22 Kilometers, Flooded Rivers, and Bare Feet…

 

This past weekend is definitely one for the books…a weekend I will never forget!!

Friday night, Jako and crew were headed back from Lusaka when he broke the side shaft on the Land Rover and was forced to drive the flooded, muddy bush roads in two wheel drive.  After getting stuck for the 5th time, they finally called us and asked if we could get to them in the quad to bring Jako back to drive the Hilux out to assist in getting the Land Rover and crew home.  At this time it was 10 pm and Rachael and I volunteered to take the quad out in search of them.  Since the water is so high, we had to be very careful not to get the quad underwater, so driving only by the light of a head lamp, we navigated around the deep puddles/rivers (mainly on footpaths) and happily found Jako and crew driving toward us already getting unstuck from when they called us.  The roads felt very eerie being the only ones out there as the darkness surrounded our quad, many times we called out to God, asking for His Presence to guide us in the path to take around the flooded plains.  He definitely showed up and even blessed us with headlights (which didn’t work at all) at times during our drive, but them turned them off when there were big challenges forcing us to rely on Him and walk by faith.  While we were all headed back to the house, the Land Rover got stuck really bad and we had to go fetch the Hilux.  Praise God we were able to wench the Land Rover out from the back with the Hilux and then made it back safely with all the vehicles home by 2:30am. 

Saturday…Jako had left the trailer about halfway back to town with a small village since it was too heavy to bring back with only 2 wheel drive.  So Rachael, Travis, Jakob, and myself decided to go with Jako to retrieve the trailer that afternoon.  We left camp around 4pm and got to the trailer around 5pm in the Hilux and Jako just drove right up to the village and before we opened the doors, all 4 wheels just sunk in the mud.  We were stuck and stuck bad…we go to start cutting logs and Jako starts getting the hi-lift jack ready and then realized he took the attachment out for the Land Rover and never put it back, so we had no jack to lift the car with.  It was not about 5:20 and we decided to just walk home…neither of us had brought our cell phones so we had no communication with Amber or anyone back home.  We grab Jakob and start our 22 kilometer walk home…the roads were rocky, mudding, flooded, grassy, slippery so we all walked barefoot in order to make it back.  We arrived around 9:15 with cuts, blisters, vey wet clothing, a sleeping 3 year old, and super sore feet.  Now we have the quad and Land Rover, but no Hilux or trailer!!

Sunday…we need to go dig out the Hilux and bring it back with the trailer.  Rachael, Jako, and I hop on the quad and start off late morning.  We get almost there (an hour drive) and realize we forgot the key for the Hilux, so we turn around and go back.  Round Two…we arrive at the village, Praise God it is a warm, sunny day with no threats of rain!!  The guys had already cut a lot of logs and even built the bridge to get us out.  We tried once quickly to see if it was enough, but there was too much water and mid under the tires for that to work, so we lifted the car and put logs and stones under the tires.  Then we tried again and we got out!!  Once we got the trailer hooked up, Jako drove the Hilux back and Rachael and I drove the quad.  The quad ride was so much more fun in the daylight where we could splash through the mud and puddles with glee. 

                                  

 

We thank God for His protection over us through all the nights of getting stuck, walking, driving, and “wenching” we had to do.  It is safe to say that we will never forget this adventurous weekend that brought us closer to one another and our Protector!!