Biker Chick?

Not really. More like 'scooter' chick.

Pretty soon after returning, I started to see that transportation was a very real need for me. We don’t have a driver and walking a long way through the village in scorching in the heat at the end of the day or in the dark of night to find an auto rickshaw was becoming more and more difficult. I started praying about it and one night I was spending the night at the children’s home. Late at night, one of the children needed a medication. I could not find any way to go get it. I had been praying about whether or not to post about the need and that night I just felt like it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. I posted a prayer request for the need on Face Book and in about 10 minutes time, the entire amount I needed to purchase a scooter, was transferred to my pay pal account!!!

I had never experienced God moving in such a big way so fast. I felt almost lightheaded as I tried to wrap my brain around the miracle I was experiencing. My good friends Chester and Lisa had seen the post and they felt God’s leading to take care of the need. They didn’t even hesitate, they simply answered and I pray God multiplies that blessing a hundred fold back to them for their love and obedience!



Now, when there are needs, I can jump on my scooter and get to the home quickly. I can stay and work late at night and not worry about being able to find a ride home. I can run and get medications when needed, easily get to hospitals to watch over kids who are sick, and get back and forth to do orientation with new volunteers and teams, etc. I am so VERY grateful.

At first, learning to drive in India was, well… probably not a whole lot different than jumping out of an airplane and falling while being shot at. Imagine pulling out onto the crazy Indian streets, learning to dodge people, cows, water buffalo, cars, bikes, anything and everything coming from all different directions with absolutely no road rules and no order at all! In the first week, I was shoved into a wall by a bus and hurt my foot but God protected me and healed me quickly. I hit a cow in the butt with my mirror while going down a crazy busy road with a bus on my tail and a car to my side. It was the cow or the car. I chose the cow. I honked and swerved and slowed as much as I could with the bus on my tail and didn’t look back when I hit the cow and my mirror spun around.

One night I had a volunteer (Cassie) on the back of my bike with me. We had been shopping for school supplies to get kids ready for school and we got stuck in a power outage in the streets, followed by a sudden downpour of rain. While I was driving, something got in my eye and my eye would not open. I had to drive with one eye and the rain was stinging that eye too! We laughed and prayed all the way home. Cassie wanted to take a picture to remember our harrowing drive. I look like a goober because I’m being silly – still keeping that one eye closed.



Another great thing about my scooter is the joy it has opened up to our Michal. He is autistic and doesn’t really communicate with anyone. He is always in his own little world and doesn’t get a lot of attention from visitors because he doesn’t stay still long enough. I noticed he was always running to me when I came in the gates on the bike. He would get so excited and want to touch it. He would make motorcycle noises and try to get on. I told his Ayah to put him on the back and he surprised me by grabbing on to me and hanging on and laughing and smiling. I took him for a ride around the village and I could see in my mirror that he was smiling the entire time. Now, he greets me at the gate daily and expects his ride. He stands next to me wherever I am at and smiles up at me as if he is saying “when can I go again?” I love to see the joy it’s brought Michael and I love the way it’s opened up an avenue for me to spend time with him.

I wish I had a pic that really captured his huge smile but this is the only one I have with Michael on the bike with me and He IS smiling... isn't he sweet!?