Dateline: September 12th, 2001, 7:00AM – Nakuru, Kenya
John arose early and went into the hotel lobby where there was a TV set, which daily at this hour had news broadcasts in English. In a short time he returned to our room where Dale and I were in the process of getting ready for the day ahead. (We were conducting a daily seminar for pastors and church leaders).
John told us that the Twin Towers in New York had been hit by an airplane. We were a little stunned by this news. How could this happen? Where did the plane come from? What kind of plane was involved? Not once did I think it could be a passenger aircraft. And at this point we did not know there were other planes involved. As we discussed this event it was now mid-night of the 11th of September in my home town of Houston, Texas.
When we went outside the hotel, we noticed men hawking newspapers with headlines like: “10,000 Killed In New York” and “20,000 Killed In Attack On The Twin Towers.” With so little facts about what had and what was transpiring back home, we became very concerned.
The three of us then began to pray for our families and for our country and for the people to which we would be sharing that day. Here was a “God Moment.” How would we react before these Kenyan Brothers. We prayed thanking God for always being in control. As we met that day our Brethren were also praying like prayers. Even many, who were not a part of those to which we were ministering, shared their concern for us. Especially was this true for other Kenyan Christ Followers who sought us out to show their love in Christ for us. One such person told Dale, “My heart hurts for those who left this world without ever knowing Jesus Christ and His Salvation.”
As we corresponded back home with our families, we discovered our wives where on the phone daily, form Texas to Oregon, praying for us. What an encouragement!
Little by little, we began to get the truth about what had happened. We continued to pray more specifically. What had transpired reminded me of another such day in my life, December 7, 1941, the day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii without warning. I remembered the fear I had as a nine year old boy. That same fear returned. Only this time, I knew more about God’s sovereignty.
Next, our attention turned to how we would return home. Flights everywhere were cancelled. Since I was scheduled to leave Kenya in about 5 days, this became a problem. John and Dale, being from Oregon, looked into the possibility of flying into Canada if flights where still grounded in the United Stated. I, on the other hand, considered flying into Mexico. I had contacted a friend, in South Texas, about this possibility.
In the meantime we continued to conduct our seminar. God was giving us a love for the Kenyans.
The day I was to leave, we traveled back to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to get me on my flight. Air traffic was now moving in most places. I was dropped off at the airport and said goodbye to my Kenyan Brethren. When I went to check in for the flight there was a problem. I never did discover what that problem was but they seemed determined to not allow me to board this flight. We had several discussions but no reason was forth-coming. Then I remembered I had checked with the airline office in Nakuru and they had given me a slip of paper showing I was confirmed for the flight. When that was shown, I had no more problems.
As I traveled home from Nairobi to Amsterdam to Houston, I met a number of people who had to wait up to 7 or 8 days before they could get on a flight. I was blessed. So were John and Dale as they too, arrived home without problems.
Will I always remember “9/11″ as it is called in the USA? Yes! Just as I have always remembered December 7th and Pearl Harbor. I remember the hurt and loss of life. Yet, I also remember the love of family and the love of my Kenyan Brethren and the love of God as He made our paths straight.
No matter what may come our way, as a nation, as a church or as an individual, I pray we will always remember God’s Word and His plan and purpose for our lives.
But of more importance…….
May we never, never forget what Christ has done for us on “the” Cross!
