Jim Shares…
As we drove out of Biloxi, Mississippi, on november 5, 1992, shortly after noon, we knew in our hearts that our quest had begun, and there was no turning back. We had vacated our home, and all of our furniture and belongings that we did not sell or give away were put in a storage unit. Janie and I were in our early forties with five children ages seven to fourteen. We had $500 cash in our pockets to get us to where we were going. Our hearts were set on this adventure, and we were quite excited, I think!
We did not know where we were going or how long it would take to get there, but we were certain that our trip was in God’s hands. This adventure was sure to provide daily anticipation and challenges. We were embarking on a journey with many new challenges. One was home schooling. We thought it would not be too difficult, yet in this strange walk of faith with a downsized home, every little problem was magnified. As each mile crept by, we were faced with keeping our focus and keeping our children focused, as we attempted to figure everything out. Another new challenge was camping. I was never the outdoors type, and as a family we were being introduced to a new lifestyle. Janie and I were continually reinforcing the children’s morale. They had overheard many conversations concerning our quest, and if they had been a little older, they might certainly have rebelled. We were uncertain concerning this entire episode except for the fact that we knew beyond any doubt that the LORD’s hand was directing us and that the journey was taking our whole family to a new level of faith in God.