THE ANGEL FROM PERU

LIMA PERU 2022

“Mom, it’s Jake.” I awoke startled. It was 11:30 pm. “ Jake, what’s wrong?”. “Mom, dad and I are in a predicament. Wer’e standing in front of the hotel and it’s all locked up”. “What do you mean it’s all locked up?. Didn’t you meet the travel director at the airport?”. By now my heart was racing. “No mom. No one was at the airport for us. We took a taxi here to the hotel and its chained up. Wer’e stranded on the streets of Lima at 1:30 am with no place to go, we can’t speak Spanish, and we’re running out of money. We need help mom”. I’ve experienced fear before but this was on a whole other level. I already knew there was little I could do because, well. it was by now 11:45 am and NOTHING was open. We tried looking at all the paperwork for any emergency numbers and there was none for that time. I had been praying throughout the conversation but I was at a loss of what we, or rather, what I could do. At just that time a taxi pulled up and said he would take them to a hotel for the night and then we would figure out what to do next. I spent the rest of the night trying to get a hold of the American Embassy, AAA emergency, the Lima police, and on and on. I got on my knees and cried out to the Lord for help. Was this a scam? I had already been told by the embassy that the area they were in was very dangerous and my only recourse was to get them out as soon as possible. Covid. To leave Peru you had to get the covid test and wait 24 hours before you could leave. That had all been set up at the hotel, the one that was now chained up. Have you ever been in a situation that was so dire and you could do nothing? My family and I may have been in this frightening moment but there are those of you who have also been in a situation where there was NO way out. Disaster was coming and you were not going to be able to stop it. Four hours later Jake called back. “Mom, have you heard anything?” I told them to go back to the hotel and see if it was open now. Moments later Jake called back. “ Mom, its been closed for two years from Covid. What do we do now?” Tears were coming down my face. “ Lord, what can I do?” I had gone to work but left shortly afterwards to wait for AAA to open. They were going back to the hotel to wait for my call. Pause. This reminds me of the story where the disciples were in a boat and a squall came. It was so ferocious that they were about to drown. Jesus was in the same boat asleep. Really? They cried out to Jesus for help. How could He possibly be asleep in the midst of such danger? Jesus woke up, rebuked them for their lack of faith, called out the sea and wind to stop, it became calm, and I’m pretty sure He went back to sleep. As for the disciples..they were in awe, asking themselves “ who is this man?” He is God, the almighty, the alpha and omega, the beginning and the last, the one who loves us and will bring peace, comfort, in the midst of great fear. “Mom, you won’t believe what just happened . The taxi man from last night took down my phone number and itinerary. He somehow found our travel director and told them what hotel we were at. They’re on their way now to pick us up! Can you believe that?” I was STILL waiting at AAA for help. God had brought an angel to Kevin and Jake. Not the American Embassy, AAA, the police ( although the picture would make you believe differently!) myself, or for that matter, the guys, saved them. It was an unknown taxi man who appeared on the streets of Lima, early in the morning, who brought them to safety, and found THEIR travel director! Kev had been in the background trying to get things done for them while I had been on the phone with Jake but even he was not able to do what this unknown taxi man did for them. They were upgraded to the best room with perks in the hotel ( the one they were supposed to be in from the beginning) and are currently having the time of their lives. But as we all know, the ending isn’t always the way we would pray for. Sometimes, our worst fears come true. At the moment when I was on my knees in the early morning praying, with tears streaming down my face, I started to sing the song “ It is well with my soul”.. The writer of the song had lost everything, his family, his JOY, yet, in the midst of it all, he could still sing that song. Why? Because he KNEW the faithfulness and love of God. My faith was tested. I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be…standing in the middle of Lima, early in the morning, with no where or no one to help them. Until an unknown taxi driver came to rescue them. The angel from Peru. Although I am grateful for this outcome, I also spent time this weekend at a funeral, a hospital twice, and talking with a friend who is about to start chemo. I’m still on my knees for these special people because the future is still unknown. Jesus, I pray for the person reading this blog, someone who needs an angel right now , to supernaturally experience your love and faithfullness for them…so that they too can sing “ it is well with my soul”.