Impeccable timing

We went from 2 cars to 1 bike when we moved to France. I'm planning to blog later about the challenge of getting groceries by bike (needless to say, I'm happy for some form of transportation), but this blog is about our former cars. One was a Toyota Matrix with a rebuilt engine and over 250,000 miles, and the other a Toyota Camry with about 180,000. They were trusty cars- the Matrix indispensable at getting large items or bikes transported and the Camry great for road trips.

We used the Matrix for the last few months to transport boxes and trunks as we moved and packed and moved again. We finished packing our trunks to be shipped to Congo just before we left for orientation in North Carolina, and Ryan used the Matrix to haul them to a drop off point. It was the last time we would really need the Matrix. And sure enough, when we got back from orientation, Ryan put it into reverse on his way to run and errand, and CLANK, something happened and the car started sounding like the engine was working hard. If this were Car Talk, the radio show, I'd be more specific. Some dear friends are going to see if they can sell the car to someone who hopefully likes to figure engines out.

As for the Camry, we drove it over 4000 miles in July/Aug from St Louis to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and back while seeing family, and then St Louis to Tennessee, North Carolina and back for orientation with CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) and Samaritan's Purse. The Camry had never given us trouble, although it seemed to use up oil and the floor was wet when we used the air conditioner toward the end of July/August. We drove to a friend's house the day before we left. It was the last time we would really need the Camry. And sure enough, the day after we left, the Camry died too. It was towed to the mechanic and sold for parts for just a little over the amount I spent on a used bike here in France. 

Perhaps our cars should have died a long time ago. But they stayed running well until we no longer needed them. I can't imagine how much more stressful life would have been with car trouble over the last two months of transition. What impeccable timing! Praise God.