In 2001 I had bought a small white Isuzu truck off my friend. The engine was just rebuilt. Shortly after I bought it I was quick to plan a trip to BC to see my long distant girlfriend at the time. It would be my first time going to see her after she came to see me months before. I couldn't tell you the day nor the month this happened, but it was during summer. My friend told me to meet him at a gas station at midnight before I leave. When I showed up he told me to pull up to the pump and he filled my tank for me as a gift before leaving for BC. We prayed for a safe drive and talked for a bit and we said our goodbyes and I was off. I remember leaving the Saskatoon city lights behind and entering into the dark prairie night. It was a beautiful night and the drive was nice and relaxing on this single lane highway. My CD player wasn't working so I couldn't listen to CD's and all I had was local radio to listen to.

I was about an hour away from Saskatoon when rain suddenly crashed onto my car. It was furious rain and very intimidating. I could barely see anything with my windshield wipers on full blast. I was taking a turn on the highway when a semi blew right passed me. My vision was completely impaired for a couple of seconds from the mist of the semi. I made it to a truck stop in the middle of no where and parked there. It was way too risky to drive in this crazy rainfall. I waited for the rain to stop and made my way onto the road again. It was calm once again with the ambient sound of water hitting my tires on the highway. As I was driving I had yet another challenge to overcome. I could clearly see deer eyes all over the ditch along side the highway. I slowed right down while I see many glowing eyes in the ditch. I was almost convinced that one of these deer are bound to jump in front of me. I kept driving and these glowing eyes started to diminish. I now had it in the back of my head that a deer could jump in front of me at any time, so now I'm driving around 80 kilometres an hour. It felt kind of aery all of a sudden being in total darkness and all I can see are the lines in the road which my headlights are shining on. I passed a police cruiser who had pulled someone over. I just kept going and eventually stopped for gas at Kindersley I believe was the town. Eventually I made it to the Alberta border. Amazingly enough I was still able to pick up our local radio station in Saskatoon.

Eventually I made it to Drumheller. I lost my local radio station at this time. I searched for other stations that may be in the area, but for some reason my radio wasn't picking up a single station. I was stuck with no music now. I stopped there for gas and went on my way again. By now there was a hint of sunlight showing in the sky. Eventually I made it to Calgary. I tried to find radio stations in Calgary, but there must have been something seriously wrong with my radio, cause I couldn't pick up a single station still. The sky was bright and the morning rush hour was evidently on the go. I stopped at another gas station while I was in Calgary and asked the cashier for directions to make sure I'm on the right path. I hopped back in my truck and took off toward the mountains.

I made it to Kamloops. I stopped there for gas and also opened my trucks hood to let it cool down and I let my truck rest for a couple minutes. I'm quite hungry at this time so I grabbed some chips and pop. After a couple of minutes I shut my hood and made my way back on the my journey to Langley. Right after leaving Kamloops I approached a place where you pay a toll to use the Coquihalla Highway. It was $10. After that I was on my way down this double lane highway through the mountains. It wasn't long after when my truck started slowing down immensely on any incline in the road. Cars would pass me on a constant basis. I was wondering what is going on with my truck? Eventually my truck was slowing down in any matter. I was going maybe 80 kilometres an hour on average. This was not good. I made it to Hope, where the road is on the way out of the big mountains. The rain came which was a blessing at this time cause I think it helped cool my engine a little bit. My truck was driving much better during this time. I was quite relieved to say in the least. I passed Hope and eventually made it to Chilliwack. I stopped in Chilliwack, got gas and let my truck rest there with the hood open again. I was quite wet from the rain, and the only thing I've been eating is junk food and I'm so tired. By this time I'm doing everything in my power from falling asleep. I jump back into my truck and take off. I'm getting closer to my destination.

So here I am driving down the highway. I made it to the part of the highway which runs parallel to the city of Abbotsford. I was just about to pass Abbotsford when all of a sudden a big cloud of white smoke exploded in front of my face. I could barely see. It was coming from underneath the hood of my truck. I was able to pull to the side of the road and stop my truck. I get out and open the hood. When I opened it a big white puff of steam flew past my face then for the most part cleared. It was raining so I'm getting quite wet while being outside. I look to see where the steam might be coming from, but I had no such luck. I left the hood open and went back to sit in the truck and waited for the steam to stop and let the engine cool down. I waited about ten minutes as the highway traffic was passing by. Then I turned the key over as I pleaded to God "please start my truck". It just cranked over and over. I held the key till I heard the cranks start to slag a little bit. Then I turned it off. I thought that I better not start it for quite a while so I got out of the truck and walked up the hill to make my way to the city. There was a gas station and a Mcdonald's just over the hill. I thought, this is good news. I went to the gas station and asked the employees if there are any public phones I could use. They pointed out that there were payphones on the side of the building. I went outside and put a quarter in one of the two payphones and dialed my girlfriend in Langley. The phone wasn't working. There was someone using the other phone so I thought I would try this phone again. I put another quarter in and the phone still wasn't working. This just doesn't make any sense I thought. I'm wet tired and hungry. I'm just going to go to Mcdonald's. I went and bought some food and sat there a bit and tried to rest in the mean time. I finished my meal and went back to the payphones. The other one was available to be used so I put a quarter in the phone and it wasn't working. I thought that this is very weird. I just saw someone using this phone a couple of minutes ago. I tried again and again. Nothing worked. I decided to make my way to the truck and give it another try. I said a prayer to God before attempting to start the truck. The engine cranks went from steady to dying quite fast, so I turned the key back and let it sit a short while again and just sat there. After about 5 minutes I said another prayer to God and tried to start the truck again. The cranks were down to almost nothing by now. I turned the key back and got out of the truck again and made my way to the payphones. I tried over and over and over again to make phone calls from both phones, but these phones weren't working. I made my way back to the truck again. I said a prayer to God "please start my truck God". I turned the key over and there were barely two full cranks from the slow turning engine, then a half crank then it was completely silent. In sheer desperation I held the key as though there is still a chance that my truck my start. I closed my eyes and put my head to the steering wheel while holding the key to start the truck. By now there was about ten seconds of silence from my truck. I pleaded to God in desperation while I was doing this "dear God will you please start my truck". Well what do you know, the second I asked God to start my truck my engine turned over and started. In fact I don't think my truck has ever started so fast. I didn't hear any cranks, I just heard the engine start. I was in shock! I looked to see if I could get onto the highway and there just so happened to be a break in the highway. I was in the clear. I put that engine in gear and made it to Langley. I found a 7/11 and parked in their parking lot and just sat there in my truck and turned it off. I saw payphones in front of me across the street. I just wanted to sit in my truck for a bit and thank God for performing such a wonderful miracle. Right now I am soaking wet, I am very hungry, and I really want to fall asleep. I eventually got out of the truck and crossed the street to get to these pay phones. I put a quarter in one and it wasn't working, I put a quarter in the other one and it wasn't working. I was wondering "what in the world is going on here!?". Then I looked closer and just noticed that these payphones cost 35 cents to use. Oh my gosh! I put 35 cents in the payphone and made my call. Someone answered the phone. It was my girlfriends sister. I asked if Ivah was there. She said she is working at the moment. She asked where I was and I told her that I'm at this 7/11. She said that I'm not far from their place. She decided that she would walk to meet me at 7/11. I went back to start the truck and it started, but there was white smoke all over the place and the truck was shaking like crazy and running horribly. I turned the truck off and just sat there in my truck waiting for my girlfriends sister to show up.

In about 5 minutes I saw this girl through my rear view mirror walking through some bushes right behind my truck. She walked up to my window and asked are you Jason? I said yes. I explained that my truck is shot and we walked to their place and they had a bed all ready for me, and a big supper ready to be eaten. They fed me good and I fell asleep. I woke up and Ivah was home. Time went by and a month was almost due before I told Ivah, this just isn't going to work. It's just too far away. I eventually got my truck towed to a local farmers yard because it was useless trying to bring it back to Saskatoon. I had booked a bus ride back home, and Ivah took me to Chilliwack so I could board the bus and I waved good bye for the last time to my girlfriend.