Thanksgivings for ABY +

“ABY” is the name given the 2017 Chevy Cruise I was able to purchase after coming to work for Mercy Ships. She was a car to get me from “point A to point B” with as little gas/cost as possible therefore she became ABY.

The vehicle that I traded in for ABY was my “Mid-Life Crisis Truck”, you know the one with everything you ever wanted on a vehicle since you were a kid. I named her “Nanny” because she was a 4 wheel drive and the very first road trip we took she did an amazing job going up goat trails between Marathon Pass and Pitkin, Colorado. But along with all those bells and whistles, heated seats, moon roof, sliding…. oh I digress, came a payment that only someone living in a work provided home with no utilities could afford. I no longer was in that situation so a more economical car was required.

Needless to say I came into my relationship with “ABY” in an upside down state, meaning, to pay off the truck I was actually financing the car for more than she was worth. This was painful but not as painful as the truck payments so we became fast friends and travel buddies. In 2019 when the Lord encouraged me to become a volunteer for Mercy Ships instead of an employee my only concern was the fact that I probably couldn’t sell ABY for enough to pay off the loan. Volunteers pay their own way and are not paid but within two weeks of me making that decision I was sent to China with the thought that I would be on the build of the Global Mercy until she sailed. At that time I didn’t have enough savings to payoff the difference of what I could sell ABY for so I left her in the care of an amazing friend who loved and took care of her like her own. Since I was still getting a paycheck and not a volunteer I began making extra payments as much as possible to pay down the principle amount.

Then late in 2019 I was to come home for a couple of weeks vacation, but things were really slow in China so it was decided I would return to Texas for several months until things picked up. Praise the Lord I still had ABY because in Texas you can’t survive without a car and two weeks later COVID broke out in China so there was no going back in my future. In the last year I have attempted to return to China 3 different times and been denied so I continued to pay down the debt with odd jobs like pet setting, housesitting, baking and sewing. Each time I was to return to China I had lined up a Buyer for ABY but with all came a cost of $3K-$4 of my savings to payoff the note. And by this time I had really started to save since I was going to need crew fees, insurance, airfare and my fabric habit for 3 years until my retirement comes in at age 60.

Finally in April it was decided if I couldn’t go to the Global Mercy in China then I would go to the Africa Mercy in the Canary Islands to obtain “on the job training” for my role as Information Services Manager on the Global Mercy when she is delivered. So it came down to the final two weeks and the Lord kept impressing on me to go back to the dealership that I had purchased ABY from and see if they would buy her back. I even spoke to my finance company and they said he same thing. But I would rather take a beating then go to a Car Dealership and deal with salespeople who always get the upper hand with me because I just don’t like arguing. Several people said it would do no good but I called and setup a meeting for them to review the vehicle.

Praise the Lord for salesman Adam from “Dow Autoplex” in Mineola, Texas and their kindness in blessing my journey. They wiped away $11,148 in debt for me and it only cost me $200, not the $3-4K I was expecting. Also they allowed me to drive ABY for my remaining weeks in country and I dropped her off shortly before flying. This not only let me leave on the journey to volunteer almost completely debt free but also gave me extra funds to support my service time.

I tell you this story in gratefulness to the Lord for providing all that is needed for the healing Mercy Ships provides through vessels like me. We come by His encouragement, with His provision to the place His love and healing can impact the most. The first Sunday evening I was aboard the Africa Mercy our Chaplain Bro. Lere Olupayimo gave the sermon out of Exodus Chapter 14 where the Israelites were backed up against the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming to get them. They were complaining even after all of the many miracles and plagues the Lord had accomplished on their behalf. Why, because “Forgetfulness is the Enemy of Thankfulness”. I do not want to forget the way’s the Lord has provided for this journey or the beautiful people He has used to do so already. I have not, until recently placed the needs before others accept as prayer requests. And how amazing the Lord has provided through those prayers with the selling of ABY for $200 and additional examples of God’s provision are:

• When I first announced my decision to volunteer, my son and his wife gave me several months of crew fees, his words were “Mom you always supported my dreams, I want to support yours.”
• The group “Keys to a Better Life”, that promote healing from your past to the future of your purpose, gave a one time donation.
• My home church “Clearview Bible Church” began recurring donations late last year.
• Several coworkers at Mercy Ships searched for my crowd funding page and began recurring donations early this year.
• Friends connected me with new friends who provided a donation that their employer Microsoft has matched.
• Friends and relatives who have been waiting for me to provide the donation link and have now began to provide recurring donations.
• Several people walk up and hand me money in church, the airport, even the grocery store after hearing what the Lord is doing through Mercy Ships.
• And the journey continues….

Please hear my heart, you are saved, chosen, loved, adored and there is a plan/path the Lord has you on. As Bro. Lere would say “take a moment today and be thankful for the gift of Life, Redemption and the Marvelous will of God in your life.” We are all in transition and He is providing along the way, be openly grateful and never forgetful of all He has and is doing along your journey.

Blessings
Mendy