When we got our first travel trailer in 2020, we watched a lot of YouTube videos to learn how to renovate and fix up our old trailer. That is how we found Our Lively Tribe – a husband and wife who renovate trailers as their profession. Who would have known that 2 years later, we would end up buying one of their renovated trailers!

We placed a downpayment in October 2021 with an estimated pickup in December. But the trailer was not completed until March 2022, due to a life-threatening health issue with their son. During the months of waiting, we were able to develop a relationship with Travis and Erin, and they were impressed by our patience and graciousness in understanding their situation.

After we moved into our new trailer, we noticed a water leak from the shower plumbing, which flooded our living room. This required taking apart the shower to fix the leak, and pulling up the vinyl plank flooring in the living room and bathroom to dry up all the water so that mold would not grow. Travis felt terrible about this and dropped everything to help me do all this work at no charge, even though it wasn’t entirely his fault.

During the days Travis spent working on our trailer, we were able to have more conversations with him. And on the last day, Travis and I paused work for almost 2 hours because we were immersed in spiritual conversation!

Travis said he had an “encounter with Jesus” a few years ago, and started pursuing Him, but he did not understand the Gospel and had not yet read any part of the Bible. At one point in our conversation, Travis asked me what I meant by Salvation, “what does Jesus save us from?” So I got to explain the entire Gospel to him, and exhorted him to read the Bible! And later in the day, Ari told Travis, “Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and rose back to life again.”

We were reminded that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God can use even the worst circumstances for our good – which is not comfort or worldly success, but God furthering His purpose through us. And we are so grateful that God could use a flooded living room to spread the Gospel!

At the end of this last day of work, Travis told Carissa, it was worth all of this work just to have “the best conversation about God ever!” We will continue to have a relationship with Travis and Erin, and there will be more opportunities for further conversations. Please pray for the Salvation of Travis and his family.

Thank you for continually praying for us and our ministry, we appreciate you.

Love,
BJ, Carissa, and Ari