An Amazing Story from Gayla Turner.... So, I know this is a long story for Facebook but several have asked and I want to make sure God gets glory for what HE choreographed today. It’s long but the end is the best part. The details in the beginning are important to the outcome. My Jeep is 14 years old with lots of miles and I’m thinking of selling it. I’ve known there may be a leak somewhere within the radiator system. I always keep coolant with me just for emergency sake. Well today it did an abnormal activity while in line at a drive thru. The engine overheated to the point of smoke coming out of the hood. By the time I was able to get through the line (there was no way to get out of line) and pull over to add my coolant and see what was going on it was unbearable. I let the engine cool for a bit and in the meantime searched the whitepages for “radiator repair in Dalton”. Ricky’s Radiator shop was on the list with a phone number and an address of Cleveland Hwy which wasn’t too far away. When I called the number someone answered “’Ola?” uhhhh. Me: is this Ricky’s Radiators? Voice on other end : “Si”. Uh, well, me no habla espanole, so I knew this wasn’t going to be a good conversation but thought I would take a chance. Me: Um… I’m on Walnut Ave having radiator issues and need some information. Voice : “I’ll get Ricky”. Silence. Disconnected. My thoughts said "Well good, that means I don’t have to tell them I don’t understand the language." The engine had cooled quite a bit after I had added my coolant so I thought I would give it a shot to drive back to the office. Not a good choice. No more than two blocks down Walnut and the gague is in the red again. I couldn’t take a chance on blowing the engine. I pulled into an Exxon station where it is obvious they work on cars. Bay doors are open, several “grease monkeys” around. I pulled into a parking spot, made eye contact with one gentleman to ask if it is okay if I park there because (obviously) I’m overheated. He just said “sure”. Steam was boiling out of the hood. I got out, opened the hood and steam boiled high into the air. Not ONE person from Exxon ever asked if I needed assistance, or even offered to sell me their services. I was invisible. My stubborn streak hit and I was NOT going to ask them for help. (Important piece of the puzzle) My cell phone rang and it was a Dalton phone number so I thought “Ricky” must have realized he lost the connection. Me: Hello? Voice: Uh… do I understand you are needing help with a radiator? Me: Yes! Is this Ricky? Voice: Yes….. I explained the issue and told him where I was parked. He said he’d be there in 10 minutes and would try to get me up and running. 30 minutes later, “Ricky” pulls in. After intros and diagnostics, he and his mechanic decide this is an easy fix. Not ¼ inch from the radiator was the hole. All it needed was to be cut and reattached. No big deal. 10 minute fix and we’re good. After a comedy of events, his mechanic had to go to the shop to get something to secure the hose, so Ricky stayed there with me (on the parking lot of Exxon, where still no one acknowledged us). Conversations led to his shop and where I thought he was located. This is where the fun stuff begins. He said “NO, I’m not on Cleveland Highway. Ricky’s Radiator shop was my dad’s business. It’s been closed for two years. I worked for him but we had major problems and I opened my own business. He’s been in Los Angeles for about 2 years. He left because of me.” Oh my…. The white pages number that I had called was not this “Ricky”……. He began telling me the chain of events. “You see, we have not had any contact in about two years, but YESTERDAY I decided that enough was enough and I sent him a text. I was shocked that he text’d me back. I was so excited. Then about a half hour ago, My Dad called me and said ‘there’s a lady on Walnut Ave with radiator trouble. You need to go help’.” That is why it had taken him 30 minutes, not 10, to get to me. He had a conversation with his dad for about 20 minutes after that initial call. I was stunned. So…. The number that I was disconnected from, (and I thought I was glad) was apparently routed to Ricky in Los Angeles, who kept my number in his phone and called his son, who he had not talked to in two years, to come help me! Okay that’s a miracle right there. Well “Dalton Ricky” begins to cry and say “if it had not been for your radiator hose, I would not have talked to my dad”. Oh my then I began to see what was happening and told Ricky the heat and frustration was all worth it to know that GOD had a plan. He almost lost all of his composure. When we began to talk about all the strange connections, (and lack of connection from Exxon) and it became more and more special. Ricky (and Drew, the mechanic) allowed me to pray with him right on the spot for reconciliation with his dad, and he said he feels like it is time to forgive his father for the ”mess” they were in. What an amazing chain of events at the corner of Walnut Ave and Dug Gap Rd. But it gets better! I had to go to his office to pay and he would only let me pay him $25 (good deal for me). His wife was in the office with him so I asked if they had a local church in Dalton. He said “she does” and told me where she went. I explained that I had some friends who were pastors at a church right across the street from his shop (another connection). As I left, I just said “God bless you Ricky.” He replied with “I haven’t been to church in a year and a half, but I’m going this week. It’s time.” My tears hit as I left the bldg. God is so good!!!!!!!!!! I am so thankful for the sweat that rolled down my face and body today while standing in the gap with a “holy” radiator. I plan to follow up with Mr. and Mrs. Ricky next week ~
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 02:47:04 +0000
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