9.10.11-My Life Was Spared

I have hesitated as to whether or not I should share this story.

After talking to Lisa, today, she told me it was important for me to share my testimony of how God saved my life this past Saturday.

I know my life will never be the same. It can't be.

The day started out wonderfully. Dustin let me drive his car to work since I had to be there at 7am and no buses run that early on the weekends. The alternative would have been to hitchhike at 5:45am. Thanks, Dustin!
Work was wonderful. I love the early morning shifts and then when I was done with work, I pretty much had the whole day left! Yay!
After I dropped Dustin's car off for him at work, my day got even better when I bought a dark chocolate, lavender, blueberry bar at Hoku and sat and ate it while I waited for the bus to take me back to Kilauea.
I got a chance to talk to Joann, Ron, and Crystina and my heart was very content hearing from my friends.
I look at all of these things, now, in a new light, I guess because it could have been my last day. It was a GOOD day.

The bus got me back home at about 6:oopm, and I was overjoyed with the fact that I still had some daylight to walk out to Secret Beach and swim while I watched the sun set.

As I set foot on the beach, I saw quite a few fishermen out trying to catch fish. I walked up to one and asked him if he was getting any bites and he told me no. We got to talking and I told him I was so excited to get in a swim before the sun set. He looked at me and said, "You don't want to swim today. It's too dangerous."

I told him I didn't want to get in for long but really wanted to get in the water and cool off from my walk. He said that if I kept walked towards the sun, that I would come across some tide pools that would be good for a swim. He told me to be careful and watch for the tide. I promised him I would and wished him luck on catching some fish.

As I made my way across the jagged lava, I remembered thinking that the waves were really strong. In fact, at one point, a wave came up on my right and completely drenched me from the waist down. Shoot! Save the iPod and the camera! They came out unscathed.

I kept walking a little ways and finally got to a spot that I thought looked promising for a swim. I took off my overalls, shoes, socks, and bundled my iPod and camera inside of them to protect them from spray from the waves.

I cautiously hunched down and looked into the tide pool, waiting for a moment when it looked safe to jump in.

Looking back on it now, I wish I had never taken that first jump but had decided that that day was not the day for a swim, because as soon as I jumped in, I knew I had made a huge mistake. The tide pool was violent and I could immediately tell that if I didn't get out soon, I was going to be pulled out to sea or crushed against the jagged lava rocks.

I began to pray, "Papa, help me." I prayed over and over and over again, as my eyes scanned the rocks to find a place to crawl up on and pull myself up out of the water. The really scary thing was that once I would think I got a hand hold, the water would violently fall away about 5 feet, leaving me hanging in the air, trying to hold onto jagged rocks that cut and scraped my skin as I lost my grip and fell into the water again.

I started to chide myself for not telling anyone where I going. No one knew I was in a tide pool at Secret Beach, as the sun was setting except for the fisherman. I knew he probably wouldn't come looking to see if I was ok.

I was remarkably calm and knew I would find a way out. I just had to be patient. It's all a blur to me, now, how I eventually found a way out of the water, except to say I know that there was an angel that gave me a boost up and out of the water.

I scrambled onto the rocks, panting and looking now in earnest for the fastest way to circle back around to where I had first started. I knew I was in a very dangerous spot. The tide was rising and the fisherman's words to watch for the tide rang in my head. I had to get away from the ocean!

The rocks were steep and trying to make my way down was difficult, especially since the waves were coming in from my right so strongly and making it almost impossible to stay on my feet. Slipping and falling on the jagged lava rocks was NOT a good idea.

I got to a spot that looked promising and as I gingerly began to stoop so that I could step down, a huge wave smacked into the front of me and skidded me, on my back, across the rocks. I tried to find a way to stop myself from moving but the wave was too strong and I just knew gouges were being cut into the back of my body. I laid there, stunned, after I came to a stop and immediately began to feel my back for cuts and blood. Nothing. I couldn't believe it! I know God totally protected me!

As I got up, I thought, "This can't be the right way. I'm going to go back the other way."

I wasn't thinking clearly.

The worst decision of the day was to go back to the tide pool. I looked at it and thought, "The tide is up higher. If I jump in and swim really fast, I can make it to the other side."

WRONG!

There is no way to prepare for the violence of the current under the water in a tide pool. I realized my mistake in thinking I could even swim against that current as soon as I jumped in...AGAIN.

By this time, I was tired, scared, battered and bruised, and in even more trouble than the first time that I jumped in. Swimming was becoming difficult and I knew I had probably ended my life by jumping into the tide pool this second time. I began to call out to God again in earnest, "Papa help me! Papa save me!" That's all I could say.

I was getting so tired and I couldn't even seem to get close to the rocks, the current was so strong. I was stuck treading water in the middle of a violent pool. I began to panic and cry because I couldn't see a way out. Then, a wave crashed over my head, I couldn't find the surface, and I sucked the salt water into my lungs. I knew at that moment that I was going to die. A peace and calm settled over me. At the same time, I found myself so very sad because I wasn't ready to die. THIS wasn't how I wanted to die. I felt so alone.

The next minute, as clear as day, I heard God say, "Do NOT be discouraged!"

I decided to fight and swim for my life. No matter what came, if I tried with all of my might and still drowned, at least I had fought to live.

To this day, I still do not know how I got to the rocks and climbed out. I really can't remember. Just, one minute I'm in the water. The next minute, I'm on the rocks. I know the enemy meant for me to die that day but God wanted me to live. I do not know why some people die and others get a second chance to live. I should have died. I should not be here today....BUT for miraculous grace of God.

Like a wet rat, I crawled along the rocks, in shock that I was alive but determined to survive. I was going to do whatever it took!

Panting, moaning, and crying from exhaustion and shock, I walked back to where I had been knocked on my back. It was then that I looked up and saw a woman standing across the way from me, looking at me with a puzzled expression on her face.

I cannot tell you how my heart rejoiced in seeing another human being! I wasn't alone! At least if the tide came in and I still couldn't find a way out, someone saw me and would be able to tell my loved ones what happened if I didn't make it.

Two other woman came over and stood by the first.

"I'm stuck", I yelled, "I can't find a way out!"

It was then that I heard one of the women above me saying, "Hi. I'm here. Look up."

I told her I needed her to help me think through my options of where I should go to get out. She said, "I think your only option is to go down and then climb back up to where we are."

"I'm afraid the waves are going to knock me over again", I said but I immediately began to move, running across the rocks, desperate to get to a safe spot.

"You're amazing! You're doing great!", they yelled at me.

I made it down and climbed up the rocks to where the women were. They walked up to me and all three of them took turns hugging me. I cried.

"You're shaking. Are you cold?"

"No, I almost died. I'm in shock."

They offered me water but I refused and walked with me back to help me find my clothes, iPod, and camera.

They asked me later if I was a mountain climber.

I told them no.

They went on to say that I looked so calm as I ran across the rocks, jumping down, gripping the rocks, and pulling myself up.

"It was inspiring to watch you", one said.

I thanked her but was at a loss for words because I didn't feel calm. I just felt determined to survive.

After parting with the women, I began my walk back to Kilauea. My only thoughts were, "I need a stiff drink and a hug."

Thankfully, Dustin kindly provided both of those.

After I told him what happened, the best part was when he asked, "Now what have we learned from all of this?"

So many things....so many things.

I am thankful to be alive!