A couple of months ago, close friends of ours (who would rather not be named) helped us out of a difficult situation by lending us their car when ours was giving mechanical problems. Not long afterwards, they surprised us by actually giving us that car!

We prepared the vehicle for roadworthy so we could register it in our name, but on the way to the roadworthy testing facility, something unfortunate happened in the engine and smoke came billowing out from under the bonnet. It looked very expensive. Of course my heart sank. The engine had been using a lot of oil, so I was expecting the worst.

My father came and towed me back home, and then to a mechanic. I had no money to pay, but he said he would pay. I know he has very limited means as well. We were in a very awkward situation. Upon arrival, we found that the mechanic was closing shop so he couldn't help us.

My father and I considered doing the work ourselves, but not being familiar with the type of car, decided to take it to another mechanic. He removed the cylinder head and found it to be ok. All he had to do was replace the head gasket and give us the bill. Weeks went by, with no news.

Eventually my father, who was in town that day, went to see the car. The mechanic had fitted a new engine! By new, I don't mean brand new, just a good second hand engine.

Mechanics, as anyone in the world knows, have a reputation for surprising their customers. I am ashamed to admit that I was annoyed to hear this news. I have been snarled up in legal struggles before while I was just trying to survive, minding my own business. How could they misinterpret what we said over and over; we don't have money, just replace the head gasket and put the cylinder head back on. A job that should have cost approximately R2000 ($285), which we couldn't even afford, had now escalated to a job that cost approximately R11 000 ($1571)!

We decided not to confront them, but to wait for them to contact us and explain what they had done. We couldn't possibly afford the new engine. The next morning my phone rings, and it is the mechanic. He says that the car is ready, I can come and pick it up.

Of course, I ask him for the price. He tells me we can talk about that later, but now, I can come and collect the car. I tell him that we can't do it like that, we need to speak about the cost before I take the vehicle back. My hair was standing up with suspicion because he is not telling me anything about the new engine!

He simply says to me, "God works in mysterious ways. You can come and collect your car. No cost." So we went and collected the car. It runs beautifully. My assumption is that the Lord moved the heart of someone who knew about the problem, to pay for the repairs.