My wife’s parents, Bill and Frances Skinner, were missionaries in Paraguay for 38 years.  They are both in their nineties today, sharp in mind and full of faith. Their incredible stories of seeing the hand of God at work while bringing the Good News of Jesus to the people of Paraguay strengthen my faith every time I hear them recounted.  In her book, Adventures in Paraguay, Frances Skinner reveals how faith is most powerful when exercised in the dark.

Her story begins in the small, rural village of Guayaybi, Paraguay.  Only accessible by primitive dirt roads, the missionaries had established a medical clinic near the village that they opened on weekends– offering medical help together with the gospel message of Jesus.  A dire situation occurred that required a trip back to civilization, but Dr. Bill was up to his neck in medical work so Fran agreed to make the trip for him, accompanied by a friend named Ruth– a German lady that Frances had randomly met on a trip to Argentina.  Ruth, just happened to unexpectedly show up for a visit to Paraguay, and so had gone with the Skinners to the clinic at Guayaybi.

There was a problem, a big problem!  It had rained a down-pouring tropical deluge  and main road had closed to all traffic.  Since Doctor Skinner was engaged in humanitarian services, he had been issued a permanent pass by the highway authorities to travel any road at anytime.  So Fran and Ruth took the pass and sallied forth.   In her own words, the following story is an excerpt from her book:

We sashayed back and forth , slipping and sliding, in and out of the deep ruts engraved into the dirt road.  We finally made it to our destination and then quickly decided to head back to the clinic at Guayaybi.  First, I had to go into the small dimly lit checkpoint beside the road to show permission, so the soldiers would remove the barricade and let us pass.  Walking back to the car I almost slid down in the mud because the rain was coming down hard again.  It was late afternoon when we finally got on the road.  Just beyond the barricade was a bridge, and beyond that was a steep hill on a curve.  It was touch and go all the way to the top of the hill.  Several times we almost slid off the edge where we would have undoubtedly ended up in the river below.  

It became dark, and the car headlights seemed very inadequate as I tried to find the best ruts to follow.  Then it happened!  As I shifted gears to make it through a rain formed lake, we slid into a hole the size of our car!  All four wheels were buried in the mud and water.  There was no way we could get out alone.  There was no moon, no stars, and of course no street lights.  It was a dark as pitch.

In a few moments we saw a dim light moving through the trees and on the side of the road, and soon a man with a flashlight appeared.  It was raining, but I rolled down the window a little bit when he saw us.  The man said in Spanish, “You have a problem, Lady?”  “I sure do,” I replied.  We agreed on a price for his help and then he went away, quickly returning with two huge oxen.  He fastened them to the front of the car but couldn’t get them to move forward, only backward into our car!  After about thirty minutes, he admitted that the oxen weren’t even his, and that he had never driven oxen in his life.  I believed him.  “Sorry,” he said, and left unrewarded.

Ruth and I were alone again in the still darkness.  She was frantic.  It was all I could do just to keep her in the car.  She wanted to get out and push, or try to do something!   “Ruth,” I said.  “All you would do is get yourself wet and muddy from head to toe.  Just sit back and see how God will get us out of this mess.”  

I explained to her how Moses led the Israelites to the Red Sea with no way of escape, and how Moses said to them, “Be still and see the Salvation of the Lord!”  Then the Lord opened up a dry path path through the waters, and they were saved.  “Ruth, I have been in similar situations before and it is always an exciting adventure to see how God will solve each one.”

I remembered that Ruth had endured World War 2 as a child.  She had suffered a lot as her family fled Germany toward the end of the war.  Even as a small child she had learned to take care of herself.  She did not depend on anyone to take care of her, not even God.

After about twenty minutes, (which seemed like hours,) two small headlights appeared in the distance.  There was hope!  A jeep-like vehicle pulled up beside us with two blond, blue-eyed handsome young men were inside.  (…in the middle of a nation of dark haired, dark eyed Paraguayans!  How strange, indeed.)  In perfect English, with barely an accent, the driver said,” You look like you could use some help, but what are you ladies doing out on a night like this?”  I explained our situation, and they were more than happy to help us. One backed their Jeep up to our car, and the other sloshed around in the mud fastening a chain to it.  With a thud and a pull, we were back on solid ground!  “How much do I owe you,” I asked.  “Nothing,” the driver exclaimed as the two of them drove away.  We never saw them again, and locals in Guayaybi had never seen them at all.

(By the way– here’s the REST of the story.  The next morning Dr. Bill tried to crank the car.  It wouldn’t crank.  They discovered that the oil pan was totally packed with mud.  There is NO WAY they should have made it home the night before. Angels?  There’s no doubt in MY mind.)

“For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;”  Psalm 91;11