Judy and I were talking about how there have been so many ups and downs since we stepped out in faith to make Smile Again Ministries a reality. As I thought about it, I was reminded of a roller coaster ride at an amuzement park in Minnesota called VALLEYFAIR.

The roller coaster I thought of was one called “Wild Thing.” At one time it was the biggest ride the park had to offer. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this ride, it begins with an incredibly slow, high, climb to the top of a big drop-off point. The first time I rode the ride I had one thought as we were going up that first rise, “What are you thinking?”

Everyone is securely strapped into the ride with a harness that holds in your upper and lower body. That should have told me something right there. As I mentioned before, the beginning of the ride seems to take forever. I think the designer wanted to build in a sense of suspense and anxiety for riders. He or she was successful! As the cars climb it sounds like a chain is dragging across the bottom of the cars. It slowly takes us up, and up, and up - occasionally lurching forward just a bit to add to the “excitement.” The people on the ground become smaller, and smaller, and smaller the higher you go.  Then you reach the top and the cars seem to pause for just a second or two. And then the cars go racing down the track and everyone is screaming, most with delight and some from intense fear. The ride is over in a matter of minutes, and ultimately comes to a screaching halt at the loading and unloading area. Then a new batch of thrill seekers jumps into your now vacant seat ready to face the “Wild Thing” challenge.

A friend of mine had told me that once you’ve gone on the ride you’ll probably want to sit in the first car or the last car. He told me his favorite was the first car, because as the ride comes to the top of that first hill the first car hangs momentarily straight down toward the inevitable start of the thrilling ride. Not to be outdone, Judy and I both headed for the front car. As we went up to the top I once again wondered what I was doing. And my friend was right. That momentary pause I mentioned earlier. I learned the pause was for the people in that first car. Because in the pausing moment you are literally looking down this steep incline and your heart feels like it’s going to jump out of your chest. Then everyone behind you follows, the screams begin, and all the anxiety melts into pure exhilaration. Since that moment, I’ve always tried to ride in the front car.

I share this adventure with you because Judy and I feel like we’re on that “Wild Thing” roller coaster right now. SAM is  s-l-o-w-l-y  climbing to the top of that first hill. This first hill represents our need to buy the land and establish a home base for SAM. To be honest, we think it’s going to be the scariest part of this ride of faith. But it’s a necessary part. Without the land, there is no SAM. There is no Mickey’s Lodge.

So we’re in that first car, heading for the summit, but the chains hauling us up sound like they are really struggling to move us forward. And to be honest, Judy and I are a bit anxious.

We know God can provide every need we have. We know He’s got us safely “strapped in” as we climb this summit. Yet the human side of me sure hopes that the master designer of this adventure is making sure we reach the summit so that we can experience the thrill of the rest of the ride.

Please join Judy and me in praying for SAM. We are at a critical crossroad financially. On the one hand, we need to successfully buy the land so that we can raise funds for Mickey’s Lodge. On the other hand, we need funds to buy the land so we can build Mickey’s Lodge. So pray with us that God will open heaven’s gates and pour out funds that will enable us to buy the land and build the lodge.