Do not fear adversity, Expect It.

"After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:21-22

As people we all go through trials and we all suffer because of sin and our rebellion before God, but as Christians we are promised that we should suffer and be tried for our faith in Jesus. Peter even teaches us that it is God's will for us to fill up the sufferings of Christ for following Jesus, 1 Peter 3:17. Unfortunately I believe that most of us even as Christians still suffer because of our evil and not because of our devotion to Christ 1 Peter 4:15-16. But as Christians we should not be anxious or fear adversity and the works and effects of the enemy but we should expect them when we strive to be more like Jesus. Peter teaches us to suffer well in his first book to the churches, its not about will we suffer it is all about how we suffer. But we as Christians also have a hope, we have a just and loving heavenly father who is mindful of us and finds favor on us, despite our good or evil. He is for us and not against us. Tiff and I experienced this while broken down in Kansas. Some may say our failed transmission and cv axel was a sign that we should turn back, but as a Christian is should be a sign to keep pressing forward, knowing that the enemy's works and effects desire to thwart the will of God in our lives. As Paul teaches in 1 Cor 15 we must have Christian stubborness, we must be steadfast, immovable, and always abound in the work of the Lord. We know that King Jesus is for His Kingdom coming and therefore he is for those who push back the gates hades. Despite our plans being thwarted we saw our conquering King run to our rescue. With a classic van which parts are hard to come by we looked to be stranded in KS for at least a week but maybe two. The friendly people of KS worked diligently to get us to the right foreign auto place and there was even a vanagon guy in town, but none of his sources had our transmission, so it looked like it might have to come from either one of the coasts. Which meant a long time, shipping costs, and it would probably be used from a junk yard with no idea of miles or quality. So to help these guys out who were already up to their neck in jobs I called the people I came to know back in Colorado and they all pointed me to one guy, who gratefully had one lying around. Gods first favor on us. Then we began to research how to get it out here, and remembered that Tiff's cousin was coming out the next day to visit the same family we were going to before we broke down. God's second favor on us. So long story short and five favors later, my sister, Carrie, picked up the transmission east of Colorado Springs, gave it to her husband, Wayne, who drove it to denver to give to tiffany's cousin, Kyle, who left the next morning for MS and dropped it off in KS for installation. So within one day we found a transmission, shipped it to KS (for free), and had it installed by some gracious mechanics, and we were on the road that night. Honor to those who helped and Praise to Jesus

This left us one day in MS for the lake and one day in AR to visit Tiffanys cousing, Tyler. We are so grateful for everyones genorosity and hospitality over this last weeks and months.

Carrie Sisco Martinez - Thanks for your gifts, Mo's life jacket, bike, and picking up a transmission on your way to your son, Olivers, Dr's appointment.
Wayne Martinez - Thank you for taking time to drive back to denver to drop off the transmission, even though you just had driven back from there for work.
Kyle and Lauren Foster - Thanks for picking up the transmission and dropping off to us in KS.
Mechanics in KS - Thanks for doing everything you did to accomodate us and get us back on the road.
Walmart Parking Lot and Travel Centers - Thanks for the free stay.
Brad and Doreen Foster - Thanks for your hospitality and generosity to let us stay with you and all the gifts you gave to us for our journey, and dragging our old transmission back to the Springs.
Rick and Cathy Sisco - Thank you also for your hospitality and generosity and putting up with us for 5 months.
Tyler and Angela - Thank you for probably what is our last home cooked meals for a while, for your generosity and hospitality. For your gifts to Mo and the GPS, which by the way took me on some random toll road, so you owe me 50 cents. jk :)
Dan and Valerie Wilmot - Thank you for your gifts and generosity and taking our old transmission back to the guy so we can receive our core charge back.
God our father - Thank you for sending your son and finding favor on Him, the world, and all of your sons and daughters. May you be glorified and may your Son be lifted up in all of these things.

We are so grateful,
Chris, Tiff, Aundreus "MoMo", Ceydie, and Shadow