Crash! Metal twisting! Screams! Sirens! Not really the sounds I wanted to hear on our missions trip to New Orleans, but unfortunately, on our first day down there, we were involved in a car accident. The trip started out wonderful as we left Iowa to make the 16 hour trek...we were so excited to be going on a missions trip as a family, to do some work for the Lord, to see how He would work in our lives for the week and to see what Urban Impact ministries was all about. As we (accidentaly) coasted through a red light in a not so nice part of New Orleans, and hit a cab in the driver's side door, all these nice little thoughts went out the window. I couldn't believe it. I was sitting in the way back of our van so I didn't even know whose fault it was or how it happened. Evan was crying so I grabbed him out of his car seat and just sat and rocked him. Alea was safe and sound in her car seat and didn't even make a peep! All I could think was thank God my kids were okay. As the police and ambulance arrived, I was still in shock that all this was going on, but it is weird, when you have kids, you can't show any sign of weakness or fear. I didn't want them to see me upset, so I stayed calm. The pastor from Castle Rock Church (the church we were working with) came and prayed for us. That helped a ton!
As I peered out of our van from the back, I could see my husband and how distraught he was. I figured out that it was his fault, and that the driver of the cab was having neck pain, and I knew Mickey would need me. He would need me to love him and give him grace. A couple of years ago, I probably would have flew off the handle-but God provided me with such peace. I knew that for whatever reason, God allowed this to happen.. And I may not know this reason for a year, 10 years, or not until I see my Savior in heaven-all I can do now is learn from it and grow. Here are the few key things I have learned:
1-God is good! Our van can be replaced-my kids and husband can't.
2-My plans are not God's plans-just because I had in my mind what the week was going to look like-doesn't mean that is what God had in mind
3-God has used this event to remind me and Mickey that we are a team-life partners-and we need to support each other in every situation life throws us.
My next post will be about all the good that happened in New Orleans, but I wanted to explain and preface our trip by explaining how it started. Thanks to many of you for all the prayers while we were down there-they were much appreciated!
Our last night in NO-safe and sound!
