Travel Journal 4

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints” ~Wilfred Peterson 

For many years we have taken the same route to visit my mom in Montana.  It requires that we take Interstate 80 through  South Dakota.  This is a state just like every state in the magnificent Union that has a vista all it's own.  I learned a long time ago that when I visit somewhere that the phrase "...is just like that," cannot and should not ever be used.  For whatever reason God has made and given each one of these areas a grandeur all its own. 

So, we're traveling I-80 in South Dakota and we start seeing all the signs again advertising Wall Drug Store.  In the past we have just driven on, and I was kept wondering why it is so well advertised.  I just said to Ron that since it was lunchtime and we needed to stretch our legs maybe would could stop there and see what it is all about. 

So it was that we exited I-80, hoping Miss Garmin would not have a nervous breakdown recalculating, went to see what all the fuss was about the Wall Drug Store.  The town of Wall is not big...indeed it is very small, perhaps 3 square blocks.  The Drug store is very large with and huge restaurant and lots of souvenir shops and museum attractions.  The food was very good and the shops were very much like those  you find in any tourist area. 

It wasn't until we were on the road again that I was really touched by this experience.  You see it is a lesson in Providence.  I read the story of the Drug Store as written in the Guideposts Magazine, in 1962.  Ted and Dorothy Hustead purchased the drug store in Wall in 1931.  They had inherited some money and they wanted to purchase their own drug store.  They wanted to live in a small town and the town had to have a Catholic church.  Where they lived at the time the church was twenty miles away.  When they went to Wall they spoke to the priest, the doctor and the banked who all told them it was a great place to live. 

When family members were told of the decision, most of the family was skeptical.  Ted's father-in-law said , "You know, Wall is about as Godforsaken as you can get."  Intercessory prayer offered by family was offered about the decision to purchase the drug sore in Wall.  So it being considered God's will that they purchase the drug store the deed was done and they would give it five years.  It was a very slow five years until 1936 when Dorothy had an idea that would change their lives. 

It was her idea to offer free ice water to travelers crossing the hot prairie. So they made signs and posted them on the road. Before they knew it people were stopping for water and other supplies. Ted Hustead said:

"Free Ice Water.  It brought us Husteads a long way and it taught me a great lesson, and that that there's absolutely no place on God's earth that's Godforsaken.  No matter where you live, you can succeed, because wherever you are, you can reach out to other people with something they need.."

~~~^j^~~~ 

There's  nowhere on earth that's Godforsaken! 

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy