The Italian Memorandum

We spent four days in Searcy, meeting with individuals associated with Italy and Europe. I met with Dr. Shawn Daggett on Friday and discussed a missions strategy. Shawn has an extensive Italian resume, having formerly been located in the region of Lombardia, north of Milan in Bergamo. Then, on Saturday morning, I had breakfast with Dr. Don Shackleford and his wife Joyce. They have intimate Italian experiences with the churches and the culture. Don has a scholarly background in Near Eastern Studies. His recent work on Isaiah in the Truth for Today Commentary is now available. The Hebrew textual notes appear most helpful. I had lunch on Friday with Dr. Carl Mitchell and Howard Bybee. Carl was in Florence and Rome during the 1950’s. Howard’s work included ministries in Milan and Vicenza. While in Searcy, I stayed with the Thompsons. Dr. Thompson is Dean of the College of Sciences at Harding. We also met with Bruce McClarty, Vice President of Spiritual Life.

Unexpected Turn of Events

It was December 20, 2009, our wedding anniversary. We were on the return trip to Des Moines, Iowa, traveling through adverse weather. On a lone strip of highway near the border of Iowa and Missouri, we were crossing a bridge that had iced. Even traveling at a reduced speed, with Marla and Jason in the car, I lost complete control of the vehicle. Never before had I experienced this sliding over a bridge sideways; nor do I wish to repeat it..

Our vehicle made two 360 degree revolutions before straightening out! Once I realized that the spinning was over, I perceived that we were about to enter the on-coming two lanes of truck and car traffic doing about 30 mph up an embankment. We were now in a large rock lined median area covered in snow. I attempted to apply the brakes once again, and gently turn away from the two lanes of on-coming traffic. To turn too abruptly may have overturned the car; to turn without enough curvature would not have avoided the road. Then, near the end of this ordeal, the car spun around one more time. The car finally ditched in an inner ravine. Fortunately, we were not injured.

The car needed to be towed. The night was spent in a town with friends, the Alberts, some 35 miles away. This incident occurred almost directly across from the Flying J Truck Stop on Highway 61/27. Currently, our vehicle is in the shop, needing a completely new left front wheel and other under carriage issues.

We include this incident as part of our journey to Italy.