Troy Story: This was not your typical - call to missions
This is a brief (if you consider 1,800 words, brief) testimony of how God led our family to become missionaries in the Philippines. Worship On Wheels (W.O.W.) is taking Vacation Bible School and other Bible Based children, youth and adult programs to the people who feel they are: too poor, too lonely, too sinful, too dirty or too ashamed to go to a Bible-based church.
Once upon a time, in a small Illinois farm town, Troy Beaver was born. Big deal – I grew up like everyone else. The reason I am writing this, is to let you know where Worship On Wheels (WOW) came from. Get ready, cuz this is a pretty amazing story. At least I think so, but I suppose I am slightly biased.
Besides the normal “marriage” and “kids being born” life-changing experiences, I have had 2 others. I am not saying that they are better or worse, but very different. First, I will tell you how I met my wife, Thai. (I assure you that we are the same age, even though she looks 20 years younger than me). She is from the Philippines and was living there when I met her. We connected on a Christian site called bigchurch.com and yes - she is an Internet bride. We chatted for 8 months. Then we decided to meet in Hong Kong to make sure we were both all the things we thought we were. I was a single father of Katie, at the time. On February 20, 2005, we were married. Don’t worry about remembering that date. It won’t be on the test.
So, it is summer of 2008. Katie and I are going to the Philippines to meet our foreign family for the first time with Thai and our newest edition, Elijah. This is where my first WOW moment happens. Thai and I were eating at a Wendy’s in metro Manila (yes, a foreign land and I eat at Wendy’s, how adventurous of me). We were sitting in the back of the restaurant. While we were eating, a little girl, no older than 5 years old walked up to the table. Her dress was disheveled and she probably hadn’t had a bath or clean clothes in several days. She held her hand out to me, motioning that she was hungry and I did the worst thing imaginable. NOTHING. I just looked back at her without any action. Within a few seconds, an employee came and shooed her away, while the rest of the diners were looking at or through me. That is 1 moment in my life that still haunts me to this day. People from the Philippines tell me it is normal for kids to want money from Americans, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I had so much and she had so little. That moment defined my Christianity or lack of.
Soon after that, I decided that God put that little girl there to make sure I never get too comfortable in my life of luxury. I then made a decision with Thai that, when we retire, we will become missionaries to the Philippine children. As I should have done with that young girl, we would share whatever wealth we have and not sit in back and consume it, ourselves. Time passed and we went back to the U.S. I was studying for a promotional exam at the fire department when Thai’s parents came to visit us in mid October of 2009. I would be taking my test in January and if I were promoted I would get a large pay raise. Nicer car, bigger house….That is not what I was supposed to be thinking, but I was.
It was November 24, 2009 and we were on our annual Thanksgiving vacation to Tulsa, OK to spend the holiday with my Aunt Ann and Uncle E.L. We were on the Indian Nation Turnpike when the second life changing experience happened. We had just filled up our tank with gas and our bellies with French fries. About 3 miles down the road, we saw a plume of black smoke and noticed what looked like a car fire ahead with traffic stopped. We were the last car in the line, about a car length behind a large truck and trailer.
I was telling Thai to get our camera so we could get a few shots of the firemen in action, when we got going again. I heard a screech and as I looked in the rearview mirror, we were hit from behind between 70-80 mph. Our van was catapulted 16 feet into the truck and trailer in front of us. The airbags had deployed and I heard Katie say that her brother was hurt. Let me toughen up a little here. This part tears me up every time I talk about it.
I got out and opened the back door next to Elijah. He had a large laceration (fireman talk for a big, deep cut) on his forehead and above and below his right eye. I could see a part of his skull as the blood flowed out. He was also bleeding from his ear and nose and coughing up blood. As I was unbuckling him, I notice that Thai’s parents were not moving in the seat behind. The impact was so great that it pushed up the rear seat and their heads were against the roof of the van. They appeared to be dead or unconscious.
I placed Elijah on my forearm; face down, to keep the blood draining from his mouth and his spine from moving. Katie gave me a towel to hold on his face to help stop the bleeding. I told the people on scene to call a medical helicopter immediately. At this time, I had been an emergency medic for about 20 years (since age 18) and I knew that the injuries to my son were devastating and more than likely, life threatening. I continued to hold him for what seemed like an hour, waiting and wondering and making promises to God. “If you let me keep him God, I will do whatever you put in my path without question.” Later, I thought, “I wonder if He will hold me to this. Will He understand that I made this promise under such dire circumstances and I may not be able to pay up?” Time would tell.
The helicopter did arrive and took Elijah, but there was no room for anyone else. The medics began to take care of the rest of us. As Elijah flew away, my skull began to ache and I could no longer walk. Katie had been holding pressure on a laceration to my head, the whole time I was holding Elijah. There were also firefighters extricating Rogelio and Thaisa out of the back. I still didn’t know anything about them and continued to pray for God’s protection and understanding if they weren’t alive.
I clearly remember, before the ambulances began taking the rest of us away, Oklahoma State Trooper Crabtree opened the door and said, “God is Good”. I remember replying, “All the time”, as I lay strapped down to a backboard unable to move my body or head. I felt so much comfort from Trooper Crabtree’s comment.
Elijah was treated by the best doctors in the world (again, my biased opinion) and so far has no lasting physical injuries. Only the battle scars of a brave, little boy and anxiety while riding in the car. Thai’s father suffered a broken back and foot. Thai and her mother were really battered and beat up, as well. My legs, neck and back had taken so much force in the collision; things seemed to be getting worse. We were struck with so much force (or is it velocity) that our back and neck broke the upright part of the 2 front seats. I was off of work for a month after the accident. I was medicated and bills were piling up, so I went back to work after some therapy, ready or not. The aftermath of this accident had taken away valuable study time. I took my promotional exam and missed the position by 2 points. I was devastated. The crash ruined this test for me and my family’s future, so I thought.
After a few more months, I was feeling intense pain and was having problems completing the tasks of a firefighter, which are extremely physical, as you know. Once again, I took off of work to go to physical therapy. After six weeks of painful therapy, I tried working again. For several months I continued to work but was only getting by with prescription pain medications. My condition was not getting better and I had been living in a “fog” of pills and their side effects for 2 years.
This was not the life God had planned for me. I loved my job and I wanted to be positive though, so I attempted physical therapy one more time. It helped until I went back to work and then all the damage came back. The last therapy made me realize that I could get off of my medications and clear my head, but I could not do it as a firefighter. Being a firefighter was my identity. I was a superhero to my children and the community. What use am I if I am not a brave, strong, handsome fireman? Well, I am a broken down, humble, 39 year old (now almost 42) guy that God can still use.
This is when it all came together. God was in control of my retirement plans to become a missionary, not me. I was reminded of my promise to be faithful to whatever my calling was. God led our family through all of this for a reason that is now very clear to me. The Beaver’s are needed now for the children of the Philippines, not when we are 55 years old!
I will tell you that WOW was my idea, but it wasn’t. Remember, I wanted a bigger house and a Corvette. I don’t know when or what switched my plan off and God’s plan on in my mind. One day I woke up and we were planning to move 8000 miles away for an “experimental mission”. The mobile ministry came from my head, but it was obviously put in there by God’s hand. Vacation Bible Schools and Youth Programs that we have been part of at University Baptist Church and Clear Lake Baptist Church inspired our mission, as well. The programs that our children have been part of are so incredible and moving that we felt the need to take them to kids that have not experienced them. This mobile ministry will change the lives of thousands of children who will soon be able to experience the same VBS, Youth Programs and Praise and Worship Music that our church families have the privilege of being part of.
We would like to encourage you to join us in prayer & financial support in the mission field. If your prayers lead you to financially support W.O.W., you can bless this ministry with tax deductible gifts. Go to our W.O.W. Partners Page.
Please contact us for giving information: worshiponwheels@yahoo.com
We want you to realize the importance of our partnership with email and video updates of the activities that you allow us to make possible, so send us your prayer needs at: worshiponwheels@yahoo.com and let us also lift you up in return and keep informed of all our activities at www.worshiponwheels.com.
With the prayer and support of God’s people – We will take the Love of Jesus to them… by the truckload.
God Bless & Glory to His Name!
Troy & Thai
Once upon a time, in a small Illinois farm town, Troy Beaver was born. Big deal – I grew up like everyone else. The reason I am writing this, is to let you know where Worship On Wheels (WOW) came from. Get ready, cuz this is a pretty amazing story. At least I think so, but I suppose I am slightly biased.
Besides the normal “marriage” and “kids being born” life-changing experiences, I have had 2 others. I am not saying that they are better or worse, but very different. First, I will tell you how I met my wife, Thai. (I assure you that we are the same age, even though she looks 20 years younger than me). She is from the Philippines and was living there when I met her. We connected on a Christian site called bigchurch.com and yes - she is an Internet bride. We chatted for 8 months. Then we decided to meet in Hong Kong to make sure we were both all the things we thought we were. I was a single father of Katie, at the time. On February 20, 2005, we were married. Don’t worry about remembering that date. It won’t be on the test.
So, it is summer of 2008. Katie and I are going to the Philippines to meet our foreign family for the first time with Thai and our newest edition, Elijah. This is where my first WOW moment happens. Thai and I were eating at a Wendy’s in metro Manila (yes, a foreign land and I eat at Wendy’s, how adventurous of me). We were sitting in the back of the restaurant. While we were eating, a little girl, no older than 5 years old walked up to the table. Her dress was disheveled and she probably hadn’t had a bath or clean clothes in several days. She held her hand out to me, motioning that she was hungry and I did the worst thing imaginable. NOTHING. I just looked back at her without any action. Within a few seconds, an employee came and shooed her away, while the rest of the diners were looking at or through me. That is 1 moment in my life that still haunts me to this day. People from the Philippines tell me it is normal for kids to want money from Americans, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I had so much and she had so little. That moment defined my Christianity or lack of.
Soon after that, I decided that God put that little girl there to make sure I never get too comfortable in my life of luxury. I then made a decision with Thai that, when we retire, we will become missionaries to the Philippine children. As I should have done with that young girl, we would share whatever wealth we have and not sit in back and consume it, ourselves. Time passed and we went back to the U.S. I was studying for a promotional exam at the fire department when Thai’s parents came to visit us in mid October of 2009. I would be taking my test in January and if I were promoted I would get a large pay raise. Nicer car, bigger house….That is not what I was supposed to be thinking, but I was.
It was November 24, 2009 and we were on our annual Thanksgiving vacation to Tulsa, OK to spend the holiday with my Aunt Ann and Uncle E.L. We were on the Indian Nation Turnpike when the second life changing experience happened. We had just filled up our tank with gas and our bellies with French fries. About 3 miles down the road, we saw a plume of black smoke and noticed what looked like a car fire ahead with traffic stopped. We were the last car in the line, about a car length behind a large truck and trailer.
I was telling Thai to get our camera so we could get a few shots of the firemen in action, when we got going again. I heard a screech and as I looked in the rearview mirror, we were hit from behind between 70-80 mph. Our van was catapulted 16 feet into the truck and trailer in front of us. The airbags had deployed and I heard Katie say that her brother was hurt. Let me toughen up a little here. This part tears me up every time I talk about it.
I got out and opened the back door next to Elijah. He had a large laceration (fireman talk for a big, deep cut) on his forehead and above and below his right eye. I could see a part of his skull as the blood flowed out. He was also bleeding from his ear and nose and coughing up blood. As I was unbuckling him, I notice that Thai’s parents were not moving in the seat behind. The impact was so great that it pushed up the rear seat and their heads were against the roof of the van. They appeared to be dead or unconscious.
I placed Elijah on my forearm; face down, to keep the blood draining from his mouth and his spine from moving. Katie gave me a towel to hold on his face to help stop the bleeding. I told the people on scene to call a medical helicopter immediately. At this time, I had been an emergency medic for about 20 years (since age 18) and I knew that the injuries to my son were devastating and more than likely, life threatening. I continued to hold him for what seemed like an hour, waiting and wondering and making promises to God. “If you let me keep him God, I will do whatever you put in my path without question.” Later, I thought, “I wonder if He will hold me to this. Will He understand that I made this promise under such dire circumstances and I may not be able to pay up?” Time would tell.
The helicopter did arrive and took Elijah, but there was no room for anyone else. The medics began to take care of the rest of us. As Elijah flew away, my skull began to ache and I could no longer walk. Katie had been holding pressure on a laceration to my head, the whole time I was holding Elijah. There were also firefighters extricating Rogelio and Thaisa out of the back. I still didn’t know anything about them and continued to pray for God’s protection and understanding if they weren’t alive.
I clearly remember, before the ambulances began taking the rest of us away, Oklahoma State Trooper Crabtree opened the door and said, “God is Good”. I remember replying, “All the time”, as I lay strapped down to a backboard unable to move my body or head. I felt so much comfort from Trooper Crabtree’s comment.
Elijah was treated by the best doctors in the world (again, my biased opinion) and so far has no lasting physical injuries. Only the battle scars of a brave, little boy and anxiety while riding in the car. Thai’s father suffered a broken back and foot. Thai and her mother were really battered and beat up, as well. My legs, neck and back had taken so much force in the collision; things seemed to be getting worse. We were struck with so much force (or is it velocity) that our back and neck broke the upright part of the 2 front seats. I was off of work for a month after the accident. I was medicated and bills were piling up, so I went back to work after some therapy, ready or not. The aftermath of this accident had taken away valuable study time. I took my promotional exam and missed the position by 2 points. I was devastated. The crash ruined this test for me and my family’s future, so I thought.
After a few more months, I was feeling intense pain and was having problems completing the tasks of a firefighter, which are extremely physical, as you know. Once again, I took off of work to go to physical therapy. After six weeks of painful therapy, I tried working again. For several months I continued to work but was only getting by with prescription pain medications. My condition was not getting better and I had been living in a “fog” of pills and their side effects for 2 years.
This was not the life God had planned for me. I loved my job and I wanted to be positive though, so I attempted physical therapy one more time. It helped until I went back to work and then all the damage came back. The last therapy made me realize that I could get off of my medications and clear my head, but I could not do it as a firefighter. Being a firefighter was my identity. I was a superhero to my children and the community. What use am I if I am not a brave, strong, handsome fireman? Well, I am a broken down, humble, 39 year old (now almost 42) guy that God can still use.
This is when it all came together. God was in control of my retirement plans to become a missionary, not me. I was reminded of my promise to be faithful to whatever my calling was. God led our family through all of this for a reason that is now very clear to me. The Beaver’s are needed now for the children of the Philippines, not when we are 55 years old!
I will tell you that WOW was my idea, but it wasn’t. Remember, I wanted a bigger house and a Corvette. I don’t know when or what switched my plan off and God’s plan on in my mind. One day I woke up and we were planning to move 8000 miles away for an “experimental mission”. The mobile ministry came from my head, but it was obviously put in there by God’s hand. Vacation Bible Schools and Youth Programs that we have been part of at University Baptist Church and Clear Lake Baptist Church inspired our mission, as well. The programs that our children have been part of are so incredible and moving that we felt the need to take them to kids that have not experienced them. This mobile ministry will change the lives of thousands of children who will soon be able to experience the same VBS, Youth Programs and Praise and Worship Music that our church families have the privilege of being part of.
We would like to encourage you to join us in prayer & financial support in the mission field. If your prayers lead you to financially support W.O.W., you can bless this ministry with tax deductible gifts. Go to our W.O.W. Partners Page.
Please contact us for giving information: worshiponwheels@yahoo.com
We want you to realize the importance of our partnership with email and video updates of the activities that you allow us to make possible, so send us your prayer needs at: worshiponwheels@yahoo.com and let us also lift you up in return and keep informed of all our activities at www.worshiponwheels.com.
With the prayer and support of God’s people – We will take the Love of Jesus to them… by the truckload.
God Bless & Glory to His Name!
Troy & Thai