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{Straight From the Heart}   *Stranded in the Wilderness*  2/16/01

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Stranded In The Wilderness

By Ellie Braun-Haley

We were in the middle of a vast wilderness in a helicopter and trying to
reach three people on the radio. We didn't expect to get an answer as
they were to be picked up by another helicopter. They had been doing
archaeological impact assessments, tough work when the snow is up to
their knees and should have been done earlier in the season.  Then we
heard, "This is Rob, Dawn. We are all done and waiting to be picked up."

I drew a quick startled breath. The stranded people below us somewhere
were in trouble. The second helicopter had not arrived and we did not
have enough room in ours to take on all three.

"Okay Rob, we have a slight problem here and we'll get right back to
you," Dawn answered.  There wasn't any sense in letting the people below
know that the situation was much worse than a "slight problem".

It was fourteen below and getting colder. We had enough daylight hours
to get our helicopter back to base but not enough time to fly out again
to get the stranded threesome. We had not heard anything from the
helicopter that had been scheduled to pick up this team and only later
discovered that it hit a storm and would not make it in time.

We were working in north east British Columbia, in an area where the
beaver, caribou, moose, wolves, bears and other animals far outnumbered
the human inhabitants. We could fly for hours and not see another human
being so the chances of getting help from anyone on the frozen land
below were less than slim. The team below was more than a hundred
kilometers to the nearest post of any kind.

Our pilot, Dawn must have felt the weight of the world on her shoulders,
as she realized that without the second helicopter we were now in a
possible tragic situation. Our helicopter had little time left before we
would have to pull out and head for base in order to beat the darkness,
yet below us and
about three miles away were three young people who would not survive the
night in the bush.

Suddenly we spotted a tanker truck below. It was imperative that we
somehow get the truck driver's attention. Dawn flashed lights and he
stopped. We didn't have time to be elated because then he pulled away
again. This time Dawn pulled up the helicopter and came around the front
of the truck fully intending to come down directly in his path so that
he would have to stop. He stopped and began backing up. It turned out he
was actually preparing to position his truck to bring in some water as
he was out working on an ice road.

My husband, Shawn hopped out of the helicopter, ran over and gave a
quick rundown on the situation to the driver of the truck. Then he
stayed with the truck as we flew over to reach the stranded workers to
bring them to where the truck waited.

We radioed we were on the way and their voices indicated relief. Later
they were discover just how distressful the situation had been. But now
we could take two people and send the third home in the truck.

When we all landed back at the air field that night we had fifteen
minutes left of daylight. Rob, the team member, who had been left off
to get back by truck, was to arrive three hours later.

We rarely saw traffic of any kind out in the bush so I thought the
appearance of that truck as more than unusual. I guess some consider it
a coincidence for the truck to suddenly be there on a closed road in the
middle of a swamp when time was of the essence. Personally I just
thanked God that his angels were working overtime!

Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley@telusplanet.net

Send Ellie an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
*********
Ellie and her husband Shawn have co-authored a number of books. Casey
Caterpillar and Other Movement Rhymes, second edition, and Muttering
Moths Movement Rhymes and More are activity books written especially for
parents and teachers of young children. Of their book, A Little Door, A
Little Light, Ellie says, "I think we should have put God's name on it
as the author, for all his contributions!" All three books are available
through EagleCreek
Publishers http://www.eaglecreek.org . "War On the Homefront: WifeAbuse
in North America" is the title of their latest book and it is expected
out in February  (Berghahn Books, New York)

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From the Email Box:

From: Dlpenny61@cs.com (Debra Penny)

Dear Mr. Powers,

I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to you for publishing my story, "God Sent Me An Angel," on your website today.  It was a pleasant surprise and a true blessing for me. 

I awoke this morning to an e-mail from a person in Africa commenting on my story.  It was then that I looked up to the daily e-mail from you and saw that you had used my story.  I submitted that story ages ago, but the timing of your using it was perfect! 

This is the second story that you have published of mine, and the timing of both of them was absolutely perfect!  The first story you published was back on December 21st, called "A Gift From the Heart," and it was published at a time when I really needed lifting up ... after I had just been involved in a serious automobile accident and also had just suffered the breakup of a relationship.  The story today was also timed perfectly ... I have been suffering from many trials with my children, and am still suffering from the injuries I sustained in my accident.  Again, it was at a time when I really needed lifting up.  Just last night I e-mailed a friend and told them that although I know God is with me, I sometimes feel so alone.  I feel that the publishing of my story today and the wonderful e-mails I have received in response to the story are wonderful gifts from God, timed perfectly by Him.  We truly do serve an awesome God!! 

I don't believe there are coincidences.  Rather, a coincidence is a small gift from God when He wishes to remain anonymous.  The timing of your publishing my stories is a wonderful example of that.  You had no way of knowing the trials I have been experiencing in my life and how much I needed the encouragement that I received from the e-mails sent to me by people all over the world ... South Africa, England, and all over the United States.  God really spoke to my heart through several of the e-mails.  Just two nights ago I was telling someone that even though I know God is with me in the midst of my troubles, I sometimes feel so alone, as though He has forgotten me.  Here is a small portion of what the person from Africa said in their e-mail:  "At some point I had reached a stage when I felt like the whole world was upon my shoulders BUT thank God we serve a risen Master and He is indeed alive, AMEN!  The Lord reminded me that He ".... can never forget you!  I have written your name on the palms of my hands."  Isaiah 49:16."  As you can imagine, I felt as though God was sending a personal message to me, as I do know that God speaks to us through others.  This warmed my heart and most definitely lifted my spirits!  With yesterday being Valentine's Day, I was simply looking at it as just another day, but I feel that God gave me a wonderful Valentine's Day gift by my story being published and the wonderful words of encouragement in the e-mails I received and the reminder that He will never forget me since He has engraved me in the palms of His hands.  What better Valentine's Day present could a person ask for??!!  I am sharing this with you because I want you to know how God used you in blessing me in such a wonderful way. 

Once again, I'm so glad I finally took the time to write you.  It is obvious that you place a lot of time and effort into the Straight From the Heart website that is a source of encouragement and inspiration to many.  You are a true encourager, but sometimes even the encourager needs encouragement! 

God bless you and your family.  Thank you again for being such a true source of inspiration led by the Spirit of God. 

Debbie Penny

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REQUESTS:
From: EMtierney@aol.com  (Beth)

Could you all please pray for my father?  He has terminal cancer - 7 brain tumors, 1 lung tumor, and has been fighting it since diagnosed in September of last year.  However, there is nothing more the doctors can do for him at this point.  He never complains, but I can tell he is in pain, and that he's pretty depressed.  He tries to keep a smile on his face for all of his kids and grandkids, but deep inside, I know this is killing him emotionally, as well as physically.  Please pray for God to take my dad as soon as He can, as I want him free from the suffering.  I can deal with losing him, as long as I know he's out of pain.  Thank you!  Beth T.

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Thought For The Day:

"A winner makes commitments; a loser makes promises." --Fanuel Tjingaete

Verse for the Day:

"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  He whose walk is blameless...who keeps his oath even when it hurts."  --Psalm 15:1a, 3, 4

Kid's Thought For The Day:

The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of loving-kindness.  A little
boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece
of bread that would be kindness.  But if they put a little jam on it, that would be
loving-kindness."

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"Ever notice that a human baby doesn't walk until it's tall enough to reach
a parent's hand?"

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"It only hurt once, from beginning to end."
James Counsilman, College Swimming Coach (after swimming the English
Channel at the age of 58). Counsilman got his start as a swimmer at the
East St. Louis YMCA. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of
Fame as an Honor Coach in 1976.

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Eternity. Smoking or non?"

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  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com  
/_/  \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 

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