So yesterday we were plunged into a degree of misery. Mike ordered two water tanks and made the R5000 payment into Nel Tank’s bank account. Mike had done a bit of research. They are a South African company, founded in 1985 and came recommended by others. Sounds completely legit. He spoke to Anna Nel and the transaction was quickly complete. They said it would take 3 days for manufacture and delivery, so yesterday afternoon Mike got on the phone to find out when to expect them.
After all, he had prepared the spot for them, built a concrete slab, cleaned the gutters and now all they had to do was arrive.
He phoned and got this message, “the number you have dialed does not exist”. He dialed again. “The number you have dialed does not exist.”
What the heck! Mike was concerned. He suddenly remembered it was 1st November. Maybe they had gone under. Was it possible that the tank company had tanked?
He forlornly came up the stairs to break the bad news to me.
Plagued with negativity, he looked them up on Google earth and phoned the company next door to ask them to go and see why the company phones are not working. The man came back and said there were people there and they would check the phones. Mike said he sounded irritated and evasive. Mike was so sure something was wrong. I tried to placate him, telling him that it probably was a Telkom issue or someone had stolen the cable. These things happen. Mike pondered those ideas but did not feel reassured. He imagined his money having disappeared into a bottomless pit of Tank debt and that he wouldn’t see it again. His emails were not answered.
He felt very unhappy. He explained that his biggest misery was that a South African company could have gone under – he had specifically chosen them because they were South African – and not imported tanks. They made them on site. He wanted to support them. It would be so very depressing if they could not survive due to overseas competition.
Then last night, late in the evening, I said to him, let’s try the number again.
“Ring, ring! Ring, ring! Ring, ring!”
The happy sound of a ringing phone encouraged us both.
# 77 of a 1000 thanks – the Nel Tanks phone rang.
Maybe not all was lost!
This morning we rose early. Before it got too hot, Mike started some garden work. From 6am-8am he cleaned and swept and spruced and organised. At just after 8am, I took him tea and we sat under the tree and enjoyed the fruit of his labour. While there, I suggested we phone the tank place. Using my cell phone, I called and lo and behold, the phone rang and was answered. I was put through to a gentleman who asked me where I lived. He said he had the delivery note right in front of him and that our tanks should arrive between 3 & 4 this afternoon! In the end they arrived at just a short while ago (5-15pm)…and we lost no time in putting them in their place….
Happy Dance.
# 78 of 1000 thanks – we have not lost our water tanks!!
I asked the guy what was wrong with their phones yesterday and he said it was absolutely crazy. With water restrictions commencing in earnest, they were inundated with phone calls and they couldn’t keep up!
How wrong can you be?!
So happy to be so wrong. So much can change in 24 hours!
When you are an eternal optimist like me, you will be disappointed. When you are are more on the pessimistic side of the spectrum, you expect disappointment so when it comes, you are entirely surprised!
Whatever the circumstances, our job is simple.
Trust the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂