Help Gray Family with a Van
I hope all who read this are encouraged to practice good no matter their misfortune. We have a sovereign God who exceeds all fortune and sees our future. He has always had plans to prosper us.
This past year has been one of the most sorrowful and challenging times. I know that has been for many. I want to use this Go Fund Me platform to prove that it’s never the challenge that destroys us, rather our failure to believe in the goodness of our God through Jesus Christ. We were encouraged by family and friends to do this account in belief that many would want to help.
As Daddy, I’m not one to blast my family problems but I feel that’s the problem in this world. We are afraid to ask for help. All seems well by what we see, but the proof is always known by what’s happening internally. We’ve decided to put our trust in Jesus and be transparent. In our weakness He is made strong. Please allow my family challenges to inspire you to witness God’s goodness unveiled. What is intended for bad, God makes good when we believe. It is my hope that the outcome of this reminds us that God has never left us.
It starts with forgiveness, so that God continues to forgive us. I cry just thinking of so many who struggle with unimaginable challenges. As the people of God, we have overcome those things. Yet, we’ve not learned that our authority to help others is only through knowing we have been forgiven. God has appointed us to be the laborers to spread the good news.
As a family of 9, we are witnessing His precious hands in our lives as we surrender and forgive others. Our experience is a testament that there is victory in Jesus.
We recently sold our van and car to buy a newer, more reliable family van for us. Last Thursday, we purchased a 12 passenger van from a private seller. The seller convinced us that the van was in good condition. We just trusted him. We quickly planned and spent a good deal of money to go down and pick it up in Houston, Texas. We thought we checked it out thoroughly, drove around in it, and asked all the right questions. We believed all we were told was good. So we paid $14,000 dollars cash. For those of you who would have thought to let a mechanic look at it, we sure wish we thought of that at the time. A measly $100 mechanic fee would have saved us.
We drove the van home and Saturday a friend looked at it and noticed under the van that an adhesive filler (bondo) was used on the frame under the van. Instead of replacing the damaged portion, someone covered up the frame damage. That is very, very bad. God is good, because we drove 8 hours back safe and sound. We brought it to three Collision Centers Monday, and they all said there is major damage to the frame of the van. It’s so bad that they recommended we try to return the van to the seller. They said it wasn’t safe to drive and the repairs could cost $10,000+ because when they take it apart they’re confident to find more damage.
We believe the seller knew more than he shared but not that the van was totally not fit to drive. At the moment, we are left without the money to fix it, or to buy another van, and without transportation. We are walking around to get what we need. He refuses to give us our money back. Here is where we are... be still and watch God. If no weapon formed against us will prosper then God will show out. We have no clue what the seller’s true intents were. We just refuse to let our shared experiences cause us to fail from giving all praise to God.
We are extremely grateful if you feel led by God to bless us. However, we’ve found confidence in the fact that our reward is not earthly, but He gives above all we could ask or think. We find joy there. We hope that you see that when we withhold nothing from Jesus, unashamedly, He goes before our Heavenly Father on our behalf. Please feel free to comment with a testimony of God’s goodness if you don’t have to give. It’s time we edify each other! Thanks. We love y’all! The Grays. ❤️ P.S. We have learned, through this experience and promise this will NEVER happen again.
