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I jumped into the SUV to go pick up some guys that were working at one of the Care Points. After driving down a windy road for about 5 minutes, I arrived only to find out that they had already left. I turned around and headed back. On my way back I got to the last curve and decided to slow down because it was considerably sharp and slanted. As I was coming out of the curve I started to accelerate, and the car began to fishtail. I turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction to try and straighten it out, but instead the back swung to the other side and the vehicle shot straight off the road. I held the steering wheel and turned it towards my right to try again and straighten out, and the only other thing I could think to do was hit the brake. I stepped on it, the front tires locked up, and the car did a 180. I came to an immediate stop right before the car flipped and landed on its left side. I sat there frozen, hanging in my seat belt for a few seconds before I decided to look at all the windows to check the damage. From what I could see nothing was broken except the passenger side rear view mirror (Note that here you drive on the left side of the road, so the driver is on the right side of the car).

 
 
I called Pastor Gift, our host, and he told me to not worry and just sit tight. He and a couple other guys arrived a couple minutes later and made sure I wasn’t hurt. He told me to unbuckle and stand on the passenger side door and then they opened my door and I climbed out. We proceeded to try and flip the car back, but it’s a V8 SUV, so that wasn’t going to happen! One of the guys decided to drive back to the base to get some rope and more man power. When they got back we tied the rope to bottom of the SUV and the guy’s car and he began to slowly pull as we pushed the other side. The rope snapped before the truck even came off the ground, so I jumped in the car and went back to get some 2in. webbing I had bought for a slack line. This time I tied the rope to a couple carabineers I had and hooked it up to both vehicles. We successfully flipped the vehicle back to its normal state, and looked at the damage. Except for the broken mirror, some dents from rocks, a few cracks in the side fenders, and a little bit of oil that had leaked because of the position of the car, nothing else was damaged.

 

I walked around the car and prayed silently as they proceeded to take off the right front wheel that had gone flat. I stayed there for about another 1 and a half as Pastor Gift, and his friend who was driving the other car, took the tire to get it fixed. While sitting beside that SUV with some of my Swazi brothers I didn’t really know what to say or think about what had just happened. A “Thank You” To God was about all that would come out. I began to think of what would have happened if I had picked up those guys and they had been in the car when it all happened. Most likely a couple of them would have been sitting on that side, and a lot of times they don’t wear seat belts. I thanked God that the car didn’t keep rolling, that it just came to a complete stop before flipping. I just sat there and replayed what happened over and over in my mind.

 
Pastor Gift eventually got back with the tire; we put it back on, checked the engine to make sure everything was fine, and headed back to the base. On our way back he told me that these things happen and it wasn’t a big deal. He said he was just happy that I was alive and not hurt. And, then he told me that cars are machines, tools of work, but I am the image of God, cars can be replaced, but people never can! If I needed any truth spoken to me in that moment it definitely came! In those words I heard an “I Love You!” from God.

 

In my last blog I thanked you guys for your support and prayers throughout these 8 months. I said that I really didn’t know what you had prayed or when you had, but that I was sure that your prayers hadn’t gone unanswered. Well, I’m sure my parents haven’t been the only ones praying for my safety, so to all who have, thank you! I told you your prayers hadn’t gone unanswered!!! Ha-ha, God is Awesome!

Thank You God for Your Sovereign judgment and Hand of Protection over our lives. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for hearing our cries for our brothers and sisters no matter where they are. Thank You for Your grace over our lives, it’s the only reason I’m alive right now! Thank You Father!!!

Jon