Blessings in Breakdowns

At the end of our last newsletter there was a small note in the prayer requests about the Exploder's transmission. On the way home from San Pedro Sula last month, I had noticed a strange squeaking/popping sound coming from underneath the vehicle (not good). When I would shift into park the sound would go away, but then return as soon as I shifted into drive (really not good). We pulled over, and I checked the transmission fluid. It was black. (yeah, we're in trouble). Normally you want an almost blood red color to your transmission fluid. So we said a prayer and started our journey home. Knowing that it wasn't a matter of IF the transmission was going to fail, but WHEN the transmission would fail.

This picture is from earlier in the week when i removed the transmission pan to change the oil and see how bad the damage was. Everything in this photo is pretty much what you don't want to find in your transmission pan.

Since returning from San Pedro, I've been thinking about how to tackle this problem. I've wanted to rebuild an automatic transmission for quite some time, so this seemed like an opportunity for that. Several barriers to that option came into play. I don't have my tools here at the hospital yet, and I have other priorities that require my time (i.e. learning Spanish & hospital projects). Another option was outsourcing part of the project. I searched for a transmission shop around La Ceiba. After removing the transmission myself, I would then bring it to the shop for the rebuild. Again, the tools and time barrier came into play. So for the past couple weeks we have limped along around the hospital, occasionally driving down the road to a pulperia. We were getting by.

Meanwhile, I had fallen into this rut of analysis paralysis, and it was starting to wear on me mentally. I just really didn't know what to do. Yesterday we had a trip planned to go into Ceiba, so when we left we said a quick prayer and went on our way. I knew in the back of my mind that the transmission could let us down at any time, but what I didn't expect was that time would be only an hour and a half later. The drive had been going well but at the last small hill before you roll into the city, I felt the transmission letting go. We crested the hill and by then no power was getting passed from the engine to the wheels. The Lord provides and we coasted into the parking lot of the Madeyso store which provided us a place to stop and easily be towed from.

Continuing our journey into Ceiba but now with the aid of a tow strap and Hilux.

Its hard to describe this feeling, but for some reason the transmission failing was the kick I needed to get moving again. I was stuck in this rut of trying to decide what to do. Well, now several decisions had been made for me. Breaking down an hour and a half away from the hospital had actually relieved stress. It also can't be left out that God has blessed us with such a great community here. Within an hour we had been towed, had multiple ride offers back to the hospital, and ultimately a loaner vehicle to use to finish our shopping for the day and get us back home.

Thankful that we have our moto here to use to get us around while the Exploder is down, and we're prayerful that the transmission rebuild will get done quickly.

Keep after it!