The Joy Ride

photo credit: Carolyn V.

During the summer of 2018 in Mobile, Alabama, I was reunited with sailors who rescued my family after we escaped Vietnam in 1981. We were known as "boat people" and the U.S.S. John Young came to our rescue after we were attacked by pirates and left stranded. I wrote about the reunion here.

One of the sailors I met in Mobile was Jim Rotert. Who knew that a year later, I would have the opportunity to visit Jim and his wife Amy in Southern Indiana.

The reason for my visit was to speak at Jim's church, St. Paul Lutheran Church - Borchers at their annual Mission Festival.

My friend Kim and I left Dallas on a Thursday and were supposed to fly into Louisville but didn't make the flight (we were flying stand by).  Instead of being anxious, I remembered what my friend Brian B. told me when we were preparing for a mission trip to Germany.  "Be fluid and flexible".  While delayed at the airport, Kim's sister (who worked for AA) booked us a flight into Dayton, Ohio and the plan was to rent a car upon arrival.

We made it to Dayton but our luggage landed in Louisville.  Jim was so kind to pick up our bags and said he would meet us back at his house.  During our hiccup, I felt God nudging us along the way, keeping our spirits up.  While on the road, we saw this car's license plate,  "Jesus died for you". A reminder of how my life was paid with a price!

 We made it to Jim's early evening. I felt at home immediately. He drove us to Happy Herman's convenience store while we waited for his wife Amy to finish working.  Out front was a newspaper stand and on the front page were the words, "Knowing Jesus".  Another God wink.  = )

Jim and me outside Happy Herman's

We went back to Jim's to watch the sunset in the backyard with his pups, Sally and Daisy. Quietly, I let it soak in that I was about to spend the next few glorious days in Indiana.

Daisy.

Sally.

Friday

 

In the morning, Kim and I went for a walk with Amy and the pups. I was planning on running my first half marathon in 3 months and didn't want to fall behind on my training schedule.  Once we got back, Jim made us bacon and eggs. I love breakfast food. 

My first time to have eggs cooked in bacon grease!

After breakfast, Jim drove us around town. "Things are slow but pretty here!" Jim says. 

Seymour is in Jackson County, Indiana and is about an hour south of Indianapolis. It's called the "Crossroads of Southern Indiana" because the north/south and east/west railroads intersect downtown. John Mellencamp was born and raised in Seymour. Check out the clips of Seymour in his "Small Town" music video.

Seymour is also known as the place where a band of brother outlaws, The Reno Gang, committed the world's first train robbery in 1866.  

Headstones of brothers Frank, Simeon and William Reno.

We drove past a hemp farm. The plant is used to make CBD oil (cannabidiol) which has therapeutic properties for people and pets.

 

 Jim took us to his church so I could see it before my upcoming visit that Sunday. It is known as Borchers after Reverend Borchers who served for 23 years.  Next to the church was a chapel and cemetery.  As we walked by the headstones, Jim told me about his family who were laid to rest there.

Borchers Chapel

  

I saw this awesome aerial image of the church, cemetery and chapel on Google. Source unknown.

For lunch, we went to a staple in Jonesville called The Brick. This local watering hole has a limited menu which doesn't deter locals and visitors. Built in 1903, it has loyal customers who rave about the cheeseburgers.

The Brick taken by Wamzie posted on TripAdvisor.

Friday Night Lights... we went to watch Amy's daughter, Rachel, cheer. She's so good! On the way home, we stopped by Dairy Queen so I could snack on chicken fingers and a strawberry sundae. I think Jim was finding out that I am a bottomless pit. We ended the day watching I Can Only Imagine, a movie about MercyMe lead vocalist, Bart Millard. I highly recommend it.

SATURDAY

  Interview day! Before the trip to Indiana, I asked Jim if it would be ok to interview him about the day the Navy ship rescued us. He said yes! I was only 17 months old at that time so I wanted to know as much as I could. I will share Jim's interview in a future post.

Young Jim Rotert

Rescued refugees were taken to officials at Pattaya Beach, Thailand.

Jim and his shipmates received the Humanitarian Service medal for rescuing a total of 308 refugees within two weeks in April 1981.

A  yearbook with a photo of my parents and me on the USS John Young.

"You know women wear skinny jeans now. Well we had skinny jumpers. We liked looking good." -Jim R. 

In this video, Jim shows us his Navy uniform. 

After the interview, it was time for a joy ride! We got in Jim's 66' impala and drove through the southern Indiana hills. We stopped at the Skyline Drive Fire Tower to get a bird's eye view. On our way home, Kim pointed to a bird flying next to us because she knew it's significance to me. I am hugely fond of birds because I believe God uses them to let me know He's with me.

Jim's 66' Chevy impala.

Skyline Drive Fire Tower.

This is our view from the top. You can barely make out Jim's impala in the shade.

  

SUNDAY

Today I met Pastor Stephen Wood and shared my testimony at Borchers Church. After speaking at the service, Pastor Wood invited me to greet each church member as they were leaving. I met a man named Chris who thanked me for sharing my story. He then reached around his neck, took off his cross necklace and gave it to me. I told Jim and Amy about it and they said it was so moving for Chris to do that because he never takes off the necklace.  

A beautiful morning. Amy, Jim, me, Kim.

Later that day, Amy, Kim and I went for a walk. We came across some horses and a donkey that reminded me of cookies and cream. I love animals! When we got back, we hopped in Jim's truck to chase one last Indiana sunset before Kim and I left the next morning.

Look at these lovebirds.

MONDAY

In the morning, I made cottage cheese pancakes. I got the recipe from my friend Angie's mom years ago and they are my favorite pancakes! After breakfast, Kim and I packed up and said our goodbyes. I cried. Before we left, Jim tore out the date "November 1" from his calendar (we found out we have the same birthday) and wrote 1 John 3:1 in the back. Amy packed us snacks and fresh fruit for the road. Of course I had to balance the healthy stuff with a few bags of cracklins from Happy Herman's. Stocked with snacks, Kim and I continued on to our final leg of the trip, northern Kentucky to visit Ark Encounter. It will be featured in a future post.

THANK YOU

Kim, thank you for coming on this trip with me. You are a joy to be around and I love your heart. Thank you for helping to plan this trip and being an excellent driver and road trip companion. I look forward to more trips with you.

To Pastor Stephen Wood and members of Borchers Church, thank you for inviting me to speak at the Mission Festival. I felt very welcomed and enjoyed meeting you all. Thank you tremendously for your generous gift to support my future missions. God bless you abundantly.

Jim and Amy, the few days I had with you weren't enough. Amy, your calm sweet presence made me feel so at ease and I loved getting to know you better. We still need to see MercyMe. Jim, you are a beautiful mix of humor and heart. I miss drinking our "slushies". I look forward to our next joy ride with you at the wheel, Amy by my side and Bob Seger on the radio.