We really had not planned to get a car for our year in Oxford because 1) we were told we wouldn't need one living so close to the city and 2) they cost money. Truly, you can get around pretty well here without a car. Jeff's school and anything we need to do is easily accessible by bus. Max's school is within walking distance and up until Olivia and Luke changed schools, they took a city bus to and from school every day.
(side story)
When it became evident to us that the school Olivia and Luke started in was not a good fit, we began the long and difficult process of looking for another school. The bureaucratic nightmare that ensued was exhausting and lengthy. We literally had to put a court case together and, in what we have seen as a miracle, God made a way for our children to attend Bartholomew school in the village of Eynsham, several miles outside of Oxford (they were denied places in the school within our 'catchment area' that would have been so much closer). Since it is a village school (as opposed to Oxford city school), nearly all of the kids going to the school are from the village. Most students walk to school and there aren't school buses collecting kids from outside areas. It seemed our only option was for the kids to leave at 6:50 a.m. and walk the 10 minutes to the bus stop, catch a bus into the city (opposite direction of the school), and then transfer to another bus that would take them to Eynsham. A woman from the village told me about someone who had recently moved from Eynsham to the same street we live on and was still driving her daughter in to school every day. This is how I got to know the lady who lives in the cemetery. I called her and told her our dilemma and asked if she might be willing to take our kids to school. She so kindly agreed that if Olivia and Luke were to get accepted into Bartholomew, she would be willing to pick them up every morning at 8:00. This meant they would not have to do that whole bus routine in the mornings, and that, my friend, would be amazing.
As promised, once the kids were accepted, she began taking them to school and she and I would occasionally do something together once I was back from taking Max to school and she was back from Eynsham. One day we went to an open market that is held weekly in the city center. While we were there, she got a call from the same school (closer to our home) that Olivia and Luke had been denied places at, saying that her daughter had been accepted. She explained to me that she had applied for her daughter to go to Cherwell School because, since moving, the drive was a bit much and she wanted her daughter to have more independence in being able to get herself to and from school for the remainder of her schooling. While this was great news for her, she felt horrible that, after all that had worked out so perfectly for us (her free transport service), it would be coming to an abrupt halt. I was so grateful for the help she had been so far. It had truly made the transition easier for Olivia and Luke. But I was also sad that soon the kids would have a much more challenging time getting to school.
During the whole mess of litigation of changing schools, someone that I'd only met a couple times passed along our name and email address to some friends of hers that she knew would soon be selling their car. Within ONE day of the kids' new ride to school not being able to take them anymore, we got an email from these people saying that they had a car that they would like to give to us. I could hardly believe my eyes when I read it. We had been praying for God's provision for a car (all except Max who had quickly absorbed from living here that it would be bad for the environment), and saw this to be an amazing, direct and miraculous answer to our prayers. They actually offered to give us their BMW station wagon, which was a nicer car and in better condition, but as it turned out ended up giving us the car they intended to keep, a Toyota Carina. Since the BMW was a manual and we were already were facing the challenge of driving on the other side of the car and road, thought it best to not add to that- learning to shift with the left hand (um, mostly for my sake). It was a Sunday afternoon when the owners of the car called to see if they could bring it over. We exchanged the car for some homemade chocolate chip cookies. We sat for an hour talking, playing with their kids, hearing stories about each other and being amazed at the kindness of these strangers who heard God's whisper and responded. We were sure that God was once again, as always, good on timing. The very next morning was the morning that the kids were supposed to be taking the long journey to school.
As soon as the family pulled out of the driveway, the kids begged Jeff to take us for a ride. We ran outside and strained our eyes in the dark to see what our new car looked like and since the dome light wasn't working, felt our way into the car, groping for seat belts and giggling like 5 middle schoolers. WE HAD A CAR!!!! We pulled out of the very tight driveway with about 2 inches on either side and inched our way down the road in the dark, laughing and listening to the kids scream in excitement. We hadn't driven, or been in a car together in over 3 months. It was weird and fun all at the same time. Best of all, the kids were so excited that dad would be able to drive them to school the next morning. Our kids being able to see God moving in our lives and providing for us is priceless.
I pray that these ways God provides never seem anything short of supernatural. I believe that He is at work in our circumstances even when we can't see. When we were wondering how we were going to find a car cheap enough, He was whispering to strangers on the other side of the city to give away their car. I have to believe that when you or I can't find a way out, or imagine how things could change... when you are sitting with your head in your hands, or tears in your eyes, or ache in your heart wondering what's going to happen, or how it's all going to work out, he already has it covered. In His own way, He already has it covered. When the road gets steep, or when you can't see what's around the bend, He can see. And when we wonder why he doesn't just tell us what's around the bend so we can prepare... know what to expect, we can trust Him.
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| The couple who heard God's whisper |
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| First day driving to school in our new car |
