God Sent an Angel

Day 123 New Bern to Bath, NC a distance of only 49 miles proved to be exceptionally brutal miles fighting a 20+ mph headwind for most of the day.  In addition the town I planned to stop in for lunch turned out to be a “Ghost town”, every single building on the short main street was either boarded up or falling down.  No lunch today, I’d have to wait until I reached Bath to get a bite to eat.

Finally about 4:30 I struggled to the outskirts of Bath, town population of only 250 & not the town I had planned on staying in overnight; however my legs felt like lead, my entire body ached with exhaustion and I was starving.  I knew there was no way I could make it another 20 miles to the town I had intended to stay in tonight as this is October and it would be dark in another hour.  Then I saw a sign that advertised “Visitor Center 2 miles on left”, it was Saturday but I might get lucky and the center would still be open.  In my journeys I had learned Visitor Centers are a good place to start a search for a place to stay overnight.  Entering the Visitor Center I was first greeted by Elizabeth Ann, a seventeen year old volunteer receptionist at the front desk and two older women also working.  After sharing with them my usual information and need for a place to stay the night.  Elizabeth Ann replied, “You need a host family to stay with tonight”?  Seeing as Bath had no motel/hotels, I replied, “yes”.  While the other two women looked at each other and started to think who to call, Elizabeth Ann picked up the phone and began calling folks on my behalf.  Her first positive response was Pastor Curtis.  He wanted to visit with me on the phone and after a couple minutes offered to have me stay at a motel in Englehard 20 miles east of Bath and in the opposite direction I was heading.  When I told him I only average about 8 miles an hour, we both agreed that wasn’t a doable distance for me to go yet today.  Curtis took my number and said he’d call around and get back to me.  After I was off the phone Elizabeth Ann said she would make calls to a couple more to friends to see if any of them would allow me to stay the night with them.  I thanked her for her persistent effort.  Told her I was hungry as I hadn’t eaten since early morning and was going to ride back to the diner I had passed on my way into town for a bite to eat.  With that I gave her my cell phone number so whoever she found could call me.  The ride back to the diner was a short one and I was soon sitting down to their daily special.  When I looked up from my dinner plate I saw Elizabeth Ann getting out of her car.  Upon entering the Diner she came directly to the table I was sitting and I invited her to sit with me.  She said, “I’m not here for dinner; rather to tell you I found a family who is willing to let you stay at their home tonight.  But you will have to wait a half hour before calling them as they are out riding their bicycles”.  “Yes!  That’s awesome bicyclists are perfect match for a touring cyclist.” I replied.  This young lady had duly impressed me with her above and beyond efforts on my behalf.  As we visited I found her to be extremely uplifting and positive in spirit. So much so, the half hour whizzed by as if it were only minutes.  I told Elizabeth Ann, “I should phone the folks to confirm I’d like to stay with them”.  While I was on the phone with John, my host to be, Elizabeth Ann disappeared.  After visiting with John getting directions to his home, my young savior reappeared she had paid for my dinner.  I quickly told her, “I’m not penniless Elizabeth Ann I can pay for my own dinner and reached into my pocket to give her money.  Elizabeth rocked my world when she replied, “No dinner is on me, God told me to help you”.  Chills ran up and down my spine at her words.  I could feel myself trembling and was at a loss how to respond.  I thanked her and said I’d best be getting to John and Cindy’s home.  When we stood to leave Elizabeth Ann gave me a hug.  While we hugged I felt a glow of warmth and happiness come over me as never before.  Surely I had been touched by one of God’s Angels.

As if I needed more proof of God’s help today he further reinforced it when I arrived at John and Cindy’s home as they are devout Christians.  They welcomed me into their home with open arms and heart.  As I walked around their home I noticed several Gospel paintings and passages from the bible on their walls.  However, I wasn’t expecting what happened next on the wall above the bed in the guest room I was going to stay was a large picture of Jesus with his arms opened wide.  I once again found myself shaking for all that happened spiritually this day.  I kneeled down and prayed giving thanks to God, something I hadn’t done since my childhood.

Today left no doubt in my mind God exists and always has been guiding, providing and protecting me.  How amazing God sent one of his Angel’s to me.

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