 Click here for the touching story of how we met Frank. |  March 22, 2015 Frank went home never to battle missing limbs, leukemia or lung cancer again. We are looking forward to seeing the art you will create in Heaven but until then, "Good bye, dear Friend." |
Frank was a gift in our lives in so many ways. If you've read my previous blog, you know what an odd but wonderful meeting we had and what an impact he had on our lives. But there is another untold story that I would like to share about how God can take the little we have and if we are obedient, He can transform it into a treasure that just keeps giving.
This story starts before Frank, back when we lost our van, which left our family of 9 with a 5 passenger Neon. It meant going home to see family was now a 12 hour round trip ordeal because of the number of trips needed to get everyone there. It meant having to find a very close church in order to get everyone there. It meant trying to figure out who was old enough to stay alone at the destinations and where the car seats had to be and who could drive...Life got very complicated. We didn't travel much. Even a simple doctors appointment meant taking my husband to work so I could have the car and then having to go get him when he got done. Grocery shopping felt like a major undertaking just trying to figure out when I could have the car and making sure it wasn't too full of people for the groceries. After almost a year of this we received a phone call from a friend back home.
She said they had an old van that they had been thinking of getting rid of for almost a year now and they kept thinking they should give it to us. She didn't even know if we would want a van and she was even embarrassed to offer it because it had some rust spots she had duct taped as well as a few other quirks, but it ran good. I could scarce believe my ears or my eyes when a beautiful blue full size van sat in our driveway and we had the title. Technically, it was one seat short but we put a bean bag chair in there and trusted that if this is what God provided, He would also, protect what was in it. We started to get our life back. We could do things as a family again! She was right it ran beautifully, as well.
After some time, we were able to get a 15 passenger van so there would be enough seats for everyone plus room for groceries. But that left us with the blue van that still ran well but had more rust, quirks and miles. About that time Frank's car died and he was unable to replace it. Feeling awkward for even asking if a single man would want such a gas hog with over 200,000 miles, we asked Frank if he would want the van. He was thrilled. It was the answer to his prayers. He needed something big enough to haul his artwork and for himself to maneuver around in. It needed a muffler and brakes but he was able to barter some artwork for the repairs and it was running great!
We moved back home and Frank came to visit several times in that van but then due to more complications he had to have his one good leg removed and he could no longer drive. What could he do with a van with so many miles and wear? Jared was 16, so Frank gave it to him. With their permission, we put a for sale sign on it. Jared needed money to take drivers ed before he would even be able to drive and a young man certainly doesn't need a gas hog with bed in back.
It sat in the front yard all summer and we feared the neighbors would complain. No one made an offer. It did look pretty bad and it had sooo many miles on it. We decided to scrap it and hopefully get $400 out of it so Jared could take driver's ed. Before we could get rid of it, an elderly Mexican gentleman showed up on our porch one Sunday morning. He asked if we would take five for the van. I was sure we could get at least that scrapping so I said no we couldn't do that. Baffled he asked how much I want, so I told him at least $400. Very puzzled, he asked, why I not take his five hundred then. He took out a paper and we wrote the numbers we meant agreeing on the $400. He paid and drove away thanking God that he still had $100 from his bonus to get the title and stuff. He said he has never had such a comfortable bed in his whole life. You see he lives in his van and travels from Florida to Ohio planting and harvesting tomatoes.
Jared had enough to complete driver's ed and pay for his license once he passed the test. We still see that van every so often and that gentleman waves with a large smile. I find myself wondering whose treasure it will be next. Do you need something - keep praying! Is God nudging you to give something that seems so trivial it's embarrassing? Then hurry up! You are probably the answer to their prayer.
Many Blessings,
Misty Sunshine
This story starts before Frank, back when we lost our van, which left our family of 9 with a 5 passenger Neon. It meant going home to see family was now a 12 hour round trip ordeal because of the number of trips needed to get everyone there. It meant having to find a very close church in order to get everyone there. It meant trying to figure out who was old enough to stay alone at the destinations and where the car seats had to be and who could drive...Life got very complicated. We didn't travel much. Even a simple doctors appointment meant taking my husband to work so I could have the car and then having to go get him when he got done. Grocery shopping felt like a major undertaking just trying to figure out when I could have the car and making sure it wasn't too full of people for the groceries. After almost a year of this we received a phone call from a friend back home.
She said they had an old van that they had been thinking of getting rid of for almost a year now and they kept thinking they should give it to us. She didn't even know if we would want a van and she was even embarrassed to offer it because it had some rust spots she had duct taped as well as a few other quirks, but it ran good. I could scarce believe my ears or my eyes when a beautiful blue full size van sat in our driveway and we had the title. Technically, it was one seat short but we put a bean bag chair in there and trusted that if this is what God provided, He would also, protect what was in it. We started to get our life back. We could do things as a family again! She was right it ran beautifully, as well.
After some time, we were able to get a 15 passenger van so there would be enough seats for everyone plus room for groceries. But that left us with the blue van that still ran well but had more rust, quirks and miles. About that time Frank's car died and he was unable to replace it. Feeling awkward for even asking if a single man would want such a gas hog with over 200,000 miles, we asked Frank if he would want the van. He was thrilled. It was the answer to his prayers. He needed something big enough to haul his artwork and for himself to maneuver around in. It needed a muffler and brakes but he was able to barter some artwork for the repairs and it was running great!
We moved back home and Frank came to visit several times in that van but then due to more complications he had to have his one good leg removed and he could no longer drive. What could he do with a van with so many miles and wear? Jared was 16, so Frank gave it to him. With their permission, we put a for sale sign on it. Jared needed money to take drivers ed before he would even be able to drive and a young man certainly doesn't need a gas hog with bed in back.
It sat in the front yard all summer and we feared the neighbors would complain. No one made an offer. It did look pretty bad and it had sooo many miles on it. We decided to scrap it and hopefully get $400 out of it so Jared could take driver's ed. Before we could get rid of it, an elderly Mexican gentleman showed up on our porch one Sunday morning. He asked if we would take five for the van. I was sure we could get at least that scrapping so I said no we couldn't do that. Baffled he asked how much I want, so I told him at least $400. Very puzzled, he asked, why I not take his five hundred then. He took out a paper and we wrote the numbers we meant agreeing on the $400. He paid and drove away thanking God that he still had $100 from his bonus to get the title and stuff. He said he has never had such a comfortable bed in his whole life. You see he lives in his van and travels from Florida to Ohio planting and harvesting tomatoes.
Jared had enough to complete driver's ed and pay for his license once he passed the test. We still see that van every so often and that gentleman waves with a large smile. I find myself wondering whose treasure it will be next. Do you need something - keep praying! Is God nudging you to give something that seems so trivial it's embarrassing? Then hurry up! You are probably the answer to their prayer.
Many Blessings,
Misty Sunshine
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