In the season of Thanksgiving, I am considering two statements:
These two prompts will serve to focus The Guide email throughout the month of November as I share my Overflowing Heart. This first installment contains what to some may be an unsettling experience, but the experience must be shared as I want to give God thanks!
I am in Malawi, Africa. I arrived safely on Saturday (11/1). The vehicle in which I am traveling needed fuel. As we looked for a fuel station I learned of fuel scarcity in Malawi. We had to wait in a queue that took about five hours. There was no organization. I realized once again that scarcity breeds disorder and disorder breeds chaos.
Before we could get to a fuel pump, our vehicle (a Jeep Liberty) ran out of fuel. A group of other people in line and me, pushed our vehicle each time we could move closer to the pumps. If you do not stay right behind the car in front of you, you will lose your spot.
We finally arrived to where we were next in line for the fuel pump. As two young men and I got behind our Jeep and started pushing, a flatbed delivery truck coming from the other side tried to jump line. As our driver, Annie, tried to avoid an accident with the truck in front of her, the mini-bus behind us was not paying attention or had slowed response time because of intoxication (he had been drinking something special while waiting in line). In a blink of an eye, I recognized I was struck and pinned between the two bumpers of the Jeep and the minibus. As I made the move to get out of the way, I was struck a second time (as were the two boys who were helping push). I landed on the ground away from the accident and began a self-assessment. It was only my left leg that had experienced trauma. After recognizing I had movement of all extremities and no major bleeding, I decided to stand.
I stood up. The pain was mid-thigh to below my knee. I was able to walk and was able to stand on my left leg with no major issues. My left upper leg and knee felt like someone had given me a huge “dead leg.” I refused any treatment and after about 30-minutes called Nancy to let her know what happened and asked her to call our friend who is an Orthopedic Surgeon to know what I should be watching for with this kind of trauma. He responded back and after several hours of police reports and finding our lodging for the night, I got to bed and rested well.
Today, I give God thanks for God’s protection. The situation and the injuries could have been much worse. Yet, God protected me from further injury. God also protected the two boys who have similar bruising and trauma, but no leg breaks.
Second, I give God thanks that my healing is coming quickly as prayers are being offered in the village, the LTA Board of Directors, and my family. I have three significant bruises on my thigh and the back of my calf below my knee. On Sunday, I could walk but my leg was very stiff when I would stand. It felt unstable, yet God gave me the strength to stand and preach for two hours in the village. On Monday, the stiffness was less, and my leg felt like it feels when I have done a heavy lifting leg day at the gym. I preached for five hours. On Tuesday, my leg was tight, but pain was very minimal. I was able to interact with the children more, though I was unable to run. I preached and engaged in ministry for four hours.
Psalm 139:5-10 speaks to how God was with me, “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” I give God thanks that God hemmed me in from behind and before and that His hand guided me and held me fast. I AM THANKFUL!
The Holy Spirit continues to move mightily in Malawi as we have witnessed 25-people wanting to follow Jesus in a new way (whether first time commitment or going deeper in their commitment) and ordained eight new pastors.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your protection. Thank you for healing me and bringing me back to full health. You are an amazing God! Amen.