Neil flies from Minneapolis this evening to Amsterdam and then from Amsterdam to Nairobi, Kenya, tomorrow. A few minutes before he left, he called me outside to see a black-and-white butterfly looking much like the one pictured above. The butterfly was resting on the driver's window ledge with two large chunks torn from its left wing. Knowing I had been apprehensive about Neil going on this mission trip, Neil asked if God was telling me anything when I saw the butterfly. Then the butterfly flew to the nearby flowers as if the missing pieces in the wing were no bother. I said, "God is reassuring us that your flights will make it safely to their destinations." I didn't say that the missing pieces in that wing concerned me. When I found the picture of the butterfly, the internet article also mentioned that people sometimes believed that visits by black and white butterflies were like God telling them in a gentle way that he would be with them in times of difficulty.
About 2 hours later, Neil called, saying he just had the closest brush with death he had ever experienced. He had just pulled back onto I94 after stopping for a caramel roll at Nelson Brothers truck stop on the Clearwater exit. A vehicle transporting a large boat was just ahead of him. They were only a couple of miles down the road when the vehicle pulling the boat sharply veered to the edge of the interstate. Neil immediately saw a pickup truck bearing down on him, coming at least 60 MPH. The boat had obscured the oncoming truck, which continued rushing past Neil, going the wrong way against the traffic. Neil was going around 70 as he hit the brakes and pulled over to the right, following the driver with the boat. He doesn't know how he avoided a head-on. Although shaken, Neil was able to get back on the highway and continue toward the Twin Cities. Neil is carrying a canoe on top of his 4-Runner that he is returning to a friend in Hudson, WI, who will store Neil's 4-Runner and give Neil rides to and from the airport. Thankfully, the canoe held fast without even shifting position on the roof.
Just this morning, I did something nice for Neil, thinking that would be the one thing I would regret if I didn't do it should anything happen to Neil on this trip. Then Neil took me to Don's Cafe' for breakfast. Sweet! We saw our dear friend, Bobby Charles, who helps her friend by waiting tables. Bobby promised to pray for Neil's trip.
OK. So, I am calming down as I write this. God may have warned us through the injured butterfly that could fly. I certainly have been praying for Neil. But there was also a little bit of humor. Neil was on the phone with our dearest friend in ministry, Bernie Wing, who was watching his grandsons this afternoon at his home in Marshall, MN. In the midst of the near accident, Neil shouted a not-so-nice word, "Oh s--t!" Bernie, of course, had him explain what that was about. Then Bernie gently reprimanded Neil, who didn't realize he was on speaker phone with the grandsons listening. Bernie asked why Neil didn't say, "Oh Jesus!" Neil said that he didn't have time to review his vocabulary in the heat of the moment.
Dear friends are even more precious at times like these. Last week, my sister, Jeannie, came from Apple Valley for a short visit to Morris and Glenwood. Sunday, friends from church prayed for Neil. Kelly Lanctot's prayer was so special, as were the prayers from other friends in the church, at coffee afterward, and for lunch following. Our Monday night group at the church didn't let Neil leave until they had a chance to pray for him. Then, even as I am writing this, Neil's dear aunt Karen VanAlsberg from Kansas City called and will be trying to talk with Neil before he boards the plane this evening.
Here are the prayer items I sent last week for Neil's trip and a couple more that have come to mind:
- Health & Strength—These stress-filled trips, with difficult sleep and changes in diet, drain energy.
- Smooth connections.
- Holy Spirit's grace —for Neil's teaching to be well understood and received and to deepen relationships.
- Travel Safety - Kenya's roads can be treacherous, especially after the flooding earlier this year. In addition, there have been recent riots in Nairobi over increased taxation. [Not just Kenya's roads . . ..]
- Reliable transportation—the vehicle provided for Neil and Francis must run well and hold together for the duration of their trip.
- Neil asked that God will, most of all, provide open doors for ministry among the churches in the Mombasa area. He has been whisked away from them early both times he has visited.
- The failure of international computer systems, especially for airlines in scheduling their flights and flight crews, has been repaired.
- The severe riots in Kenya that looked like they were leading to civil war after more than 60 demonstrators were killed and over 600 wounded by police firing live ammunition into the crowded streets have quieted down. Just yesterday, President Rito filled his cabinet positions with members of the opposing groups so they could carry on discussions at the table among his top government leaders. The rioting had me most concerned about Neil returning to Kenya at this time. But God heard our prayers for peace and the Prince of Peace demonstrated once again that he is "The Boss."