We were on our way to the Anza-Borrego Desert for a few days of R&R before we headed into San Diego. Bill and I were talking in the front of the RV and I had just finished saying, "Well, we need to make sure we pray often to stay aligned with God's will as we continue growing Believer's Bridge." The back wheels fish-tailed and we swerved into the other lane. There was no on-coming traffic which was the first praise.
Bill gently guided the RV back to our lane but it felt like we had blown a tire so we pulled over on the shoulder as far as we could. Adrenaline running, Bill and Robert jumped out the RV and started looking to see what was the problem.
After a few minutes Bill came back and said he couldn't see anything. He turned the engine on and tried moving the RV forward. A horrible noise came from the back but the RV didn't budge. So the guys took the car off the back and Bill got the idea to see if he could back up the RV. It started to back up but the whole RV shook and made a horrible noise and stopped.
As he went back outside he saw one of our wheels in the middle of the road! After recovering it he looked at the area and found that the lug nuts had broken off and the second tire (the RV has 2 wheels per side in the back) was still on but angled funny.
What seems to have happened is the lug nuts broke and that made us swerve but the tires stayed on. Second praise. If they hadn't, we are pretty sure the RV would have fallen on it's side or at the very least ruined the axle by breaking or bending it and who knows what other damage could have happened.
As it was, the wheels stayed on until Bill backed the RV up, but only one came off while the other continued to hold the RV up. Third praise.
We have AAA RV coverage (fourth praise) so they were finally able to locate someone who could tow the RV backwards to a tire auto shop in Brawley, CA. The town was only 12 miles from where we pulled off the side, but the tow driver had to come from 85 miles away.
Bill put on the flashers to the RV and car and put a flair on the road since the RV was barely off the side of the road. The fifth praise was it happened on a straight stretch of road with clear visibility on both sides.
So we slept in the RV (the tow driver put the tires back on, but w/o the lug nuts and bolts) in the auto tire parking lot and Bill talked to them in the morning. The owner of the shop seems to be a Christian and Bill also told him about our work in Peru. I believe he is from Mexico.
Right now we are waiting for Bill to come back with more lug bolts but he has to drive to El Centro to an Auto Zone which has them for $2.50 versus the $15 ones they originally wanted to get.
SO, we are all safe and VERY thankful for the miracle that happened. Thanks to all who pray for us!! There seems to never be a dull moment around here... Once we get the wheels secured we plan on heading to the desert and RELAX!!!
The "crooked" tire
The huge tow truck hooking up the back of the RV
And that, folks, is what an axle looks like...
Have home, will travel...unless the wheels fall off.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:2-6
