By WENDY Cromer |
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EVER wonder why we wear the vest ? I mean , what ’ s the big deal ? I experienced firsthand why we wear the vest and how God uses it to inspire others and advance His Kingdom .
My friend , Carol Monticue , and I took a three-week trip through 15 states last summer and were able to experience many of God ’ s blessings and see the importance of our CMA colors .
“ Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature ” ( Mark 16:15 , NKJV ). When God says , go , you should go . “ So Jesus said to them again , ‘ Peace to you ! As the Father has sent Me , I also send you ’” ( John 20:21 , NKJV ). Packed like the Beverly Hillbillies and with two hearts praying that God would use us , we were off .
While walking around Devil ’ s Tower in Wyoming , we heard a voice , “ What chapter are you with ? What chapter are you with ?” We thought they weren ’ t talking to us , but the question continued until we turned around as a woman quickly walked toward us . We stopped and chatted a bit , finding out that she has a good friend in Colorado who is in CMA . Wow , a sign that people know our colors !
As the trip continued , it was amazing . God put all kinds of people in our path , and we prayed with many of them . As we pulled into our camping site in Williams , Arizona , we met Mickey , a tug boat pilot from Maysville , Kentucky . As soon as he saw two women on bikes , he practically ran up to us . At
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the time , I didn ’ t realize he also rode because his tent was blocking his bike .
He started giving us fist bumps and asking us where we were from , how far we were going , and how long we would be there . We chatted with him and then set up camp . After returning from our ride to the Grand Canyon the next day , Mickey walked back to our campsite . We were joking with him , and Carol had said something . Mickey quickly responded and questioned us about some things . He had seen Carol ’ s vest but asked if I was in the same group because he didn ’ t see me wearing the vest when we rode in the first night . I assured him that I was a member of CMA . I had a CMA t-shirt on , but the desert was so hot that I had removed my vest at some point entering Arizona . I do not believe Mickey would have shared with us had he not trusted those wearing the CMA colors .
Mickey had worked on a tugboat since he was 18 and did not have any family and claimed he had very few friends . He talked about what he was most fearful of ; standing before the Lord on his judgment day . Mickey said he knew he had messed up time and time again , and he drank quite Mickey with Wendy and Carol . a bit . Well ,
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we explained to him about God ’ s mercy and forgiveness . Then , we asked to pray with him , and he accepted the prayers . After praying with Mickey , we continued to talk to him as he shared more and more . He asked about a few things we believed in and did not believe in and again gave us fist bumps , and we gave him big hugs . He was smiling from ear to ear . We continue to pray for Mickey as God works in him .
Of course , we stopped in Hatfield , Arkansas , and camped two nights on Iron Mountain . The CMA folks made us feel very welcome as everyone ‘ Welcomed us home .’ One day we rode into Hatfield and paid our respects at the graves of Herb and Shirley Shreve , stopped for breakfast at the corner gas station , and then made a stop at headquarters for a tour . We got to say hello to Holly , Jarrod , Misty , and many more , while on our tour . Carol had never been to Iron Mountain , and I had only been once , so it was a muststop on our list as we headed back toward Ohio . We rode the Talimena
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