Restoration Road

Let me introduce Clint Hughes.

Clint and his wife, Lisa, are on a journey. I've gotten to know Clint as a believer, an entrepreneur, a true craftsman. Clint was just beginning to do what few of us can, mesh his passion with his day job.

You see, Clint loves to work with his hands, and he loves music. He also loves restoration -- not making new instruments, but redeeming old ones.

In fact, work-wise, Clint loves nothing better than restoring vintage pianos. He loves piano restoration so much that few can match the care he gives to old, worn-out pianos no longer able to grace audiences with resounding music. But with a lot of skill, time and experience, Clint restores them into shining, powerful, expressive instruments like you've never heard.

A few weeks ago, however, Clint's road took a bad turn. He and his father, Raymond, were driving a truck full of pianos. Raymond misjudged an exit and hit a barrier at highway speed, rolling the truck off the Interstate and down a steep grade: the old story of taking care to avoid a falling piano, but 10 times worse. Both could have been killed instantly, yet that night and the last few weeks have been kind, especially to Raymond.

Clint, though, is not out of the woods. He's been a kidney donor for the last 9 years because that's the kind of guy he is. Unfortuantely his remaining kidney, along with a lung, were  hurt in the accident. And the medical bills have been piling up.

If you've ever been in a life-threatening collision or know someone who was, you know how how the pain, fear, uncertainty and bills can tear at you and your family, let alone a business that depends on your special expertise and the work of your hands.

Please pray for:
1) Quick healing for Clint's and Raymond's injuries
2) Resources to buy a new company truck
3) Money to pay the bills while Clint is recovering

Now Clint's journey includes his own restoration. But his spirts are high, as always, and with a little help, he and his family can get through this, he can get back to work, and he can continue his life's work of restoring pianos.

If you can, please help with a financial gift to offset the expenses from the accident, replacing the truck and missed work. More of story and some photos are below. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!


"The Emergency worker would not let me talk to Clint, but I heard him in the background asking her to tell me he loved me and the kids."
                                             -- Lisa Hughes, October 8th, 2016  

"[Clint] was able to call last night after an MRI and Cat scan. He has four cracked ribs, a bruised lung, damage to his lower back, and low kidney function. The hospital wants to keep him for a few days to watch his kidney function [but Clint] is in good spirits...."
                                                          -- Lisa Hughes, October 9th

"Clint was discharged from the hospital today! He and his father have checked into a Billings hotel for a couple of days while they wait for insurance to pay the           tow-truck company that is holding all of the pianos and piano parts. The church is sending some good men out to lift and load the pianos into a rental truck and drive them back [home]....Thank you for holding us up in prayer as we await Clint's homecoming. It is an immeasurable gift to us."

                                                        -- Lisa Hughes, October 11th

"I looked up, I caught a millisecond glimpse of a stop sign, then looked forward to witness us hit the guardrail and launch 30' into the darkness of a steep embankment. The truck hit the passenger front first, ripping the box of the truck like a tin can, sending the pianos and parts flying by, missing us by inches. The truck then bounced once on the roof, and spun around, landing us upright facing the hill and freeway at a distance. It took rescue workers a half hour to find us, which according to them was lightning fast, and I believe it.

If it would have been a direct hit with the entire front of the truck hitting at the same time, the cargo would have simply pushed forward and crushed us. The consensus by both police and wrecking was bafflement that we both exited the truck ourselves. Dad had some bruising and I have broken ribs, cracked vertebrae, bruised lung, and some deep abrasions on my arm, leg, and especially my side, but all is healing....I'm now ordered by the doctors to rest, which is hard for me to do, but I know I need to."
                                                      --Clint Hughes, October 28th

"Rest was made a little easier this past weekend by watching *The River Thief*....One of the more poignant lines were, 'There's nothing you can do to deserve this
world, this life. So just bend your damn neck and receive it with some gratitude.' Well, that's what I'm doing."
                                                       --Clint Hughes, October 28th