A little series of miracles today?

Discussion in 'Inspirational Stories' started by BrianK, Aug 17, 2017.

  1. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    Today I had to drive up to Potter County PA to pick up a little light weight motorcycle trailer that I could pull with my subcompact Nissan Versa, out to Montana and back home to Pennsylvania this October. I've designed and built a prototype for a new type of wood stove, a "rocket heater," and the leaders in the field of rocket heater design will be attending a conference there on this type of stove. They've asked me to bring mine and show how it's assembled and works, and it's too bulky to ship it and fly out, besides the fact I'll need various tools and supplies so I don't look like an idiot during show and tell.

    This little trailer was only 120 miles north of me, it was brand new/unused due to the owner's back problems, it was a great deal and exactly what I was searching for. And it was in a large wilderness area with more deer than people, a three hour drive on two lane mountain and country roads..

    I made it to 10:00 mass at the local Catholic nursing home chapel, programmed the address in my GPS, and took off in my little 25 year old 2wd 4 cylinder Dodge Ram 50 pickup, a rebadged Mitsubishi Mighty Max that Dodge imported at one time.

    I was praying the Rosary and not paying much attention to directions in the middle of a vast state forest when the GPS told me to take a right turn. I slowed down and looked at the road, and it looked like an unpaved forest road, so I drove on and let the GPS recalculate. Within a quarter mile, the GPS showed my already-too-long journey would be delayed another 20 minutes if I didn't follow its directions, so (against my first impression and better judgment) I turned around and took the turn into the forest, figuring it just looked like a gravel road but would turn out to be paved after a small curve. After the small curve I saw a sign stating "No Winter Maintenance" but I kept on, as this was exactly the type of road I drove thousands of miles on at camp, starting at age thirteen.

    For the next 5 miles I had a delightful drive on a gravel mountain state forest land road, seeing deer, a ruffed grouse, and a beautiful hawk. The GPS said I only had 6 miles to go after I turned onto another gravel road.

    Unfortunately this road was not as well maintained, and I soon found myself faced with a couple large mud puddles across the road. I had driven this kind of road in two wheel drive cars and trucks for long enough to know that if I got up enough speed I could just coast through the puddles and not get stuck, so that is exactly what I did. The little truck waded through the puddle to the other side without incident.

    And then the little four cylinder engine sputtered for a hundred yards and finally died.

    At this point the reality of my situation hit me: a dead engine, no cell phone service, in the middle of an untraveled state forest road, and more than five miles either direction to blacktop highway. And since I had the strokes, I'd be lucky to make it two miles on foot before I was totally exhausted.

    So...I prayed. Urgently and vigorously. I asked the Lord to have Mercy on me for my stupidity because I was really in trouble, and I begged the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede and send all the angels to either get my truck started or push it down this mountain trail.

    I gripped the keys, and the engine sputtered to life, but when I put it in gear, it stalled again. So I prayed and begged even more ardently, and the engine sputtered to life. This time I put it in first gear, and while it coughed and sputtered, it started moving forward.

    This all happened twice more over the next two miles, dying just past mud puddles, intense prayer and begging, the engine sputtering to life, stalling, and starting again, and slow progress in first gear.

    Finally the trail started winding down the mountain, the gravel road dried out, I never got stuck in the mud, and by the time I was back to black top the old truck was running like a top again.

    Many prayers of thanks to The Lord, Our Lady and all the angels and saints filled the rest of my journey. I picked up the trailer and had a nice drive home.

    I still don't know why I took that trail. I make it a RULE never to follow any GPS directions that take me onto a dirt road. But just this once I made an exception, and thankfully all the heavenly host was with me today.

    By the way, the last time this truck acted this way, it would not restart and had to be towed.
     
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  2. HeavenlyHosts

    HeavenlyHosts Powers

    A HUGE MIRACLE TODAY!
    Wonderful account, very blessed, Brian.
    I know you will be happy to show your invention soon. It will all work out. What an ordeal! Thanks for sharing this, that we are never alone and can always pray for help and receive it. This was truly miraculous.
     
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  3. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    Thanks! I start my return trip from Montana (2200 miles one way) on October 13. I'm going to make this trip as an act of hope and trust despite the worries about the state of this world, and make a stop in LaCrosse WI at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe as well as Mount Rushmore on the way out, and Yellowstone and the traditional Carmelites in Cody WY on the way home.
     
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  4. Katfalls

    Katfalls Powers

    Prayer works! Ask and you shall receive :), I am so happy for you. I pray you will have a good journey and your stove is successful.
     
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  5. padraig

    padraig Powers

    Please be careful Brian. I am wondering if you should be doing this stuff at all with your health the way it is.
     
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  6. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    Thanks Padraig. I'm scheduling 4 or 5 days for the trip out then the same for the trip back, so I'm not on the road too long each day, with lots of stops to rest and stretch on the way. I need the free publicity and the feedback I'll get from experts in the field while I'm there, so it's something I feel I need to do to help this project succeed and build a successful business around it.
     
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  7. Mario

    Mario Powers

    As am I.:D

    Safe in the Father's Arms!
     
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  8. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

  9. SgCatholic

    SgCatholic Guest

    May our Blessed Mother continue to intercede for you, Brian.
    Stay safe.
    God Bless your efforts.
     
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  10. Dolours

    Dolours Guest

    That's a lot of driving for one person. Can you get a friend or relative to travel with you and take turns at the wheel?
     
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  11. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    So far no one has been able to accompany me for such a long time away (15days probably.)
     
  12. HeavenlyHosts

    HeavenlyHosts Powers

    Well I think we need to pray and trust the Lord that all will be prepared and ready when the time comes
    The Lord is already working out the details
    Maybe you will find someone by then
    Not to worry
     
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  13. Dolours

    Dolours Guest

    Yes, 15 days is a long time. I suppose that if you treat it like a holiday road trip it will be easier on your health. Would it have been possible to ship the stove by rail, allowing you to travel by plane?

    I will join with HeavenlyHosts and pray that it all goes well for you.
     
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  14. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    Yes and no. They want me to show both how it's assembled (it's a kit) as well as how it functions. There is just too much I need to take along with me to ship it all out, (the kit, two 55 gallon barrels, power and hand tools, fire brick, barrel stove door kit) and then fly out and hope its all there. That would actually be more stressful to me.

    I've already bought the little trailer, and the time to buy affordable air fare has about passed, so I'm pretty well committed to driving. I had originally planned to camp each night out and back, but my mom wants me to get a hotel each night to get a decent night's rest, and said she'd help pay for it,
     
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  15. AED

    AED Powers

    Praying for your journey at Mass this morning Brian. God bless and God speed.
     
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  16. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    The little trailer was worth the adventure to go get it and bring it home. It only weighs 150lbs and is perfect to pull behind my little subcompact Nissan. View attachment 6761
     
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  17. HeavenlyHosts

    HeavenlyHosts Powers

    Very nice trailer and vehicle
    Still praying for you for future success
    Might as well pray to Our Lady of Good Success
    For this intention

    Right!
     
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  18. CrewDog

    CrewDog Guest

    Don't forget to get a spare tire for the trailer, Brian ...... I've learned the hard way in years past ;-(

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
     
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  19. BrianK

    BrianK Guest

    Thanks! I was just pricing them at Harbor Freight this afternoon and I'm seriously considering taking two spares for the trip. They're only 8" diameter wheels so they turn faster (also hard on bearings so I might get BearingBuddies) and I'm going to put 5000 miles on them. I picked up a fresh tube of grease to repack the bearings before the trip too.
     
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  20. Don_D

    Don_D ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

    Way to be prepared Brian. Cheap piece of mind if you ask me. :)
     
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