Have God, will travel

By Cindy Pazdernik of Alexandria

Do you believe in “luck” on God’s interventions in your life?

I believe, in faith, that life storms clear a path for God to show the way!

A few years ago my two daughters asked me if I had a “bucket list,” something I would like to do or a place I would like to visit. After some thought, I said, “I would like to visit and see Wales.” 

A scene from our fun adventure to Abergynolwyn. Contributed photo

My grandparents came from Wales in the early 1900s. I had an uncle who traveled there many times and wrote an extensive genealogy book. His book was detailed with pictures and locations of towns and areas of birthplaces. My grandfather was born near Abergynolwyn. His given name was Jon Dylan Jones. I spoke to my cousin who had traveled to Wales many times and he said his middle name Dylan was from the farm name where he was born. He also told me about a little church where grandpa had attended and he had his son baptized in that church. The church was dated back to 1253, and honors a young woman, Mary Jones, who saved her money six years, then walked 22 miles over the mountains to buy her first Bible. He told me the church had a “leper window.” A leper window was a window viewing the altar for lepers to attend services, as they weren’t allowed inside the church.

With all these bits and pieces, we set off from Holyhead, Wales, in a rented car. Narrow mountains roads, driving on the opposite side, my two daughters were traveling this adventure.

We left about 10 a.m. expecting to reach Abergynolwyn about 1 p.m. About two hours into our drive, the car was swaying as we rolled into a very small village. We pulled over to find a blown tire. We called our car rental company, who connected us to road side service, the answer was, “Be there in about two hours.” We walked to a cafe and then after two hours back to the car. 

Miracle #1

We  were stranded in a safe place, not on a narrow mountain road! When road side service arrived, he put a “do-nut” tire on, then said we had to back track 50 miles to Bangor, to the repair shop authorized by the car rental company. After calls and discussions, a new tire was mounted, another two hour delay.

So now we are again on our way to Abergynolwyn. We drove into the “town,” population of about 300. There were people sitting outside a pub, visiting and having beers. I walked up to a table and told them my story, who my grandfather was, about a farm called Dylan – he said, “Come with me.” Inside the Pub he introduced me to Dye Jones, a large farmer who owned the farm my grandfather was born on and my grandfather’s brother, Will’s farm! He then showed us the retirement home my Uncle Will had lived in!

Miracle #2 

A scene from our fun adventure to Abergynolwyn. Contributed photo

Connected with family roots. Actually, there is a third miracle here, if we would have gotten there at 1 or 2 p.m., these people would not have been there!

After visiting an hour or more, a nice man named Martin said, “Where are you going?” We said we had a hotel in Cartiff for that night. He said, “No, no, no. It is five hours to Cartiff and dangerous roads – you come to stay with us.” They had bought a chapel in Jerusalem and made it into a beautiful home. So we went with them. We sat and visited and I asked if they knew a church in the mountains that had a leper window. He said, “Yes, we will take you there in the morning.”

Miracle #4

We went to the church my cousin told me about and went through it and learned about Mary Jones. Wow, God, thank you!

We traveled on through towns where my grandfather fished and on to Cartiff. We got to our hotel and my daughter said, “I called you, we broke down last night and couldn’t get here.” The clerk chuckled and said, “We won’t charge you. Actually, last night that area had a water main break and we had to evacuate it at 3 a.m.” 

Miracle #5

A trip of a lifetime! I do add that Wales was beautiful. And there were dogs everywhere. There were bowls of water along the sidewalks for dogs. Restaurants had signs, “Your dogs are welcome,” and people sat eating with their dogs laying under the tables. We traveled from Wales to London for two days, then flew home.

Faith turns obstacles into opportunities.

We were able to experience far more than I ever imagined.