little Spunky is coming back to life.  She wagged her tail yesterday and played a little and is eating and drinking on her own now.  She is getting spoiled eating special foods and waits for me to fix them very patiently. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My Promise Verse

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take:  when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. This verse has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. When I was a high school senior at a Christian school in Virginia, Job 23:10 was chosen as our class theme verse. At our graduation commencement, the valedictorian and saludatorian in their addresses that day divided the verse in its two natural parts as a basis for the core of each one's address. I was the salutatorian of my senior class that year.  I chose to speak of how God would one day reward our faithfulness and thus, we should always strive to remain true. For many years though, the first part of the verse haunted me in a way. As a missionary especially when times were lonely or difficult, I assumed it was my "trial" or "test," and as such must be accepted in all humility. As I have grown older, I have begun to look more toward the pearly gates and have reconsidered the thr...

Old Film, Same Message

A missionary colleague recently uploaded some old films made about the work in Brazil by Baptist Mid-Missions many years ago in the 1950's. Yesterday I was able to watch the first of the series.  All I can say is "Wow!  Things haven't changed much in Brazil.  And things haven't changed too much with the work of missions in Brazil either!" There are still donkey carts in the street.  They have better wheels nowadays! There are still people who live in grass huts and high apartment buildings, too. Bicycles are still many people's only means of transportation, if they are that lucky! Many roads in the interior towns are still paved with cobblestones, if they are paved at all. And yes, chickens are everywhere, even in big cities. Brazil still needs missionaries! That's right, Brazil is not evangelized and in no need of foreign missionaries today.  It still needs workers to spread the Good News of the Gospel and the Risen Saviour!  Sadly that part of t...

Happy Valentine's Day to You!

These pictures are from a few years ago.  My boys don't make valentine's for their mama anymore.  Guess it's my own fault.  But I can enjoy these from the cyber photo treasure box.  Brazil doesn't have a Valentine's Day in February.  They do celebrate a sort of lover's day in May or June, can't remember which!  But it's not the same thing.  No little candy hearts with silly phrases about loving and liking, and no cards to pass out at school to all your friends either. Some times it's hard to remember that it's time for a certain American holiday when no else is celebrating.  Guess that's what those special send a card automatically websites are for, eh? Well, in case I forget before the right day gets here this month, Happy Valentine's Day to you!  You, whoever you are out there in the great big world.  You, relatives and friends.  You, readers and blog jumpers.  You who happen upon this silly little post on my silly litt...