All things work together!

Feeling fine as I lay there, I looked at Gloria. She was obviously uncomfortable in the chair. "We should trade places", I suggested again. "Trading places in the car seemed to be what got us in this mess in the first place!" I started to laugh! The more I laughed, the funnier it all seemed. Gloria joined in laughing, and we laughed until we cried. Every time I took a deep breath and asked what we were laughing for, we both started to howl! I have never laughed so hard in all my life. I said, "We'd better be careful, or they'll send us to the mental hospital", and we laughed hysterically. We literally laughed for several hours; I heard later that this is called shock. Well I found being in shock a lot of fun!   Somehow, in the next hours we were able to get control of our emotions enough to start wondering how we would ever leave this hospital, and where would we go! We were two provinces away from my parents, and much further away from Gloria's. The people that were closest to me were probably in the Good Samaritan Lodge that I had managed in Onanole, Manitoba. They were an unlikely bunch to be able to help! Eleven old folks resided there, six of them were alcoholics, two had been transferred from a mental hospital for me to care for. One of the ladies had a stroke while I was there, and became a total care patient. Another man had Alzheimer's, and didn't know the difference between the toilet and the bath tub when I helped him into the tub. I was their cook, cleaner, bathed them, their hairdresser, (I was the only staff), even got one out of the bar on occasion! All for a whopping $300. a month! One of my favourite guys there, Harry, was a midget. I loved his stories. He told of a time when he was in court for drinking and driving.  The judge asked him to stand up, which he did. The judge said sternly a second time "I said stand up!" Harry, replied, "I am sir" and walked forward, but of course he was taller sitting in the chair than he was standing. He was a hoot, and I look forward to seeing him someday, because I had the privilege of leading him to Christ when I worked there. Anyways, I kind of got off on a rabbit trail. I do that often!

So I thought and thought. We knew the car was towed to Winnipeg, so it wouldn't be any help to us. The only thing I could see us doing was flying from Winnipeg to Edmonton. But how to get to Winnipeg? A nurse gave me a phone book, and the doctor said we could leave the hospital only if we had a ride. Maybe he was afraid we were too disoriented to go by bus. By then my sprained ankle did hurt a fair bit, so I couldn't step on it. I 'barely' knew three people in Winnipeg, but thought I'd better give this a shot. Finally I reached someone. His name was Terry Welsh. Once he had come to the Good Samaritan Lodge where I worked to speak at a Sunday service. The owners of the Lodge were Christians, and had 3 other homes for seniors. The trouble was, they found it difficult keeping staff (we were so well paid!), so the husband was in one home, his wife in another, and their teenagers were running another one. Anyways, I asked Terry if he remembered me, and he didn't. When I reminded him that I was managing this old folk's place, then he remembered. I continued on and told him our predicament, and asked if I could possibly pay him to pick us up and take us to the airport. Without hesitation, he agreed. Gloria and I were beginning to see that "God works all things together for good..."

A while later, Terry came with his girlfriend, also Terry Welsh (what are the chances of dating someone with the same first and last name?)  Introductions were made all around, and a wheel chair brought for me. We made small talk on the way to the car. Terry began, "I have taken the day off tomorrow, as I have a cold. I'm fine to help you girls though, but I don't think I have energy to do my job as a drama professor". Wow, I thought! He is willing to take the day off to help us. Praise God! I think he dropped off his girl friend, and took us to his place. I'm sure he realised there was too much to get done and we were too tired to be doing it the day of the accident. So he kindly gave us supper and a nice bed to sleep. We were exhausted, but felt so cared for.

The next morning, Terry took us to the car insurance place, and we were directed to where my smashed car was being stored. It was full of almost all my earthly possessions, as I was in the process of moving from Brandon, Manitoba to Edmonton when I drove to the States. I was hobbling around on one foot.  Terry was so helpful. Eventually everything got packed into 13 boxes and suitcases. It seemed to me that there was very little that was destroyed besides my car. We went through all the paper work that had to be done to make a claim on my little Honda. It was my first car, a maroon one that I bought for a good price from houseparents at CLBI. I really enjoyed that car! So, with all that done, all we needed was to get on a plane. I tried to remember whether or not I would have enough money in my account to even buy a ticket. I was trusting things to work out, please God! Then, by faith, I offered to pay Terry for all he had done for us. "I wouldn't think of it", replied Terry! We tried and tried to at least pay his gas, but he adamantly refused. He was a Good Samaritan in the true sense of the word! He found out when there was a flight to Edmonton, and took us to the airport. As he carried all 13 boxes and suitcases in for me, I thought, "Oh Lord, how will I afford to take all this on the plane?" I gingerly stepped up to the counter, and told the man that we'd been in a car accident, my car was totalled, and by the way, "How much will it cost to bring this much stuff on board?" He glanced down at my stuff, looked at me and replied, "It won't cost you anything" Gloria and I glanced at each other, inwardly praising the Lord for making a way for us. He then asked me my name, "Wendy Paulgaard" I replied. He looked rather surprised, and said, "Do you know Arvid Paulgaard?" It was my turn to look surprised! "That's my Dad!" He smiled knowingly, and told us how he had come to the Provost area, and Dad let him hunt birds in his field. What a small world! I recently read "Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous". We chatted a bit more, then he asked for payment, Terry gave him the luggage, and we said our thank yous and goodbyes. It seemed so surreal how things were working out. I knew God was the one who had a hand in it all. As we got settled in our seats on the plane, I looked at my ticket. "I can't believe this", I told Gloria, "that man paid part of my ticket!" The Lord knew that I had very little money in my bank account, so He had put it on this man's heart to pay part of my ticket. I don't remember the exact amount, it was something like either $20 or $40 ( a fair amount of money 34 years ago!) But it was God's provision. We settled back in our seats, knowing we were in God's hands.

I had no clue who would pick us up at the airport, but I guess I wasn't worrying. God had taken great care us, and He didn't need us to be fretting and worrying. Besides, I knew some people in Edmonton. We got off the plane, me still hobbling along. We barely got into the terminal, and to my amazement, there were Linda and John in front of my eyes! I almost shrieked with joy! We hugged one another, and I introduced Gloria to them. I told them we were in a car accident, and didn't exactly know where we were going next. The next thing Linda said to me just about floored me! She said "John and I are getting married this Saturday at St. Paul's Anglican, and we really want you to come" My heart was bursting with excitement! I knew I'd see many friends there that meant so much to me. I had spent a year in Inuvik, NWT (which is another story), and when I left, I was so sure the Lord would provide me another job to go back to Inuvik. But there was no job to be had, and some of my friends graciously sent my belongings down to Edmonton for me. I never got a chance to say goodbye to my amazing friends up there, and thought I'd never get to see them again. But here were John and Linda in front of me, asking me to come to their wedding, and I would see my other friends too. "God is so good" is all I could say. If it hadn't been for my car accident, I never would have bumped into them and never known about their wedding. They had tried to track me down, but I had moved too many times. "God works all things together" was again coming to mind. Wow, this week was turning out to be pretty exciting!

I don't know how I got there, but I ended up at "Ma and Pa Stone's" place. They were Pentecostal missionary types that I'd met in Inuvik, and they had to be in their seventies. They were like Grandparents to everyone they met, and they took me and my stuff in while I recuperated. Gloria's friends came to pick her up. The funny thing was, they had an awful lot of company while I was there! It seemed that someone would barely get through the door, and Pa would say, "Wendy, tell them your story!" So again, I would recount all that the Lord had done for us! And then he'd say a few times "Praise the Lord!" I think he was inviting people over, just so he'd hear the story again! We actually had so much fun there and lots of good laughs! I don't remember how long I stayed with them, but I know it was until after John and Linda's wedding. I decided the next stop was the Greyhound Bus Depot which we take me back to my parent's farm.

I made my way into the bus to get ready for the relaxing 5 hour ride. I had no sooner sat down, than a girl I'd gone to high school with got onto the bus. Our eyes met, and she walked towards me. We were glad to see each other, and while the bus started rolling, we were chit chatting about the past 4 years since our graduation.  She had continued to party, and was living with a married man at that time. We'd both been into drugs, alcohol, you name it during our high school years. It was the way I lived until I met the Lord when I was 18. I attended Bible School for 2 years, worked a year in Inuvik as a parish worker/medical receptionist, off to Manitoba and now was returning to Alberta. Her next question stopped me short, "So what have you been doing lately?" I chuckled, "Do you really want to know?", with of course my accident story fresh in my mind. I told her my story. It didn't need any embellishments, it was a good story, because God wrote it. At the end of it, my friend looked at me seriously and said, "Well, how could I become a Christian?" I think I nearly fell off my seat! What! She wanted Christ! I had always seen her as popular, very pretty, someone other girls wanted to be like. Now she wanted to be a Christian like me! Amazing! So I began presenting her the gospel message, as I had so many times in Inuvik.  Up there, evangelism was a big part of my job, as my boss was both a Pastor and a medical doctor.  I didn't hesitate to tell her about how God loved her so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross in her place. Her sins were already paid for by His death, and through Christ's resurrection, she could have the assurance of being in Heaven with Him someday and also of His presence in her life now. It was wonderful to share, and not feel ashamed of the gospel! She accepted Christ in her heart, and my hope was that others on that bus also got to hear what we were talking about. I hope someday in heaven, I will meet that 'druggie' who offered me a cigarette and then a joint, maybe others at the accident scene, or the ambulance attendant perhaps. Maybe a nurse will be there, even though we laughed ourselves silly. What I do clearly remember as I got off that bus and into my Dad's waiting car was saying with enthusiasm, "Lord, what are you going to do next?" What started as a car accident turned out to be one of the most exciting times of my life, and I give God all the credit. No one can convince me all these provisions were just 'chance'. As God reminded me of His Word when I hit the ground, "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen  you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand" Isaiah 41:10  Also, "God works all things together for good to them that love God" Romans 8:28   I actually got to see God accomplish these words in my life! And, after a few weeks, I received a cheque in the mail from the insurance company. Funny thing was, the cheque was more than I had paid for the car 10 months earlier and I had driven it many thousands of miles. God is good all the time! Even when things don't seem to go our way!

Still walking

This morning, I decided to walk to church.  Mind you, it was only a block away, so it wasn't much of a walk.  I walked around in church for a bit,  then I saw her.  Laboriously, each step was a struggle.   By her face, she looked to be in her mid forties, but then guessing someones age isn't exactly my speciality.  She had a very pretty face, her make up done nicely, and she was very attractive.   I slowed my walking pace to match hers.  "So, were you in an accident recently?", I enquired.  "Thirty years ago, I was in a car accident".  Thirty years!  She was still using a walker, her leg in a cast.  Or was it a leg brace, maybe it was an artificial leg.  Thirty years!  My mind went back to thirty four years ago....

It had been a great couple of weeks in the Minneapolis area.  Now on my return trip to Edmonton, I had convinced my friend Gloria to accompany me. The second morning of our trip, I was tired.  It was an enjoyable, but long evening around the campfire with friends from CLBI days (the Bible School we had all attended).  Lets face it, I was a night hawk, but often paid the price the next morning.  I had driven a few hours, but the fatigue was wearing on me.  "Gloria, would you mind driving for awhile?" I suggested.  Gloria agreed, although she hadn't  driven my Honda Civic yet, furthermore it was a standard.  We traded places, and both buckled up.

After a few moments, I glanced into the back of my car, which was almost loaded to the roof.  You see, the past few months I had been on one of my adventures....in Manitoba.  Most recently, I was working in two restaurants, cooking and waitressing.  This was my 'in-between' time, the time between working those crazy hours....sometimes around the clock, and returning to Alberta, the province where I was born and raised.  That short time in Manitoba I had moved four times, and did twice that many jobs.  I looked back again, "Yes, I think I'll try it".  I unbuckled myself to turn around and get it.  The accordion had seen many African adventures.  Katherine, a retired missionary now in her eighties, had lugged it around, singing the good old hymns and accompanied herself with this small accordion.  She wanted me to have it!  I was overwhelmed at this thought.  You see, I had applied to go to Kenya as a parish worker with World Mission Prayer League, but it was a long shot at best. I needed more training. For some reason unknown to me, Katherine knew I needed it.  But why? 

"Gloria, I'm going to try out this accordion. Let's sing, okay?"  I chose one of the chords, to see if I could get the hang of this.  It seemed easy, so we started....."Unto Thee O Lord, do I lift up my voice," then Gloria sang the echo.  We continued on, "Oh my God, I trust in Thee...BANG!!!  "What was that!!!  I grabbed for the steering wheel, as the car swerved.  The wheel ripped out of my hand, as I could see Gloria wide eyed and bewildered.  " I don't believe this is happening" flashed through my mind, as  the car swerved first right, sharply left, right again, another time, and this time straight towards the ditch, at a 90 degree angle to the road.  The next realisation was hitting the ground, HARD!  Immediately, His still small voice came, " Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, I am your God.  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."  I knew it was the Lord!  I jumped to my feet, and ran to my crumpled car.  "O God, please let Gloria be alive!" my heart cried!

  There she was, feeling her lap, mumbling, searching.  Shattered glass filled the car, and was strewn across her lap. She couldn't find her contacts. The Spirit brought more words of encouragement. "Gloria, God works all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  We just need to praise Him."  We lifted our voices to Him in praise and thanksgiving.  Suddenly, we became aware of people around us.  They had seen me fly through the air, the accordion still attached.  "We expected to find dead bodies here,  your car rolled 3 1/2 times", someone volunteered.  Without skipping a beat, I said, "Well if we had died, we would be in a better place right now.  Shucks!", I joked.   A lady looked at me in astonishment.  I don't know if she realised I meant we just about made it to heaven, and it was a bit disappointing we weren't there at the moment!  Another piped up, "It's really sad about your wrecked car", to which I countered, "It's just a thing, the Lord must know I don't need it anymore".  Others were looking through some of the wreckage; the doily I had been beading, my guitar (which didn't have a scratch).  Strangely, even the accordion had just a chip off one of the keys, and still played fine, even though it had broken my windshield, flew through the air at 100 km/hr and hit the ground with me attached.  I have thought so many times of how that praying missionary had likely asked God to use this instrument for His glory.  Little did she know, it would be a human shield, almost certainly the thing that saved my life and kept me from a severe head injury.

People fussed over us, made us lie down and we were covered by one of the blankets from my car.  Several minutes went by of conversation.  It was the most natural thing to talk about the Lord, and how He was caring for us, how I probably didn't need a car when I moved to Edmonton.  A 'hippie' sauntered into the ditch.  "Hey, do you want a smoke?" he offered one of his cigarettes.  I smiled at him, and said "Thanks, I'd probably be sick if I had a cigarette", then he held out a joint!  I knew he was trying his best to be helpful, so I remarked, "God is helping me, thanks, I don't need any drugs".  The conversation continued, and then the man spoke up again.  "So is this your car?" to which I agreed.  I offered more information, "Gloria, who is from the States was driving my car".  "Ohhh", he replied knowingly, "You'd better say you were driving, otherwise you might not get any money from your insurance".  Others around him looked like they agreed.  He suggested that everyone there tell the police that I was the driver.  "But that's not true!"  I stated emphatically!  "And God's not going to honour us if we are lying, so even if I get nothing for my car, I'm not going to lie!  He was rather taken aback, but kept quiet. 

The sound of sirens notified us that the police and ambulance were almost there.  We were loaded on stretchers, (even though I tried to tell them I could walk) and slid into the ambulance.  The drive to Portage la Prairie seemed to go quickly, and I gathered we must have been closer to that town than to Winnipeg.  On the way, an ambulance attendant asked us some questions about our faith.  Many of the things that were said I don't recall, but I just remember we had a conversation about God.  Arriving at the hospital, I was transferred to a bed to be x-rayed.  Amazing as it seems, I only had a sprained ankle.  Gloria had whip lash in her neck.  I was admitted into hospital, as they likely didn't know what to do with us, until we contacted relatives.  The only problem was, my relatives were in Alberta, Gloria's were in the USA.  So there I lay, and there she sat in a chair, wondering what next?