Amy and Jennifer and I believe an angel came to our rescue. It happened in June of 1986 when we were living in Kenya during our first term. Our house was located on a mission compound in an area called Garden Estate, which was located out in a rural area about 10 miles from the Bible School. It was a Saturday evening and we had just completed a full day of our joint garage sale at Jerry and Joy Spain’s home on the campus. Mark wanted to stay longer because the men had an American football game on video that someone brought from the States and they were all excited about having a night enjoying the game and eating popcorn and cheering their favorite teams on to victory. The greatest thrill was watching a game when they didn’t know the scores. This was one of those times.

Driving home from a Sunday service in our KUF 020

We decided I would take Amy and Jennifer home and leave Mark to enjoy a rare night out with the guys. We had made about 2000 shillings (less than $200) from our sales and put it in a brown paper bag and drove off in our VERY used “Speed the Light” Peugeot (which we lovingly referred to as KUF020). Unfortunately, it was notorious for stalling whenever it rained particularly hard. For some reason, it just didn’t like getting wet underneath. By the time we left, it was nearly dusk and there was no rain in sight. However, about five minutes into our journey it started to sprinkle and before long, it was raining so hard I could hardly see the road in front of me. By now we were in an area we called “Goatville” because during the day the road was always filled with goats being herded to market. It was also a haven for thieves. By the time we reached the round-about that would have taken us onto the divided highway toward our home, the car stalled and we rolled to a complete stop right in the middle of the street. By now it was pitch black dark outside and there were no street lights and it was still pouring rain. There was not a soul in sight and we were the only car on the road. I knew there was a petrol station just past the round-about to the right but it was still too far away and there was no way I could leave the girls to get help. An ominous feeling swept over me because this particular road was a notorious hangout for gangs of thieves who were always looking for any opportunity to snatch-and-grab, even in broad daylight. Here we were with all this money from the garage sale and cell phones hadn’t even been invented yet. A thought flashed through my mind about something that had happened a few months earlier on this same stretch of road. We were creeping along slowly because of a traffic jam and a thief nearly snatched my purse right off of my lap. Fortunately the straps ripped off during our tug-of-war and the thief just stood there with a stunned look on his face holding the straps and cursing up a storm in Swahili.

I didn’t want to frighten the girls or let them know how serious the situation was so I told them we needed to pray and assured them God was going to take care of us. The three of us started praying for God to send angels to protect us and also send someone to help us. When I looked up, I saw a young man walking along holding a small paper bag and completely drenched. I said a prayer under my breath and hoped he wasn’t a thief and then rolled down my window and called to him. He walked over to the car and I told him we needed help. He said he would try to push us to the petrol station, which seemed utterly impossible under the circumstances. The next thing I knew we were moving along and eventually ended up rolling into the station, which at this time of the night was closed. However, when I looked back, there were two men pushing the car, not one. This total stranger who appeared out of nowhere, came up to my window and before I could say anything he proceeded to tell me what to do. He instructed me to take my foot off the clutch and put the car in 2nd gear and turn the key. Immediately when I did this the car jerked and then miraculously started. I was so amazed because in all of our previous experiences with this car, that never happened before. When I looked up to thank him, he was gone. He disappeared just as quickly and quietly as he appeared. The other young man told us when he started to push the car, this guy just showed up and helped him and he had no idea where he came from. It was still raining so I asked our Good Samaritan where he was going. Since he was headed in the same direction, I offered to drive him to our turn off. We dropped him off and thanked him profusely then drove the rest of the way down the country road to our house thanking God and praising Him for taking care of us.

The girls and I were so sure that the second man was an angel because of how mysteriously he appeared and then disappeared and how he just happened to know exactly how to start the car. We experienced first-hand what Hebrews 1:14 says: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” We also believe Psalm 34:7 which says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” The girls and I will always believe this was an incredible miracle of God’s protection and one the three of us will never forget.