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Cessna Plane Crash in Africa
April 11, 2004
Dear Friends and Partners,
Our plane crashed Easter Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Kenya time.
After getting airborne, things were proceeding normally
and we were gaining altitude when suddenly the engine stopped. Loren used emergency measures
to control the crash speed and avoided hitting a farm
house and we crashed in a very small shamba (farm). The
plane flipped on its back and Loren immediately turned
off the fuel and broke open a door and pulled us all out.
Since we were all upside down it was very difficult to
get out of our seatbelts, but we thank God for them because
they saved us from breaking our necks when the plane flipped
over. We all have bad bruises from the seat belts and
I had a slight dislocation of my left shoulder. At the
time I thought it was broken but thankfully it was not.
It was a miracle to get out and a bigger miracle when
you see where we crashed. Since we were not far from the
former President's home, his security men came in four
wheel drive vehicles to rescue us and we were taken to
the hospital within two hours. Loren had the most severe
injuries because he hit his head on the dash and had to
have stitches and got a really ugly black eye.
Richard was in front with him and sustained injuries to
his head also , although no cuts, and a badly sprained
wrist and hand. Catherine was seated behind Richard and
sustained bruises to her head and right arm, though not
severe. All of us were x-rayed and nothing was broken.
Loren was kept for observation overnight for blood pressure.
I stayed to be with him and they just wanted to watch
me for shock. Richard and Catherine we realeased immediatly.
We are so thankful no one was killed or seriously injured.
No one on the ground was hurt or injured. We are so grateful
not to have been in an even more desolate place when we
went down.
We have had a great outpouring of love to us here. People
came from all over, we don't even know them , but they
had heard of our work and knew us and people called from
all over Kenya as well as the UK and America. Another
missionary came yesterday to the hospital and said God
had given him a verse for us. It is Isaiah 54:10. Please
read it for yourselves , it will bless you.
We left the hospital yesterday. Each day we feel stronger
and also more places that hurt, but we are grateful that
the God who raised Jesus from the dead, was also able
to hide us in the palm of his hand as the enemy tried
to kill us. After the initial investigation, the investigators
believe the crankshaft failed which cause catastrophic
engine failure. We have insurance, but it is not enough
to replace the plane. But we serve Jehovah Jirah!
The crash story was on all television stations by 9 pm
Sunday night and stories and pictures have appeared in
papers and on radio as well since it happened. It is a
great testimony to Kenya of the delivering power of Jesus.
People have been great and we have been encouraged at
the outpouring of support. The American Embassy called
us this morning to say "pole", sorry and to help us in
any way we needed them.
Loren has found a used four wheel drive vehicle and God
spoke to a pastor who sent the money to buy it. We are
now continuing our mission to Turkana and So. Sudan. Our
3 trucks and teams are now building 12 new churches in
unreached villages. The devil is terrified of our work
and does not want this new territory to be reached. Please
continue to pray for us. This has been a real war!
We love you all so very much and we are so grateful to
have a praying family of partners.
About our Father's business,
Celeste
& Loren Davis
Your missionaries to East and Central Africa
P.S. Click here if you want to plant
a special gift for the work here in Africa.
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