HOME!!! - March 17, 2008

HOME!!!

Dearest Friends across America,

Blessings to all of you!!!! Wonder of Wonders I have made it home safely 12 weeks to the day that I started! I am so greatly blessed and thrilled to be home and report on HIS GREAT FAITHFULNESS once again. To Him belongs the GLORY in taking me across America for 12 weeks and bringing me safely home where all was as left it. Even the Christmas decorations were still waiting for me as I left on Dec 21. Now you don’t need to feel guilty if you don’t get yours down right away. (smile) I find it interesting that the Lord spoke to me on 12-12-07 about making this trip and I have been gone exactly 12 weeks...????... and gone over 12,000 miles.

Words cannot describe my feelings as I walked into my apartment wondering what I’d find. After many reports of record snow and cold, I was concerned that pipes had frozen or flooding had occurred as heat was at a minimum. What a joy to see everything as perfectly as I’d left it. I wept with the relief of finding that all was well and also from the tension and pressure of driving so many miles. I had left Pierre SD and covered 1125 miles in two days. The glory van and I wanted to go home!!!!!

Truly, HE watched over me every minute and mile of a 12,500 mile journey across America from Key West, Florida to the eastern shore of New Jersey and back to Liberty Lake!! I had driven through Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana before I crossed the Washington border and the Glory Van and I came home to park and rest. And Praise the Lord, all the record snow had melted by the time I came home to a pleasant temperature, drizzling rain and fresh crisp mountain air. I absolutely love Liberty Lake and my apartment and piano!!

I had such beautiful weather driving home. The skies were spectacular across the great state of Montana. EVERYONE should drive across Montana in your lifetime. It truly is Big Sky country and the vastness of the land, the beauty and grandeur of the mountains, rivers, and plains will cause your heart to sing. I spent one night in Sheridan, WY, another beautiful location, nestled at the foothills of the gorgeous Big Horn Mountains that were snow capped and grand. I drove into Sheridan in time to see the sun set over the tops of these magnificent mountains. When I left early the next morning, before the sun rose in splendor, it cast a beautiful purple hue across a sky scattered with clouds. The mountains looked purple as well. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies and amber waves of grain… for purple mountain’s majesty above the fruited plain… America, America, God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea…” Seeing the beauty, vastness, and layout of the land is truly what makes travel worthwhile and adventuresome.

I continue to marvel at the amazing weather that occurred as I traveled the past 12 weeks. I had only a few days of rain and welcomed it as the areas were very dry and desperate for rain in the Carolinas and Georgia. Most of the time the skies were clear, the heavens open over me and the sun shining. ( My favorite weather) The Lord spared me several times from bad driving conditions. When I was at the Campground in Ashland, VA on February 12, I suddenly felt the need to press on early. I kept driving, feeling the need to get to my destination late afternoon as I was visiting friends in Maryland on my way. As I pulled into a parking lot to verify directions, it began to sleet. Within an hour after I arrived safely at my friend’s house, a major sleet and ice storm hit the DC and Baltimore area and my van and windows were icing over. News reports came in of over 100 accidents on the roads I had just traveled that afternoon as they became icy and treacherous. People were caught in traffic for hours, due to ice, accidents, and cars moving at a snail's pace in rush hour traffic. How grateful I was for that inner prodding of the Holy Spirit to get on down the road early. I’m learning more and more to listen to my heart and heed the promptings to go. There is no way you could travel alone so far were it not for HIS faithfulness to protect, guide and provide.

I will be sharing more of the Glory stories that happened along the way. I had many Divine appointments and met many new friends whose hearts were knit to mine. It is truly an honor and joy to travel and serve as an ambassador for His Kingdom. I have had remarkable good health and the demands on my time, energies, and patience were huge.

Thank you for sharing the journey with your love, prayers and financial support. Several people sent in $50 for a tank of gas, but as you can imagine, it was multiple tanks of gas that were needed. I still have a large unpaid balance that is due for the expenses of the trip. I had several hotel stays over the last 12 weeks and were it not for the kindness, generosity and hospitality of many wonderful people, there would have been many more. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation and “hats off” to the wonderful hosts who give of their best and make me feel at home and comfortable with lodging, meals and good coffee.

I’m attaching some pictures of the Glory Van at some destinations. Thank you for making it possible to go and know that you are a part of the journey. I trust you will enjoy the stories as they come forth. Be sure to click on "View Photos" at the bottom of this email. Enjoy.

May His richest blessings be upon all of you. If the stories bless and encourage you, let me know. And thank you for standing with me financially and with your love, friendship, and prayers. You are treasured.

If it is more convenient for you, you can access my paypal account at selahministries@hotmail.com, or I am able to receive credit card donations. My address is below. Thanks SO much!

Happy,

Carla

21200 E Country Vista Dr #L-104
Liberty Lake, WA 99019

"Glory Van Will Travel" 2008
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