It was our 5th day on the road (the first was only from 17h30 to 23h00) and we were very ready to get home and unpack! The worst part of the trip was ahead – road wise – since soon after Quelimane we hit a very damaged gravel road.
Three hours from home the steering knuckle arm attached to the wheel broke loose and Francois lost control of the vehicle. (Our friends were some distance behind us and praise the Lord, not in danger). The vehicle veered right, crossed the road and we started to tear into the bush heading straight for a tree. Francois was pulling the hand break (pushing the floor break would have rolled the car), but we were still moving fast. Then, we believe, the Lord intervened because we were braked by a rock hard ants nest, dragging the vehicle to a standstill and veering us left of the tree. We still drove into the tree, but only with the right front side of the car at a low speed. [cid:image001.jpg@01CD218A.FFED2EF0] None of us were harmed and we thank the Lord for intervening! Hitting that tree at the speed we were going could have caused serious injury or even death. We certainly would not have been able to drive away… Yes, that’s right! Again we saw the Lord’s awesome protection! [cid:image002.jpg@01CD218A.FFED2EF0] A truck full of men saw the accident and were there to help us even before the dust settled. They helped to dig the rocks out so that we could move the vehicle back onto the road. The car was limping with the steering arm dragging on the ground, but the engine was unharmed. [cid:image004.jpg@01CD2313.2987F860] [cid:image010.jpg@01CD2313.2987F860] A little ways outside Quelimane, we stopped to tow a truck to start it again after they asked for help next to the road. Francois last word were: “We motorists are in this together! We help each other…” When they heard about the accident (through this truck full of men that continued on its way), they came to help us – mechanic and all! This guy new exactly what to do and right there, next to the dusty road, the vehicle was fixed so that we could continue on our trip! Imagine… [cid:image011.jpg@01CD2313.2987F860] In the mean time, by driving to a place where we could pick up a signal, we phoned Phil (our partner) and he came to get us. By the time he arrived, our car was able to drive again, but because Francois was still not sure how secure the car was, the kids, Ida and I left with Phil. Kobus and Francois (in the two vehicles) slowly followed and were at the Hendersons house by midnight (where we slept the night).
We saw the Lord providing for us in the most amazing ways, over and over again! Thank you for your prayers, we believe that it was answered!
