November 2025 Reflections From Dave's Corner of the World

We received another vehicle donation.  Actually, we have received a few of them recently, but don’t worry, I think we’re raffled out for a while!  We actually receive several vehicle donations in a given year, and I must say it’s fun, because it seems like most of them are tailored for someone specific who we know has a need for it.  We talk about these cars at our staff meetings- we just have to smile and laugh at how God does this- He’s amazingly creative!

 This vehicle is an older model Subaru that will be going to a single mother with two children.  The older child is 10 and the younger is 6 months old and she has been walking the older child to school while carrying the younger child in her arms.  It’s starting to get cold out there, but she never complains, the humble soul!  For some years, she had a very difficult childhood, the sins committed against her are too vile to share here, but the Lord brought her to A Ray of Hope this past spring and she has fully embraced God’s love.  She accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized in the Flathead River in July.  Hers was a glorious testimony and baptism!  The Lord continues an amazing work in her heart, reminding me of Stephen in Acts, chapters 6 & 7, full of faith, the Spirit, and God’s grace and power.

 Joe Jelleff, of “Joe’s Garage” fame (that’s our own service shop), is working on her “new” Subaru, to get it in driving shape.  Joe is an awesome friend.  It’s as though the Lord was preparing him for serving others through A Ray of Hope, even as he strayed.  He may not have been walking with the Lord, but he had a heart that welcomes people in and, now that he’s welcomed Jesus in, he’s a living testimony of the love of Christ. 

 In 1997, the Lord spoke to me and asked me to shut down my construction company and to serve others without compensation.  We were one of the finest builders in Flagstaff, Arizona for years, but the Lord had different plans for our family.  I sold my long-time dream, custom-painted Chevy Blazer and bought a used 15 passenger white van to do ministry work with kids.  Who would have ever thought I’d be trading my Chevy Blazer for a 15 passenger van?  Our 1996 Ford Club Wagon has served the Lord since 1997.  It carried our family and neighborhood kids around for years.  When I was teaching my kids to drive, I told them, “after driving Bertha, you’ll be able to drive anything!”, though I would let them take a smaller vehicle in for the test (parallel parking a 15-passenger van is no easy task!).  Now it serves A Ray of Hope.  From the beginning, we named her Bertha, so when I heard one of our staff calling her Shamu, because she carries so many people, I had to correct him:  she’s been Bertha from day one, and she’ll always be Bertha!  He’s on board.  Bertha has never had serious mechanical problems in the 29 years of her travel. 

A few years back, someone came around the corner too fast outside the shelter on a snowy night and slammed into Joe’s truck, totaling it.  When Joe says that a vehicle is totaled, believe him!  He was obviously disappointed over his loss.  I had my brother’s old 2001 Ford F150 sitting around getting old, and now it’s being put to good use.  Joe loves it!  God is in control, even as we’re surprised by both our circumstances and His provision for them.

Wheels, something we take for granted, and yet something that makes a big difference in a person’s life.  Walking is something we like to do for pleasure, but it’s not as big a pleasure when it’s our only mode of transportation, especially on a rainy or snowy day.  Don’t forget to hug your mechanic, he’s the one keeping them running, and keeping you on the road.  I hug mine every time I see him; he’s one of my dear, dear friends!  Love ya, Joe!

Amen?  Amen!  Dave