We Plan but God Determines Our Steps
While sitting in church Sunday April 12, 2026 I experienced an event I cannot explain other than the Lord communicating directly with me.
For many years, Lou and I have been part of a couple’s RV Ministry called SOWERs travelling to different Christian ministries serving alongside their staff encouraging and helping them with whatever tasks needs doing. Our continuous prayer while travelling has been that God would use us for His Kingdom and His Glory.
November 2023, while on a SOWER project in Florida we met Jesse and Mary who were on staff gaining experience in mission work, specifically Christian Camp ministry. Lou and I moved on from that project and served several other places in Florida before finding ourselves back near Jesse and Mary (within an hour’s drive) and we decided to meet up. During lunch they told us about themselves and how they wanted to be good stewards of the land God had entrusted to them in Texas. Their vision was to eventually become a SOWER project. They wanted to put in some RV sites to generate income for the property and asked us if we would consider coming alongside them as volunteers to help. We thanked them and said we would think and pray about it.
Nearly a year later while back in Texas we discovered that Jesse and Mary had returned to their land (Vertex Ranch) and they invited us to stay with them. They had a RV hookup we were able to use that was just a few feet away from their Tiny House. During this time, we toured their property and enjoyed many conversations around a campfire.
We met with Jesse and Mary a few more times while staying at the SOWER office in Lindale Texas. Over lunch and fellowship, they would emphasize we were still welcome to come to their place to help and gave us updates on their ministry/vision.
Now, back to that Sunday in April. The thoughts that were racing in my head were more like a voice that told me I had been praying for Lou and I to be used for God’s Kingdom and His Glory and several times He had offered this opportunity to come alongside our friends that had asked us to and we had denied it. I had a very deep conviction that I had been guilty of a sin of omission where He had told me to help someone and we did not do it. After church, we left to follow friends to their house and while sitting in their driveway Lou asked me what had happened in church and all I could say was that I had been so disobedient and I started weeping.
Later that day we called Jesse and Mary and explained what had happened. We told them that we would be happy to come alongside of them in their ministry and serve. We are now in our third week of being parked at Vertex Ranch. We are not sure what the future holds for all of us, but know who holds the future and we put our trust in Him.
So…this seems to be the change we were anticipating. Honestly, the being able to stop travelling for a while is an answer to our prayers, because T has some health issues that may require further investigating and treatment. I also need some time to focus on my health. This stage of life can be a challenge!!
We ask for you all to consider praying for us and for the ministry we are coming alongside during this season. Texas in the Summer living in an RV can be brutal, an experience we never wanted to repeat lol. I guess we should have been more careful on what we said “never” to!
I hope this blog post finds each of you doing well- Love Lou
” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28
