“Why is it taking me so long to get out of here?” I complained to Heidi, who replied with, “God’s got something planned, again.”
I was supposed to travel from Ocean Springs, Mississippi to Dallas, Texas that afternoon. An 8.5 hour drive and it was almost 7PM already. What was I thinking? She was probably right, though. God’s timing is perfect.
I had been in Ocean Springs for a doctor’s appointment that had been made a month prior when I had been in that town the first time. In that month, I traveled to Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, back to Tennessee then back down to Ocean Springs.
My appointment, scheduled for July 28th, was to continue work done on having scars removed that had come from New Hampshire Black Fly bites. On July 24th, in Tennessee, I found out I lost my job, when I had only JUST begun to financially recover from losing everything fighting Gonzo’s cancer.
It wasn’t a surprise. God had warned me on July 18th and July 20th and He had promised to walk through the fire with me.
He even placed me in just the right coffee shop when I read the email letting me know I was being discarded by a boss I valued and admired so greatly. Someone I had considered to be one of my best friends abruptly turned on me, but I had been warned exactly 7 months earlier that that would happen.
Pam, the super sweet barista at Coffee Whipped Cafe in Rockwood, Tennessee, was chatting with me right as I opened my computer…when I saw the email that I internally interpreted to say I was considered trash.
In a congratulatory manner, Pam was excited for me and what the Lord had in store for me. “God has something great for you, instead!” she said, immediately. I knew she was right.
Pam and I spent the day connecting and telling stories. Her life is pretty amazing, so if you’re ever near Rockwood, Tennessee, stop by Coffee Whipped Cafe and say, “Hi” to her. Maybe she’ll regale you with some of her stories and bless you with some of their AMAZING Pecan Pie Muffins. And if you’re camping in Rockwood, check out Shiloh at Watts Bar Campsite. It comes complete with frog lullabies and a wonderful host!
Since I no longer had a steady income, I considered cancelling the technically unnecessary $200 appointment in Ocean Springs, “No,” I thought, “God promised to walk through this with me and He always provides for me.” I always have just enough for whatever He’s asking of me, so I decided to keep the appointment that would give me a little more confidence as my scars dissipated.
I will continue living life the way I’d planned and have peace that He’ll show up. With only approximately $1600 in the bank, I decided I wasn’t going to worry about anything! He will provide work and He will provide a way.
I have no doubt, I’m supposed to be traveling around the country for at least 7 months. There have been so many divine appointments and I have seen God work through that in people’s lives in so many ways that have not been documented on this Blog.
God is in this and satan does NOT want it happening. He does NOT want me meeting the people I’m meeting. He does NOT want the people I’m meeting getting to meet Jesus.
So, I made my way down to Ocean Springs where my wonderful sister-in-law insisted I stay at her condo…right as this massive heat wave hit the south. Thank God I was not camping in the 90-100 degree weather!
I made it to my $200 laser appointment and what do you know? There was a QR code at the front desk for $50 off of laser treatments with no catch! Woo Hoo!!! God was already providing.
I somehow ended up spending almost 2 weeks in Ocean Springs. I had hoped to take that time to catch up on writing and posting, but something else happened, instead.
I took that time to grieve.
I cried.
I cried a lot.
There has been so much loss over the past few months and no time to process it.
The loss of my dog;
The loss of a place to live;
The loss of my hair;
The loss of my job;
And the loss of one of the most valued friendships I’ve ever had.
While I was thanking God for the crap and praising Him for all of the loss, I had failed to truly grieve.
So, I spent almost two weeks in Ocean Springs just feeling paralyzed and sad. I was there alone, for the most part, so I did not have to put on a fake smile. I did not have to pretend to be okay. I wasn’t okay, but I was able to sob like a baby and no one was there to hear. I could get it all out. (Maybe not all.)
It was wonderful! I forget quite often that it’s okay to not be okay.
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”…and now I need Him to strengthen me to do all the things. I don’t feel strong. I feel broken.
Yet, it is in this time of weakness and brokenness where I have been so protected, cared for, and provided for. I have been treated like a queen!
God is using some wonderful people to provide for me and I’m finding that, if I ask Him for something, He gives it to me! When I asked Him for a new tent, He provided that through a friend. When I asked Him for a new transmission, He provided a way for that. I have so many examples and after I lost my job, I asked Him for an oil change.
While I was in Ocean Springs, I met one of my brothers for dinner one night. He surprised me by paying for dinner and then, when we left, he looked at my car and out of the blue, asked, “Hey, do you need an oil change?”
Wow!
This was so unusual, but my brother took care of that for me. God keeps showing up through amazing people and keeps building my faith, reminding me that I do not need to worry about anything as long as I’m seeking Him first and stepping out in faith, like He’s asking.
I probably know what you’re thinking and, yes, I have asked Him for millions of dollars on many occasions! That will happen in His timing. For now, He is using me and using my weakness as an example that He always provides and always does it in unexpected ways and then I get to tell the stories.
So, back to where this story started. I left Ocean Springs for the Dallas area on August 8th sometime after 7PM, which seemed pretty stupid, I guess. However, the drive along the Mississippi Gulf Coast at sunset was absolutely gorgeous!
Sometime after midnight, I began to get sleepy and sometime after 1AM, it was time to start looking for gas again. The rates in the area were running around $3.45 (Thank you, Joe!) but I noticed a gas station selling for $3.29. Yay!!
I took that exit in Boyce, Louisiana and noticed another gas station on the other side of the interstate was priced at $3.19. Score!! (How ridiculous is it that I’m excited about a gas price that is still so high?)
The gas station was closed, but the pumps still looked like they were on. I tried several times, but my card would not work in the pumps. It wasn’t declined….just kept saying “One moment, please…” for way too long.
I noticed a dirt parking lot off to the side with several 18 wheelers parked to rest for the night. I decided, as tired as I felt, it made sense to do the same; park and rest for a few hours, and try the pumps again in the morning.
The mustang is not the most comfortable bed, as I can not put the seat back down since the rest of the car is filled with pretty much everything I own. However, I have spent several nights sleeping in it over the past few months when it did not make sense to pitch the tent. It’s good enough when there is no other option and no one has ever bothered me.
Overnight drive to Dallas with a surprise waiting for me!😊 - YouTube
I woke up around the same time the gas station opened and found the pumps were now happy to accept my card. I filled up my tank and went inside and asked the attendant if I could just buy a coffee cup. I have concentrated cold brew coffee in the car and just needed a cup for it.
He said to take the cup for free then asked if I was traveling. I said I was and, without missing a beat, he starts telling me how I need to document it all on YouTube and how much people love watching other people do the things I’m doing. He began going into great details about all the things I should be doing to share my adventures with others. He talked about how much money his friends made doing that.
Was this why I was so late leaving Ocean Springs? Was I supposed to get this nudge in Boyce, Louisiana to be better about documenting and posting all the things I’m doing? It’s been such an amazing journey and so much has been left out, simply because I haven’t been able to keep up with all the great stories.
Documenting my life feels so awkward and vain. I need someone to tell me what to do or maybe just someone I could send all my pictures and videos to who could put them together in some interesting fashion. I don’t know. If anyone has thoughts, advice, insight, or experience please let me know. In the meantime, here are all the places you can find my posted videos and pictures, if you would like to follow and/or subscribe.
YouTube: @andipigottmartin
Instagram: @andipigottmartin
Facebook: andi.t.martin
As I write this ending, I’m sitting by a waterfall in Oklahoma, watching cars drive over it. Life is good!
Dare to Drive Over a Waterfall #waterfalls #travelbyfaith #shelaughswithoutfearofthefuture - YouTube
(This is being posted much later than when it was written. I am currently taking a six-week travel break in Minnesota to visit my best friend, try to find another job, and try to get the Mustang healthy again. The Mustang is as broken as I feel and won’t be good for road trips for a while, so I’m trusting God in all of this to show me a way out.)
Some things to do in Mississippi: