MTS Stories

Moving Day-Again!

by Carol Brinneman

Every three to four years, when I, Carol, was overseas in mission work, I moved back and forth between Africa and the States. Maintaining a willing, nomadic spirit was easy then.

In the last ten years we have lived in the same Place near JAARS but we have not lived in the same house; we have moved three times. Renting homes from fellow missionaries going back overseas helps them financially, as well as us. But the desire to have a “nest” tugs often on my heart.

In Africa, we sometimes lived in mud houses with no plumbing or air conditioning. How can I now complain about a rented home, complete with indoor toilet; shower; warm, running water; carpeted floors; screened windows and electricity?

And, after all, we are not homeless.

I understand what the pillow on my couch says: Home is where you make it. I’ve had plenty of practice making a home out of a less-than-ideal dwelling. One creaky, old house we lived in was scheduled for demolition after our departure. However, my creative décor, houseplants and some discarded furniture transformed the place. People entered our home expecting little, but were surprised and complimented us, “Oh, this is so nice in here!”

That upsetting date for our next move is already on the calendar. Will we end up renting someone else’s home? Will God work a miracle and give us a more permanent earthly home? I don’t know. I look up and laugh, noticing the tent-shaped peaked ceiling of my present home.

Lord, I know You love me and direct the path of my life. Make me a truly happy camper, a willing nomad, dwelling in whatever ‘tent’ You provide for me.

Epilogue

I wrote the above article (in a longer form) on December 22, 2004. On March 13, 2005, someone offered to buy a home for us to live in for the rest of our lives! The next day God directed us to a beautiful place and within a month-to the day-it was ours to enjoy. It is everything we could have wanted-and more. We are joyfully in shock at what our wonderful God has done for us. Please join us in praising Him!

Materials Transportation Service

Since we will soon move only 1½ miles down the road, we will not have to call on the JAARS Materials Transportation Service (MTS), but the family moving out of the home will. MTS provides trucking services to Wycliffe Bible Translators and many other evangelical mission organizations. Drivers, mechanics, and warehouse personnel support the work of Bible translation by moving missionaries, and mission supplies and equipment.

Last year, the JAARS fleet of six tractor-trailers moved about 600 families. JAARS is licensed by the Department of Transportation to move only missionaries and mission organizations. MTS personnel are Wycliffe members or volunteers. All trips are planned when there is enough cargo to justify the cost of the trip. Truly, God prompts the hearts of missionaries to call MTS in His timing-trip after trip!

— adapted from www.jaars.org/MTS

MTS on the Cutting Edge

by Carol Brinneman

While on furlough from translation work in Africa a few years back, Neal and I served at JAARS for three months. We were to leave for Neal’s home in Indiana in a few days to pack for our return to Togo. Neal, along with the JAARS Purchasing and Shipping Department (PAS), was searching for a large paper cutter to use in producing literacy books for language projects in Togo. He found a good buy in the newspaper. That very week the church we attended asked what they could buy for us, so they gladly offered us the $400 needed for the purchase.

A day later, while Neal was sitting in a dentist’s chair, I got a phone call from PAS. “An industrial electric paper cutter has just been donated by a printer in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The MTS tractor-trailer leaving with your boxes for Indiana will be pulling out in just a couple minutes. We can route the truck through Gatlinburg. Do you want the paper cutter?”

With no possibility of reaching Neal, I excitedly replied yes—by faith! The $400 more than covered the cost of overseas shipping. That donated paper cutter sent to Togo in 1986 is still helping move hundreds of books into the hands of new literates.

April 2005

Ladder Lost / Friendship Found

One hot August day Len and Cheryl Keyser were heading north in their tractor trailer on Illinois I-57. They were planning to pull over at the next rest area, when they saw something fall from the trailer ahead of them. It looked like a rusty ladder with some kind of attachment. Len swerved his rig to miss it. Thankfully, the ladder hit the road and kept tumbling away, onto the shoulder.

The Keysers tried in vain to signal the driver. But happily, he exited at the same rest area. Len pulled alongside the van and utility trailer and parked. He climbed out and told the other driver about the lost ladder. Sure enough, when the man checked he saw that one of the ramps used to unload the trailer was missing. The Keysers told him the number of the mile marker nearest to where they had seen the ramp fall, so he could go back and find it again.

As they talked with the couple, the Keysers learned that they, too, are Christians who travel for God. Accompanied by their three children, they were on their way north to a ministry opportunity for children.

This couple was, in turn, surprised to hear that the Keysers serve with JAARS in support of Wycliffe Bible Translators. They had known about Wycliffe, but had not heard about JAARS. What is more, this family might be moving in the near future, and they were delighted to learn that JAARS can move people from other Christian ministries.

It was one of those God-ordained appointments that liven up long miles on the road. And, it’s one of those things your prayers help accomplish. Safety on the road, and the opportunity to meet and to help another Christian couple doing what God has called them to do.