November 13, 2011
This is the day! The preparations were all completed, the prayers were said, the truck was packed as tight and stable as possible. The tires---well, I was advised to put the big nobby tires on, but because they have no rims, I would have to go and have them changed. There was no time or room in the truck to do that. The regular tires would have to do.Blet Jaw and I proceeded to the usual entrance of the BYT road outside of Meta, but it was closed. We knew why. The tremendous rains this season had covered the steep cemented portions with mud, making them impassable. We backtracked to another way in.This page cannot describe to you the conditions of the road we travelled! Remember, it rained with a vengeance this season. 5 months of intense rain instead of the usual 3 1/2, enough to flood all Bangkok and mid Thailand. I have driven thousands of miles in America in all kinds of vehicles, however none of them were off road. I gripped the steering wheel as turn after turn revealed steep, rutted, rocky, twisting, and trecherous paths. I had rarely even put this truck into 4 wheel drive hi and never had I used 4 wheel drive low gear. I remember Micah telling me that you must be at a stop in order to engage it into 4 wheel drive low. I never had seen the road this bad. As the truck lurched and rocked over ruts and steep ups and downs I heard Blet Jaws peaceful voice. It was saying, "You know, if you were to die doing this, Gayle, you will be in heaven, I know that for sure." I simply said, "That goes for you too Blet Jaw!" Surely in all human eyes I was one most foolish to do what I was doing, But God in all His power was leading us. His angels were all about us! 3 times I landed us in the deep ruts, (we high centered in one), 3 times Blet Jaw got out and surveyed the scene, saying, "This is very bad." But I tried out 4 wheel drive low and discovered it was my best friend! What a good truck, it took all the insults I gave it and backed us out of every deep rut. My neck was sore because I strained to see over the hood when ascending the steep hills. I finally thought about a small blanket behind me. I grabbed it and sat on it. Wow! That was a lot better, sure wish I had thought of that before. The last 2 hours were in the dark. It was very hard to tell what was around the bend. You would pick a line to follow, straddling the deep ruts, as you turned the corner you wondered if you were on the right track. Sometimes the rut widened too far and we had to back out and start again on a different line. In the dark, the small ruts looked huge and the big ones didn't look so bad. There was a constant prayer on my lips. Oh if only Bradley or Micah were here! I now most fully respected their driving skills and endurance to drive this road repeatedly. Oh how I miss them! I now really understood their weariness at the days end. What a blessing they are!The last stretch of 10 km, I had to stop 4-5 times thinking I should throw up. I was simply exhausted. The river in BYT that we cross twice was higher than usual and the final short, steep hill that led up to the house was too steep for 4 high. I skidded back down the hill. The brakes could not hold. Fortunately we did not go over the bank into the river sideways! 4X4 low brought us back up. Exhausted we saw Pee Wa, the poor little old lady with so many aches and pains. She was inviting us to her hut to sleep. That sounded good to me. She placed a mat in the hut for me and I laid down. Before anyone could count to 20 I was sound asleep.Please don't tell Blet Jaw, but that day I made a firm decision to never drive back out on that road again! The truck would have to stay parked right where it was!Fortunately by the next morning I felt rested and great. I am so thankful for a good night's sleep. How does the Lord re-juvinate you while you sleep? The morning was crisp and cool. The sun shone against the steep mountains in a peaceful glow. How beautiful! The birds were singing. There is so much to be thankful for dear Lord when You are by my side.