One Saturday night in October 2021, I left a client’s house in Elkhart at 9 pm after a two-hour shift. As I pulled out of the driveway, something sounded wrong. I parked at the curb and walked around the vehicle. The front passenger tire was flat. I had recently added roadside assistance to my auto insurance policy, and I called the number on my card for service. ETA was estimated at 40-70 minutes. This house was located on a cove, so there was minimal traffic. I was facing the corner that intersected the cross street, enabling me to see any vehicle entering the cove. I sat in the car and waited. No one arrived and no one called. I phoned again at 10:30 pm, and the agent could not get a response from the service provider she had contacted earlier. She was sympathetic to my situation and spent some time locating another provider. Brandon from ACESUP answered her call. He was driving from Warsaw and ETA would be around 11:30 pm. It was a cold night, but I was wearing my heavy winter coat and I stayed reasonably warm in my vehicle with my gloves and scarf.
I did not want to disturb my client, to ask if I could wait in her living room. She was wheelchair bound and would be disturbed by my return. I had helped her prepare for the evening and she was in the bed when I left her house. I did not know how long it would take for help to arrive, and sitting in her living room would have disrupted her rest. After settling in the car, I sang some songs, quoted scripture, and prayed/talked to God. His peace descended over me as time passed.
Brandon called shortly before he arrived to confirm my location and that I was with the vehicle. He worked quickly and finished the job in a few minutes. I thanked him profusely for coming to my rescue through tears that were starting to fall in light of his kindness and reassuring words. Suddenly I was aware of my vulnerability and weakness in view of the present circumstances. I asked God to bless him abundantly and to give him protection driving home as well as when servicing other drivers. Several days later I received a request from my insurance company to share my experience with this provider. I gave Brandon/ACESUP an excellent review and again prayed for God’s blessings over him personally and professionally.
Today, I left my last client’s home for the day about 4 pm. My vehicle seemed to be driving a little loose, but I did not think too much about it. When I arrived home, I walked around my car and discovered the passenger rear tire was very low. I debated driving to a station to get air, but decided instead to call for roadside assistance. I was concerned that the tire might completely deflate while driving and leave me stranded on a busy street.
The request was handled promptly and ETA was estimated at 30-60 minutes. The provider arrived in 35 minutes and I was happily surprised to see Brandon/ACESUP pulling into the parking lot! He remembered that cold night in Elkhart driving from Warsaw and my vehicle. When I showed him the tire, he immediately pointed to an obvious screw head. I was shocked. Though I had looked at the low tire before I called for assistance, I had not noticed the screw. I was humbled as I reflected on God’s protection while driving through the day as I had visited three different clients. His hand had been upon me while I was unaware of any danger.
I spoke a blessing over Brandon as he prepared to leave, and his warm smile revealed gratitude. My heart was filled with awareness of God’s help and provision. Today was the end of a difficult work week; but, as only God can do, He brushed away all traces of frustration with His presence and His love through the service provided by Brandon. In the space of those few minutes, I was refreshed, restored, and renewed by our Heavenly Father.
9/02/2022, personal photo