JOHN DEERE FOR MISSIONARIES
What an amazing God that we have! He uses all kinds of people and all kinds of "things" to get HIS work done! That's certainly the story of the case of the farmers who donated dad's old 1957 John Deere Model 520 Tractor for Missions. It's a "classic story" of how our Lord can use special events to help with HIS work.
When I got the call from Roger and Barb Schulze, I was a bit amazed that they said that Roger's Dad's 1957 John Deere Tractor was going to be donated to Mission Central and the proceeds could be used for the support of needy missionaries. I had met Rog and Barb about 15 years ago on their farm near Fort Dodge, Iowa. They are special people who really love the mission work of our Lord Jesus.
I immediately called a friend at Clearwater, Nebraska who deals with antique tractors and asked..."Duane, how much should we ask for this tractor....?" He told me that $4,500.00 would be absolute top price for the tractor if it were all painted and fixed up. Because the entire proceeds of the tractor would go for the support of missionaries, I decided to price the tractor at $6,000.00 and maybe God would send a generous soul who would give more knowing it would go for mission work!
A farm family from Minnesota that I had stayed with at Cologone, Minnesota came to visit Mission Central this past week as they were traveling to see family in Omaha. They enjoyed their stay at Mission Central and as we had a prayer in the new Wayside Prayer Chapel before they left, I mentioned that we were blessed with the gift of a 1957 John Deere model 520 tractor and that he should consider just buying that! He smiled and said nothing, and the family left. Just a few days later, the family called from Minnesota and said, "Gary, do you still have that tractor?" I told them that we did, and they said, "We have prayed about this, and would like to try to buy the tractor, but we aren't going to give the $6,000.00!" I told them that I had priced it high, knowing that I would have to come down and asked them what they would give! They replied, "Oh, we are not going to give the $6,000.00 we are going to give $8,000.00!!!!!!!" That's what God can do when the Holy Spirit touches people's hearts. What a JOY to see that the Lord provided $2,000.00 each for four of our most needy missionary families. Roger and Barb Schulze are examples to us all....here you see them pictured with the tractor they donated and a picture of them in their home. God blesses us with special people that are "not normal" who think a little differently than "normal" people. Thanks, Rog and Barb for being "not normal"......
