The phone rang and a friend said, "That wagon is going down 377, figured you'd want to get some pictures."
Well, I packed up my camera and almost sprinted out the door. I wanted to meet this man, but he was steadily traveling down the road. To my surprise, as soon as I caught up with the team of 1500 pound mammoth jack cross mules, he put on his "blinker" and pulled into Allsups of all places. As I approached they were "parked" by the air hose. I grasped for the right words to introduce myself, although I was sure he was no stranger to a camera. So I just cut to it... "Good day. Who are you and what is your mission?" “I’m traveling the country to tell people about Jesus of course,” Randy Boehmer insisted.
Well that about summed it up for an introduction. I walked with him inside where we both were looking for a snack. We met back at the register where wouldn't you have it, we both had grabbed a pack of peanuts and a soda. We talked for a while about his travels. After cleaning out his departed parents garage, seeing all they had worked for was left behind, he realized there was more to life than just being. Then tragedy struck when he lost his wife in 1998 to cancer. After finding comfort in reading the bible, he soon found his comfort on the backroads and his mission. "God called on me to spread his word."
So, with harness lines in hand, dogs at his feet, and a pot belly stove for warmth he does just that... travels with the word. Here is the interesting part. Just when I was about to walk away, he asked "How bout you? You sound lost as well... Do you know Jesus?" And that's when it happened. I knew EXACTLY why I was supposed to meet him. Exactly why I HAD to ask him what his mission was. So I asked the question that had been weighing on my heart for sometime, "How do I do this?"
"Well," Randy said boldly," you've already been doing it by hearing your story so it should be pretty easy for you. Take off your hat and close your eyes."
It was then he spoke words so clear and true for all to hear that gathered around. "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your savior?" I opened my eyes and it was as if he was staring a hole straight through me, but with the utmost concern. I thought answering that question would be some tough undertaking, but the words just flowed out as easy as ever. "Yes" I said. He just smiled and said "Well there you go. That's the first step," as he climbed into his wagon.
His two dogs looked at me as if this was the thousandth time they heard those words. And with reigns in hand and a wave he said, "I hope to read this someday."
So there you have it folks, I was saved in an Allsups parking lot by a man in a wagon with two dogs, a few mules, and strangers and God as my witness.
-Nov 2021
Photo belongs to: Broken Trail Productions
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