Here’s my story and it is absolutely true and not embellished.
My dearest friend Lil went to Eastern Europe as a Missionary, back in the days of the Iron Curtain, and spent many years in Romania bringing in Bibles and other Christian Literature under the noses of the Communists. She had given me her little dog, Odie, who used to ride with me on my Harley until he passed away in my arms of a seizure at the age of 15.
After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Lil began bringing Bibles and Literature into I*lamic countries in Central Asia and SE Asia. Many of the countries she operated in ended with “stan” if you catch my drift. Being and older and somewhat overweight lady, she was able to use burkas and Chadoors to great advantage getting Bibles into these places. When she retired from the Mission Field, she became a psychiatric nurse at a Veterans Hospital. (she was already an RN)
Now, since we were both single ladies (I had been widowed two years earlier) we decided to save up our money and go to Hawaii together. I had a timeshare left over from my marriage, so all we had to do was get airfare and fun-money.
Our first evening on The Big Island, we sat on the Lanai and shared our thoughts about Heaven.
Lil said “To me, Heaven looks like rolling hills down to the sea, covered in beautiful grasses, shimmering in the sun, and waving like hands praising God.
The next day we drove over 100 miles to Hilo to take a helicopter ride. Both of us like adventure, so we opted for the “Open Door” chopper that would fly over the erupting vent of Kilauea (Pu’u O’o). We were strapped into the rear seat with headphones, a com switch, and X-shaped harnesses, and off we went.
Suddenly, over the Macadamia Farm south of Hilo, Lil started hitting my arm. She was having a seizure, and couldn’t breath. I tried to do CPR in the confined space, but we were both strapped in tight, and her jaw was locked, so I couldn’t even get an airway.
I pressed the com-button and told the pilot to turn around. He raced back to Hilo as fast as the copter could go, and the EMT’s were waiting for us. They intubated her and whisked her off to the hospital, and then airlifted her to Oahu. But, I knew in my heart that Lil had already “passed”, in my arms, in the helicopter.
There is MUCH more to the story, but here is the strangest part. I didn’t go right back to Kona, because I was, of course, traumatized. The Helicopter Company put me up for the night in Hilo, but the next day was the Fourth of July. That meant that all the roads to Kona would be blocked by parades and fireworks. All the roads except ONE.
That road was the infamous “Saddle Road” a lava field between two active volcanoes, rice in seismic activity and resembling the surface of the moon. It used to be closed to the public and only recently had been opened, but the car-rental company was still forbidding driving that 60 mile stretch.
Anyway, I filled up with gas and proceeded on this road, and drove for miles on desolate landscape, with no gas stations, no houses, no restaurants, and only an occasional Military outpost. I finally came to the end and crested the hill, looking down the rolling hills towards the sea, which was completely covered in golden grasses, lifting their heads and waving, like they were praising the Lord.
Gives me chills. Glory be to God.
I STRONGLY encourage you and all to read “GOD’S SMUGGLER”. It is story of Brother Andrew, who smuggled bibles into Soviet block nations. Many miraculous stories. Our God still performs miracles. Angles still intercede in the affairs of mortals and I’m VERY reluctant to quickly dismiss the stories of those who’ve met them. Their lives are changed because of the events.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/history/brother-andrews-story/