It was Tuesday morning and we had driven up to Nandi Hills to see the sunrise when the accident happened. We were on our way home when we got the call that the vehicle that Kate, Teresa, Chance, and Vanessa were in had been in an accident. As we turned around to go see what happened, I had no idea what to expect. I definitely didn’t expect to see the van, completely crushed and flipped on its side. Nor did I expect to see my friends and squadmates lying on the ground bleeding or being taken away in ambulances. I’ve learned not to expect anything on the World Race except for God to be at work. Since the accident, the Lord has given me such a cool perspective of seeing all that has happened with His hand in the middle of it all. Sometimes, I am amazed at the little things that happened; at the wonders that cannot be explained apart from the Father who loves us so much.
These are a few of those wonders that I have witnessed over the past week and a half:
- Originally, it was just my team and Team Aslan going with some of our YWAM friends but Zach and Nick found out the day before about our adventure to see the sunrise and decided they wanted to go to. Their off day was supposed to be Saturday but due to a strike throughout the city, their off day got moved to Tuesday and they were able to go with us. They were in the big van and not involved in the accident but had an integral role in contacting our leaders. Without them, we would not have had a phone with the numbers we needed to get in touch with Dustin and Kaylaynn. Zach is a photographer and took excellent pictures of the vehicle for insurance purposes. God allowed Zach and Nick to be there to help comfort those in the accident and the rest of us too. I had the opportunity to spend time with the two of them and just process all that had happened at the hospital and it was such a blessing to have them with us.
- Before we watched the sunrise that morning, Kate and Teresa had been napping, laying down horizontally on the floor and middle seat of the van. God gave Teresa the random thought of how terrible it would be to be in an accident in that position. So when they went back to sleep on the way back, right before the accident, they were sitting upright in the seat. Had they been lying down as they had earlier, their injuries would have been much more severe.
- When we got the call that they had been in an accident, we were only about 5 minutes in front of them. They wanted to leave about 45 minutes before our van but not-so-coincidentally, we decided to all leave at the same time meaning we were only minutes away.
- Just the fact that everyone was alive and conscious after the car literally flipped and was crushed is a miracle and shows that God has a greater purpose for each of the passengers. Chance came out of the accident with hardly a scratch. Teresa had several bad cuts and bruises, a concussion, and some messed up teeth. Kate also had a few cuts and bruises but she also had a fracture at the top of her spine. Vanessa is paralyzed from the waist down but I fully believe God is doing a miracle in her body and that she will walk again.
- Praise the Lord it happened in India where most people speak English. I can’t imagine having to explain how to move someone with a spine injury if they didn’t understand English. And although healthcare in India isn’t quite the same as in the U.S., it is probably the closest we will get while on this journey to 11 third world countries.
- The YWAM community we lived with and did ministry with this month was so supportive. There were always people at the hospital, showing their support, concern, and praying. YWAM is very global and so there have been people all over the world praying for Vanessa and our squad. Another reason I know the Lord allowed the accident to happen in India.
- From the minute I heard about the severity of the injuries, I was overwhelmed with peace, strength, and hope that cannot be explained other than the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has given me, and others on my squad, words and pictures to hold on to and I will not lose sight of the many promises. There are brief moments of sorrow at the thought of the long road ahead for Vanessa and her family but I have not doubted for one minute that the Lord is working a miracle in Vanessa’s body.
- Kate only had to spend one night at the hospital but she needed to be in a comfortable place with a good bed, aka not the YWAM house where we stayed for the month. Rewind to our first week in India and we are at a local coffee shop and a white woman stops to ask Kate if her shirt is from Kansas City. Turns out that she is from the same hometown as Kate and has an orphanage right around the corner. She gives us her number and invites us to dinner sometime. I kept reminding Kate that we needed to call her to set up a night to have dinner but it just kept get putting off. The day before the accident, Kate finally calls and we plan dinner for the next evening. The accident happens and we have to call and cancel our plans for that night. Well this wonderful woman shows up at the hospital a few hours later and tells Kate that she can come stay at her house in a real bed with a hot shower and American food after she leaves the hospital. God’s timing is incredible!
- Vanessa’s parents were able to get Indian visas and a flight to India within three days of the accident. Indian visas normally take at least three weeks to process and get approved so that was a miracle in itself.
- Vanessa broke her spine and the doctors have given her no chance to ever walk again or regain feeling in her legs. But she has since moved her toes and her feet and she has felt people scratching or touching her legs!
These are just a few of the small victories and miracles that I have seen over the past ten days. With the earthquake hitting Nepal two days before we were supposed to go (another miracle that we weren’t there), P-Squad has been hit hard. But through it all, we are praising God for who He is and holding on to the truth that He is a good Father and has good things in store for us. Several of my squadmates have also written blogs reflecting on the accident. You should check them out: Kaylaynn, Dustin, and Chance.
Continue to pray for Vanessa and her family as they are hoping to go home to California in the next few weeks. If you would like to help them out in a more tangible way, you can donate to her GoFundMe account. Please also pray for Kate as she continues to heal and the rest of P-Squad as we are healing emotionally from all that has happened.
“Whatever my God ordains is right His holy will abides
I will be still whatever he does And follow where he guides
Sweet comfort, sweet comfort Yet shall fill my heart
Sweet comfort, sweet comfort Sorrow shall depart”
Sweet Comfort, Sandra McCracken
