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Given Up for Dead, But God Had Other Plans September 3, 2007 We thank God for His protecting hand on our
family! We decided to travel to St. Louis, after our
national convention in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Praise God for 1,030
that were filled with the Holy Ghost, several healings, and victories!
We went to see our pastor's wife, Sis. Mary Dugas,
and take care of some business in the area. After four days there, my
family--my wife Linda, and sons, Nicholas, Nathan, and Neil--was returning to
Mexico on August 12, 2007. We were an hour outside of Oklahoma City (where
I was scheduled to preach for Bro. Mark Parker) when I asked my wife to drive
while I went over my notes for that evening. We Never Saw It Coming About five minutes later, we came upon
construction where the highway narrowed to one lane with a concrete wall on the
left side. Speed was reduced to 45 mph. A tractor trailer behind us
did not slow down and impacted our GMC Yukon at an estimated speed of 70-75 mph.
This pushed us into the side of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol car and the stalled
truck parked in front of him (this was all captured on the patrol car's camera).
There was also a Ford Taurus with a mother and her 15-month-old baby that was
caught between the tractor trailer and the wall and dragged several hundred
feet.
Everyone except Neil was knocked unconscious by
the impact. We never saw it coming. One police officer witnessed everything, and
another was responding to help his partner when the accident occurred. (God had
help on the scene and on the way before we ever had the accident.) The police told us there were many people who
rushed to our aid. Among them was one man in particular who told those
helping how many people were in each vehicle, and, as they extracted us, he told
them what the injuries were with each person. He was there until the
paramedics arrived; afterwards he was gone. No one knew his name or where
he went! Prayer Protection? We were taken to four different hospitals by
helicopter and ambulance, but one week later we were all out and thanking God
for sparing our lives. One doctor told my son, Nicholas, “I don't
normally believe in 'stuff' like this, but someone was looking out for you.”
Another doctor told me, “I have been an emergency room doctor for 30 years,
and I have never seen someone just walk away from an accident like this.”
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer who wrote up the accident report told me,
“Your boys should be dead; the hand of God was with you.” We have received many messages of comfort and
prayers but two in particular show us the hand of God. Kandra Robertson, a
missionary kid in Tanzania, wrote:
Bro. Alfonzo Gonzalez, our District Secretary and
right-hand man in Puebla, Mexico, wrote:
The Update My wife reported on the condition of everyone: Scott--My husband is okay. His head was
lacerated and he received staples. He has been strong helping all of us
and running from one hospital to the other. Linda--I was unconscious for quite a while but
thank God everything is all right. I look the scariest J. I have
stitches on my forehead and both eyelids, and both eyes are black and swollen.
My arms, legs, and feet are also bruised. The patrolman told my husband they had
blocked me with a sheet because they thought I was dying at the scene of the
accident due to my lack of movement or response. God had other plans!
Nathan--His jaw is broken along with several
teeth. He was operated on and will have his jaw wired shut for several
weeks. He also slit his chin open and has several stitches. He was
bleeding from one ear, but there is no permanent damage. Nicholas--His liver was torn, as well as bruising
to the kidneys and spleen. Two ribs were fractured, and he suffered quite
a concussion. Thank God with time and rest he will be fine. Neil--Other than a slight spot on his spleen and
soreness he is fine. He was conscious the whole time and said that he
checked our pulses to see if we were alive. He was very brave. Thank God for every miracle he performed!
© 2007, Scott and Linda Guinn --------- Scott and Linda Guinn are UPC missionaries
to Mexico. Author's Note: We especially are grateful to our friend Rev. Mark Parker and the saints of Southern Oaks United Pentecostal Church, as well as Bro. Kevin Borders, UPC Foreign Missions Director of Oklahoma, for being at the hospital and with our family every step of the way. Brother Dan McKinnies just got in his car and drove 10 hours to be here with us. Words cannot express our gratitude for the kindness and concern which they have shown to us! We will forever be grateful for everything they have done for us. |
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