Complimentary Story
January 2026Two damaged lives, a yellow truck, an open road, and a life we never could have imagined.
We have now been traveling about ten months. When we first left, we had no real concept of what we were doing. During the early months, we had several encounters with people and entities that were definitely not Christian. I do not want to say they were demon influenced, but that is certainly the impression that we were left with. I have included many of the episodes in earlier articles. That type of experience was never in our thoughts when we started. We have never understood why we were troubled in that manner, but it has been a definite confirmation of the fact that there is a spirit world that is capable of affecting our lives. That has been one of the most valuable lessons we have learned.
We have now gotten through our first winter on the road and are looking forward to heading back North from South Texas. We found small local markets that we could sell in as we worked our way back into Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. We have learned to take our time finding a place to sell. Many vendors are willing to share where the next good market has been for them. It has become obvious that there is a sub-culture among the traveling vendors. We have seen it several times when a vendor will offer to help another vendor and never expect to be paid for the help they gave. It is very different from the daily life that we walked away from.
There is a flip side to a vendor helping another vendor. If one vendor cheats another vendor, the sub-culture will deal with the one that did the cheating. Word passes from one vendor to another that if that person is found there is a person to contact and something that is deemed appropriate will be done. The system is very efficient because everyone is mobile and eventually the person they are looking for will be in the same market as someone looking for him. The only way to avoid being located is to not travel anymore.
It was through another vendor that we learned about a small market that sets up at in a Walmart parking lot one day a week. While we were there, we met Randy and Kayla. They had a vegetable stand on a very busy highway in Southern Missouri and they wanted us to set our tipi up there. That was the beginning of a friendship. When we would travel through the area, we would stop at their place and make ourselves at home even if they were gone at the time. Randy told us about another place to set up in Northern Arkansas. This location turned out to be very good for us and we stayed much longer than we usually spend at a setup.
The owner of the property was a very friendly man and we got to know him fairly well. He had a sense of humor, but the day came that Hadassah had to set him straight. It is one of those situations that unfolded rapidly and, when we look back on it, we still get a good laugh.
One of the items we had for sale at that time were simple walking sticks. He had brought several of his friends to the tipi to look around. When he spotted the walking sticks, he picked one of them up and started swinging it around and saying something on the order of “This is a wife tamer. Wife, get my coffee! Get my slippers! Take out the garbage!” He was pretending (I hope) to order his wife to wait on him.
Now, Hadassah just does not tolerate a chauvinistic attitude from anyone. Her response to his actions was immediate! She pulled her side knife and told him she could whittle his wife tamer down to toothpicks. Now, his friends thought that it was hilarious, but for some reason, he did not see the humor in it. It did all work out and he was not mad, but he was embarrassed.
I know that what we have chosen to do is not for everyone. I have been told by many people that they want to change their circumstances, but they cannot make the change for some reason or are too scared to leave their familiar surroundings. There are bad people that have stepped outside their comfort zone and there are good people that have done the same thing. Both the bad people and the good people have been successful. If God is involved in the decision to change and you keep God involved in what you are doing, you will find peace in the change. (Psalm 37:23).
There have been many that do not understand why we would be so irresponsible walking away from all those things you are supposed to accumulate in this life. They cannot grasp the enjoyment that comes from not living under strict obligations from employers, creditors, and needing to deal with the everyday cares of a well structured life. We have heard it from some relatives, strangers we have met, and children that tell us we need to get a “real life.” It is the children I really feel bad for. At their young age, they have already decided what is an acceptable lifestyle.
The life we are living can be difficult at times, but there is nothing in our lives that can compare to the freedom we are enjoying. (Ecclesiastes 5:18).
“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
