Giving and Receiving

We were coming out of Walmart yesterday, when Ingrid noticed that a minivan that was pulling out of the parking area had a flat tire.  We waved them over to let them know.

When they rolled down the window we saw it was an elderly couple.  We said we would help.

If you're going to have a flat tire and need help, I'm probably a good volunteer.  I have probably changed more flat tires than most people in North America, save those who work in tire shops.  When we lived in Haiti, we probably averaged a flat tire a week--over 7 years.  I used to carry two spare tires except on long trips when I carried three--and on one occasion needed them all.

Changing flat tires isn't particularly hard.  It's more of a challenge figuring out where the jack is and how to access the spare tire--that part takes over half the time.

While I was getting the work done, Ingrid was chatting with the couple.  Turns out that this is a German Mennonite couple from Paraguay, so as fellow Mennonites and Ingrid being a German, we had a common bond.  They have been in Canada 16 years and this is their first flat tire since coming here.  They don't have CAA or anything like that because they pretty much only drive from their condo to the store.  So they were particularly appreciative of the help.

Their names are easy to remember--they have the same first names as a couple who took in my oldest brother's wife during her younger years (and don't ask me how I even remember that after only meeting that couple twice in the 1960's).

I didn't want any kind of remuneration for using my "gifts" to serve others, but they were quite insistent gave far more than deserved.  They wanted to bless us on our journey as well.

Don and Katy, it was a pleasure to meet you.  Hope to see you when our paths cross again--wherever that may be.


Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
Psalm 128:1-2 (ESV)