Complimentary Story
March 2025Two damaged lives, a yellow truck, an open road, and a life we never could have imagined.
Our last place to set up and sell was Berryville, AR. When we left there, we stopped in Alpena Pass to get gas and coffee and got into a conversation with a woman that wondered what we were doing. When we explained we were looking for a place to set up, she told us about a place across town that would probably be glad to have us there. They have a small store on the main highway and have vendors set up every weekend. We talked to the owners and they were glad to offer us a place to set up.
When we started this venture, we thought the places we would be selling in would be craft shows of some type. This was God’s next lesson for us. When you are in a craft show of any type, you are one person out of many that is hoping to make a profit so you can move on to the next show. This is where we learned that idea was a bad one for us. Unless you are extremely fortunate, you can only hope to come close to breaking even with expenses. God showed us at Alpena Pass we would do well if we stayed by ourselves and sold in small towns where you are the only show in town and perhaps the only show that ever came to town.
The owners offered to have us stay as long as we wanted to and the charge was only $2.00 for the weekend flea market. The value to the store owner was that, because of the tipi, we would draw customers off the highway and they would buy a drink or snack or something from the store and a little something from us. The idea of selling by ourselves worked well for us. This was God’s idea and certainly not ours. He showed us how we could earn enough to stay on the road. (Proverbs 3:5).
While we were in Alpena Pass, we had the idea of talking to the school (small town) and offer to give the children a history lesson on the tipi and the people that used them. They thought that was a good idea and made arrangements to bring the children in small groups. We agreed that the purpose was to teach them a little history and no sales would be allowed. This worked great because the children saw what we were selling and many returned with adults that never would have otherwise been there.
We got acquainted with several of the vendors while we there and just before we left, we invited a few of them to have coffee with us in the tipi after we closed for the day. This is when God showed us another type that we would meet: The user who is looking for something for nothing. While we were having our coffee, a woman took it upon herself to join us. When she came in, it was obvious she had a very bad limp. She was very quick to explain how bad off she was and was in need of financial help. Her act and her story fell on understanding and sympathetic ears.
Without discussing it among those of us that were there to have coffee and visit, we offered her help, but it was a little different than what she was looking for. We explained that we were vendors and do not have extra cash, but each of us offered to give her a little of our inventory so she could set up and sell so she could raise her own money. It was amazing how fast she left and her limp was noticeably gone. “Users” may show up anywhere.
We stayed in Alpena Pass for almost three weeks. When we left there, we went to Old Washington, AR. They were having Pioneer Days. The town is part of a state park. It was the capital of the Confederacy after Little Rock fell to the Union army.
After we were there for a couple of days, we got a very uneasy feeling. We had no special reason for it, but we were uncomfortable being there. Looking back, we understood that God was letting us know that Satan was about to get serious in trying to discourage us. The grounds were small and the vendors were packed in pretty tight. It was good that we got the tipi set up early because we probably would not have had enough room to do it after the others showed up.
When the festival was over and it was time to take the tipi down, there was not enough room because the vendors were so close together. While we waited for the closest vendors to leave, we went into the tipi and set up our propane cookstove and heated water to make coffee. We were both sitting in front of the stove enjoying the heat it was giving us. The uneasy feeling got much stronger and I checked the stand the stove was on several times to make sure it was sitting solid. Just as the water got to boiling, the pot flipped off the stove and threw boiling water on my legs. It missed Hadassah, but I got very wet. The stove and the stand were still in place. Only the water pot was tipped.
God warned us, but we were still so “green” that we did not recognize that danger was that close. He protected us and I was not burned at all! This was the beginning of learning to listen and trust the Lord. (Psalm 34:7).
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, ‘Fear not; I will help thee.’” (Isaiah 41:13 KJV).
Email:
harry@virtually-forever.com
