This day one year ago I experienced God’s protection in a radical way. June 24, 2017 has provided me with an amazing testimony of God’s goodness and I want to share it with you today.
It was a beautiful sunny day and I was in a van full of people I love, in Nicaragua, going down a steep hill off of Pochocuape. Pastor Jorge was driving, his wife Monica was beside him, and the rest of us were in the back. My friend Shelby was turned around talking to me when all of a sudden she screamed. I quickly turned around to see out of the back window the reason for her fear: a semi truck was uncontrollably bouncing in our direction. Not even a second later it crashed into the back right corner of our van, shattering the back window and putting us in a semi roll down the mountain.
I felt like for a moment everything went in slow motion, but just as quick as it all happened, it was all over. When I opened my eyes I was facing the shattered back window and listening to the terrified prayers of my family and friends around me. All I could think about was “we need to get out.” And within five seconds I found myself outside of the van.
Desperate to get Autumn out of the back right corner, I began pulling off all of our vbs supplies that were blanketing her. The whole time I could hear her talking to Jesus.
Out of no where, a panicked man was standing next to me saying in Spanish, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, let me help.” It was the driver of the semi truck.
Together we pulled Autumn out and with tears in her eyes she praised Jesus that she was alive. Other than a bloody knee, she was okay. I still get tears in my eyes picturing her complete and wholehearted praise right there in the middle of the street.
With amazement, I watched as all 10 of my dear friends and family walked out of that wrecked van, completely okay. A little shaken, scraped and bruised, but nothing life threatening.
My leader hat was tightly secure as I tended to Autumn’s knee, Karen’s arm, and Isa’s neck. But within 10 minutes we had a whole crowd around us; men and women of Pochocuape who cared deeply for us and for their pastors. I didn’t have to lead by myself.
I was deeply moved to see our dear friend Gladys out of breath because she sprinted a half mile when she heard there was a wreck. I teared up to see our sweet little friends shaken by fear that the crash caused us harm. I was filled with love as I watched the women from the church collect and protect our belongings that were scattered all across the road.
Jesus was with us in this wreck and I saw him through the people around us. When my mom’s hands were too shaken to clean Autumn’s knee up, a young girl from the crowd came and took over, her older sister is a nurse.
It wasn’t until I stepped into a new van on our way to the hospital, where I really broke down. I grabbed my aunt Tammi’s hand and just wept. The last 45 minutes could have gone so differently. My tears were filled with complete gratefulness for God’s protection over my family, friends and myself.
We were at the hospital when were heard from the police that they wanted us to come in and deal with the driver that hit us. Apparently in Nicaragua, whenever you are “wronged” you have the power to decide what happens to your offender.
They wanted Autumn, Isa, and Karen to come in since they were the ones who were injured during the crash.
While they were inside with the driver, named Moses, the rest of us waited outside. Eventually, a lady with a small baby came by to check on us. She was Moses’ wife. She wanted to apologize on his behalf. Of course this was not his fault, his brakes gave out, so we assured her that we had no hard feelings and we began a conversation about Jesus. She opened up that she and her family used to go to church but they have strayed for a while now. In the end we prayed with her and she recommitted to following Jesus.
The extra beauty of that moment is that at the same time we were praying with her, Autumn, Karen and Isa were all inside praying with Moses while he wept and recommitted to Jesus as well. He was so moved by the grace we extended and grateful that we did not press charges or want anything from him.
We went home that night, exhausted, a little sore, but with full hearts.
Now, this story would have been amazing if it ended there, but the next day was Sunday and we got to wake up and testify that the Lord is good. We loved spending the next few days with our family on Pochocuape and loving them fiercely.
Wednesday rolled around and we decided to go to Pizza Hut to celebrate the week and God’s protection. On our way there, my friend Isa was showing concern for some pain in her neck. We prayed over her, but I think that prayer took a deeper turn. Meg and Shelby continued their conversation with her in pizza hut and Isa admitted to her deep need to surrender her life to Jesus. She had been on the fence about her faith for a while now, but the accident really put life and her daily decisions into focus. She needed, and deeply desired Jesus.
Then, right there in pizza hut, we laid hands on our sweet friend as she recommitted her life to Jesus.
As I look back on this day last year, I see that one of the scariest moments of my life set the stage for some of the most beautiful moments. It reminds me to never lose sight of Jesus in the midst of hard and scary situations, because he is always there to reveal himself and bring glory to his name.
I am grateful for my mom, Shelby, Meg, aunt Tammi, my cousin Brooke, Autumn, Renee, Isa, Karen, Jorge, and Monica. We are forever bonded by this miracle. I will never forget June 24, 2017.
After the craziness subsided a bit, Autumn shared with us that when she was on the side of the road surrounded by the glass and vbs supplies. She looked down at her phone and realized that the song, “Glimmer in the Dust” by Hillsong was playing. Below are some lyrics from that song:
“I found love in a moment
Exploding in light
At the cross where the curtains
Were ripped from my eyes
I found heaven in pieces
In glimmer and dust
Broken glass in reflection
Till we shine like the sun”
It has been a privilege to take this testimony with me all around the world. Sharing it at an after-school program, in a bar, in a church, and when causally talking with new friends. Thank you Jesus for your protection, love, friendship and truth. We are all glimmers in the dust.
