A tragic night.

With tears streaming I write this. Friday night our couples class at church had a progressive dinner party. When we got to the church to meet we realized we were taking the bus.  "Should we drive the van babe in case Reece needs us?" my husband answered, "If you want to." "Nah. I guess not.."

We all loaded the bus. Went to the first house and I tried to eat a salad, but with my tooth I didn't eat much. I chatted about how nervous I was to get my tooth pulled Saturday. We all gathered on the bus after the first stop and headed to the next.  Some of our friends were late so they met us at the first house. Then they all decided to car pool in my friends Honda. There was 5 of them. Karen's husband Enrique insisted Claudia sit in the front since she was 28 weeks pregnant.  So Steven, Claudia's husband, Oliver (who's wife was home sick) and Enrique all sat in the back seat.

Supposedly the guys were distracted by a frog. They caught the frog, therefore they were a minuet behind the bus.  As they drove and crossed through a green light, an SUV ran a red light going very fast and T-Boned Karen's Honda. The honda flipped a couple times and landed upside down in a small ditch.  I'm told Karen was able to get free from the car but no one else could. Enrique was unresponsive right away.

They all suffered serious injuries except for Karen.  They were all rush to the hospital right away.

Enrique suffered the worst of the injuries.  The doctors were not hopeful that he would make it.  He needed several surgeries, and had sever injuries.  We all gathered at the hospital and prayed over the weekend.  Many people from our church were there. Bro. Ruhl and his wife were there the majority of the time.

 The doctors were always careful not to give much hope to Karen, but we did see some specific prayers answered.  We all really thought he was going to make it.
Karen asked our Sunday School teacher Bro. Ruhl, "Tell all the wives to hug their husbands".  And last night I brought Karen some food and she told me, "I just wish he would open his eyes. I want to see his eyes."

This morning I received a call, that Enrique had gone home to be with Jesus.  We were all very shocked and are broken hearted. We really thought the Lord was answering our prayers.  We know He had a different plan. And it doesn't make sense to us, but we can Trust Him. Prov 3:5

Please pray for his sweet wife Karen, that God would shower His grace and peace upon her.

Claudia had the baby early Sat morning. Baby Jackie is in NICU and doing well.  Oliver, Steven and Claudia all had sever injuries and have a very long road ahead.  Injuries included, crushed ribs, broken jaw, lacerated organs, several broken bones, ect.

I am trying to not be too specific since this is all new information for a lot of people and I certainly don't want any family to find out via the internet about anything. It is certainly not my place to paint the picture of the evening, but I do ask for people to be praying for all our friends in the hospital, the baby, and especially for Karen.

I know many of you are already praying and have asked for updates, and rather than tell separate people several times I wanted to write it once.

I am so very thankful that HEAVEN IS REAL.  Enrique is with our Savior. If you were in a terrible accident, would you wake up in heaven? The bible says God wants you to be sure. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8 

"FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." Romans 10:13

Enrique was with us one minuet, laughing, joking, being a gentleman like he always is. Then, he wasn't. Oh how life can change in an instant.  

 "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1 

If you haven't trusted Christ as your Savior....PLEASE DO!!! I beg you! You never know when your last chance is. The bible is real, it's true, it's accurate. Heaven is real, hell is real, Satan is real, GOD IS REAL.  Whether someone believes in heaven and hell doesn't make it not REAL.  You can say, "I don't believe in a million dollars. Ive never seen it, so I don't believe it."  Doesn't make it not real! 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shoul not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE." John 3:16 

If you've never asked Jesus to be your Savior, I pray you would! Salvation is not anything we do, but what Jesus has already done and us accepting that gift.  Pray and ask God to forgive you of your sins, then tell him you believe and accept what He did for you on the cross! God's word is true. 

 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9 

 

Oh Lord Jesus, please comfort Karen, my sweet friend. Please overwhelm her with your comfort and grace. Please Jesus I pray she will be filled with your spirit. I pray you would keep her from asking why, and from saying, "if only...", like I continue to do. I pray you would be Glorified Lord Jesus. Please give Karen peace and a comfort that lasts forever.  Thank you for my husband. Thank you for the friendship we developed with the Escobar's. Please God heal Karen's broken heart. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.