"Old Faithful" has been through a lot. Simply living in Northern Uganda, with the dust (or mud depending on season) and rough roads is enough to age a vehicle (but don't be fooled - she's almost 20 years old!). But in the past year, she also knocked a cow, was bumped in a wedding, and was rear-ended.
So it was time for us to start looking for another vehicle, if we are to remain here for another 3 years!
This was the first vehicle that we have ever bought (using money we saved when we were working in Canada, to buy a car in Canada - or so we thought at the time!). We were a little uncertain of how it would go. You hear horror stories about people selling used cars.
The Nativa was the first vehicle we looked at. The mechanic we brought with us told us to look no further - we'd found an amazing buy! But being prudent, we did look further. We found another good option (a Toyota Landcruiser Prado) but it was 10 years older already, and we felt good about the Nativa because we knew the full history. And who could ever think that we'd find a vehicle 10 years newer than any other vehicle that was within our price-range?
Mike asked me (Marianne) if I ever dreamed that the first car we would buy would be an off-road SUV, to which the answer was a big NO! I grew up driving a Toyota Echo. I also never even dreamed I'd pick up and move to Africa, so I guess it's another one of those surprises in life.
Did everybody catch that? A lower price!
Such a blessing.
Praise the Lord for His provision for His ministry!