One elephant we will never forget

Last weekend we took a visiting friend from Katy, Texas on a game drive. We do this about 6 times a year and have gotten used to seeing the amazing wildlife of South Africa up close. A little too close. We decided to check one more back road before leaving the park and came upon the most massive bull elephant we've ever seen. We decided to follow him a bit because we were so in awe of his size. He was beautiful!

Our scare only lasted a few minutes but basically we managed to get caught between two elephants and although they were far apart at first, they came charging towards our vehicle in a hurry and we had no where to go. There was no mock charge and I now know that when people say elephants in distress fan their ears it actually looks a lot like a wet dog shaking off the water. Derek saw and raced for a side road, barely missing the elephant but then lost control of the van and ended up in the bush, stuck in the mud. Did I mention Derek was driving in reverse? The big elephant was about 15 -20 feet away and coming fast. Derek said, "we're stuck" and two things happened at once. My mind began to calculate what part of the car would be safest for the children if we were charged and the Spirit of God inside of me cried out, "Lord Jesus you have got to move that elephant". I don't know exactly what I prayed, but the basics were, "please forgive our disregard for this animal's power, please make us invisible to his sight, and turn his head and lead him away." The elephant stopped, turned his head and walked away. We prayed as we watched the second one stop running, walk slowly near us, look our way, and walk on. Within a minute 2 trucks drove up and the men got out of the cars to help push us out. The scare of the elephants sort of numbed the fear of lions for a moment. About 10 minutes later a third truck came who had rope to pull us out.

Looking back we see simple mistakes that could have killed us, but we also know God made a way to rescue us. Many in fact. The side road we had not seen before. The large and full bush that was between us and the elephant when we got stuck. Not hitting a tree. Getting stuck and causing us to go silent. The prayer cried out from spirit, not mind. The turn of the elephant's head. The trucks that drove up in minutes. The grandfather from one of the cars who before anything else, gave me a hug. The rope that got us free. Oh my Lord, thank You!!!