Thank You for Your Prayers
On July 2, Jack Nkandu (Zambia), Ephraim Fotso (Cameroon), and I left Yaoundé for the Equatorial Guinea border to meet with the pastors from that area. Since the driver wanted to reach the city before night, he made use of the excellent road and drove faster than he should have. About 55km outside Yaoundé, driving through the rainforest, we descended a hill doing about 140km/h. Suddenly, coming onto a newly paved road, we hit gravel and the driver lost control of the vehicle. At first it looked like the car would overturn. But the three of us called unto the Lord, and instead of overturning the car hit an escarpment on the side of the road at 140km/h. The impact was so severe that the right front wheel was pushed into the interior of the car.
Since the car had no safety belts in the back, I was thrown against the right back door and window. But at least the car had stopped. We immediately tried to get out. The first thing I noticed was that I had double vision and great pain in my right arm. Those of you who have been involved or have seen accidents in Africa understand that even though we were in the middle of nowhere, a crowd of people gathered around us. While I sat on the gravel, Jack and Ephraim stopped another car whose driver was willing to take us to the hospital.
Without going into too many details about our trip to Yaoundé—which is a story of its own—we reached the city during evening rush hour with all roads blocked. The taxi driver, considering the pain I was in and the need for me to get to a hospital immediately, tried as much as he could to get around the traffic. He was stopped by a police officer who was after some money. A big argument developed and as a result we were arrested and kept at the police station for two hours. I want to spare you the unbelievable details. However, the situation became so severe I finally told the Lord: “Jesus, now it is just you and me!” Immediately I felt His presence and deep peace filled my heart.
After that things started to change in our favor. They finally believed what we had tried to tell them for two hours. They realized we were not a band of thugs, which they had accused us of being, but people who were in a severe accident.
We finally left the police station and traveled about 300 meters before our taxi ran into another taxi. Without delay there was another police officer. But God intervened and we were able to continue, finally reaching the hospital. To add to the excitement, after I was taken to have X-rays and tests, the taxi driver who had caused the accident found us and asked for the remainder of the money. It was hard for me to believe that someone who, through his reckless driving, nearly killed us was demanding the rest of the taxi fare. However, Jack and Ephraim came to my rescue and chased him away.
There are two things I should mention: (1) A while before the accident, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues, which I did for a considerable length of time. The prayer in tongues was so intense that I wondered about the intensity. Shortly after that the accident happened. I believe that this prompting of the Spirit of God prevented greater possible disaster. (2) Before and during the time of the accident, Joseph Kagarama (Uganda) was also prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray for someone in great danger. He immediately returned home and interceded for one and a half to two hours. Directly after prayer he received the news of the accident. At once he knew why he was led to intercede.
Upon arrival in Germany, I was taken straight to the hospital. On July 8, I had surgery on my broken jaw and the next day I had surgery on my fractured arm. When I was admitted to the hospital, I was also diagnosed with a fractured vertebra. After consultation with a neurosurgeon friend, we decided on conservative therapy. I am having daily physical therapy for the next week or so. The only thing is I am having severe pain in my right arm which at times keeps me awake during the nights.
I want to thank all of you who interceded fervently on my behalf and covered Debbie and my family in prayer. Thank you also to those who organized overnight prayer meetings and special times of prayer and fasting both personally and with churches. Also I thank those of you who passed this prayer request onto various prayer groups across the continents.
Peter and Debbie Thomas Regional Superintendent, Central Africa CE Coordinator, Africa: W.C.E.
(Source: Church of God World Missions)
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