Last week, my car got stuck. It wasn’t raining or muddy, it wasn’t dark out, and there wasn’t a hole that I could see. Somehow, in spite of ideal conditions, I got my car stuck in my living room, which is also my garage.

The car is new, as is the garage that is also part of my living room. The first day I parked in my garage, it was such a tight fit that I had to climb out the passenger door into my living room. The next day I decided I would solve the problem by carefully backing in to the garage, which would leave plenty of space to open the driver side door. Somehow, I got stuck halfway in. I wasn’t too concerned as I geared down to 1st, and tried again. Nothing. Ceramic tile floors have very little traction. “Well”, I thought, “luckily I have 4-wheel drive!” So I switched into 4-wheel drive and tried again. Not much difference. By turning the steering wheel, I discovered that the spinning rear tires pushed me towards one wall or the other, but not out.  Hmm. Now I had two problems to worry about.

I climbed out the passenger side door (again) to assess the situation. It turns out my front tires are the exact width of the dip where the rainwater flows, and they weren’t going anywhere. I tried putting rocks behind the front tires, planks between the tires, nothing worked. I couldn’t walk the block to my friend’s house for help because my garage is in my living room, and in El Salvador you really can’t leave your house open unattended. I started to feel ridiculous, a little bit concerned, and very alone.

Eventually, two strong, friendly looking women walked by. I caught their attention, briefly explained my situation and asked for help. Their response was instantaneous, “Of course we’ll help you dear!” With two mighty pushes those two ladies had me back out in the street in less than 10 seconds. I turned around, and parked face in.

Ministry in any country has plenty of challenges and moments where, without knowing why, we find ourselves spinning our wheels in our own garage.  I run in to quite a few people who seem to be stuck as well.  We get stuck in debt, bad habits, family dysfunction, petty arguments, poverty, etc.  When I get stuck, I am learning to remember two important lessons. First, sometimes it’s hard to see the holes in our lives, the lack of experience, bad habits, and poor choices, that get us stuck in the first place. Perhaps we need to learn to assess our surroundings before jumping or backing in. Second, when we do get stuck, we’re never in it alone no matter how far from home we are. If we look up, there is always someone who can help us get “unstuck” if we are willing to ask for help.

Each time I am asked to help resolve a problem, move a project forward, or listen to someone’s problems, I’m reminded of the lessons learned in my own garage. Thanks for all of the ways that your support helps us to get “unstuck” as we face the unique challenges of serving and ministering in this tiny country.

I have now learned to park face-in while leaving room to open the driver side doors. I’ve also made friends with my next-door neighbors. The two women still smile widely each time we pass on the street.

Kim