Trying to get away in Africa

Tonya and I decided we needed time away to rest before the next big team arrives to Botswana so Saturday, we went to a mountain reserve in Rustenburg S. Africa with friends of ours, the Barkers, who are in Botswana as missionaries with Flying Missions Services. We had camped there with them in February and decided to use their cottages on a mountain side this time since it is winter here. There are hiking trails which follow mountain streams and waterfalls and our children love to go out and explore.

Sunday afternoon, we went on a game drive at another reserve and it was fantastic. We saw lions first thing, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala, kudu, rhino's and a big bull elephant. The elephant was eating brush when he looked over at us taking pictures hanging out of the car and decided he did not like that. He charged toward our car. Tonya freaked out and I jumped on the gas and he moved behind us. As you can see from the pictures, he was just letting me know he was in charge.

Immediately when we got back to the cabins, 5 of the kids went hiking ... Chelsea, Justin, Chandler, Maddy and Myah...their ages are 20, 18, 16, 15 and 11. They had 2 hours to hike before it got dark. We dropped them off at the trail and then went to the waterfall to wait for them since that's where the kids were supposed to end up. Tonya had a bad feeling when we dropped them off, but the kids convinced her that they could finish the trail in the 2 hours before sundown, no problem. The place we dropped them off had two huge zebras there, this was going to be fun!

As darkness settled in, uneasiness heightened and Tonya's momma senses started kicking in high gear as we yelled for them but heard no response or sign of them. We drove to the place where they started their hike to see if maybe they had turned around and were coming back that way. No response or sign of them there either. Greg Barker and I waited at the top by the waterfall at the end of trail. While the moms panicked at the bottom of the trail. We were praying they would be safe and not panic (like their parents). During the evening, God gave us the peace we needed. All of us had our moments of fear and worry our prayers carried us through. At VBS we taught the children faith is trusting in a God you can't see because of the things you can see. We were living that trust that night.

After we drove around looking for the kids for awhile, Tonya and Teresa stayed at the camp with the 4 other kids that hadn't gone on the hike-- and just in case the hikers returned. Greg and I took extra flashlights, batteries, and blankets to try to show the kids which way to go. We stood out on the side of one of the mountains, and flashed the flashlight and called the kids for hours before we decided to hike the trail(that they were supposed to be on) and look for them. I yelled "Chandler" in that loud voice that God gave me and would just get empty inside from longing to hear something in return other than my echo. My voice never got sore or gave away. I know we probably should not have gone out after them, but we had to do something. (It's just the way God made Daddy's) Holding a flashlight and leaning close to the ground looking for green foot prints along the path made me think of the bible verse "thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". I could only see what was near me in the light. I had to stay on the path one step at a time to get where I needed to go. Running or looking away was dangerous. Then I saw the flashes from a camera and waving of an Ipod in the far distance on top of a mountain inside in the creek valley. They got way off the path. We had to keep going to see how close we could get to them. I thought of the feeling the father of the prodigal son had when he saw his son from a distance after he gotten off the path and was coming home. The emptiness left and became filled with determination and joy knowing they were OK.

Greg and I hiked that trail for nearly 3 hours by flashlight. We fell and slipped a lot but kept going. At one time we finally heard them yell "We are ok. We are on top of the mountain." There was no way we could reach them in the darkness, not knowing the terrain we had to cross. Hiking back without the kids and seeing the crying moms was hard very hard. We were so tired. It was 1 in the morning and we had not eaten or drank anything since 4 that afternoon. All we knew this meant the kids had not stayed on the path that they should have followed and were in trouble. (We found out the next day that they basically took a wrong turn at the very beginning of their hike and headed in the wrong direction - straight up a mountain.)

Tonya and Teresa had prayed and prayed asking God to give the kids wisdom in their decisions for the night. I knew Chandler had learned basic skills to survive from watching his favorite show with Bear Grylles. I had to trust he would remember and use the skills he watched on TV and the discussions we had on what would you do in that situation. While we were up all night with park rangers, police and a Search and Rescue dog, the children knew they weren't going to make it to their destination before dark, so they decided the best thing to do was find or make shelter and huddle together for the night. It was the best decision they could've made - thank you God for answering our prayers. They saw the next morning that there were some very steep drop offs ahead of them that wouldn't have been safe in the dark. The kids were totally unprepared to stay out in the mountains overnight-- no flashlights, matches, blankets not even ONE bottle of water or food. Chandler and Justin had taken extra clothes so they shared with everyone.

So they "built" 2 small shelters in the side of the mountain to stay in overnight. They all cuddled together, prayed, told jokes. They survived their night in fellowship and prayer, in spite being very cold and thirsty. Our prayers were answered because they all got along, worked together, did not become frightened. We were terrified, but they were not. They said they were more worried about us because they knew we were hurting and felt helpless. They were praying for us as well. There were several moments during the night that Teresa told us she couldn't understand why she felt so calm, it was by God's grace. Our amazing God was getting the glory on the top and the bottom of the mountain.

Greg and I had hiked the trail again at 4 am (with the police and the police dog) and found nor heard anything. An hour or so after sunrise, the kids set out to hike for the road. Shortly after making it to the road, the police found the children walking from where we dropped them off the day before and picked them up. We got the call on the police radio and drove back to the cabins and all of us arrived back at the same time around 9am. They were picked up right after the police had ordered a helicopter to come look for them. The kids were really thankful they hadn't already sent the helicopter for them.

Tears, hugs, and stories happened during the next 2 hours. The police interviews and the local newspaper came to get their story and pictures. Our children drank lots of water and ate their dinner from the night before. After their showers, the boys and Chelsea took naps as did their parents. We were supposed to come home Monday the day they were found, but we decided we couldn't due to no sleep. We all had a really good night sleep last night at ate McDonald's and got home to Gaborone at 3 pm.

We are very thankful to all the park rangers and police who stayed out all night helping to look for our kids. And we are so thankful that if this horrible situation had to happen that it happened with such special, faith-filled friends. We now share a bond stronger than ever.

But most of all, we are praising Jesus and thanking God for sustaining our kids and bringing them back to us safely!! We know it could've ended a lot differently and we are praising God it ended the way it did.

Clay Smith, our pastor at Alice Drive, always asks us "What did you learn?" and "How do you feel?" We learned to always be prepared for any situation before you set out on a journey. I learned to know your path before you start out in your journey. I learned again, the Lord provides. I feel blessed to know a God who knows me. God went after me the same way I went out after our children, there is no greater love. I feel loved knowing we have family and friends who can work together in a difficult time. I learned I love Chandler Shipes, words can not express how much he means to his parents and that he knew what to do. I love my other boys because the prayed and supported them through all this. Even Joe-Joe said, "Momma we need to pray." I learned to "handover" my child to the ONE that loves him more than I do with a level of trust like I never have before. I learned once againg that my wife Tonya Rocks and sometimes we need to trust her mother instincts! She and I held on each other and comforted each other when we there was nothing else to do.

Join us in praising our God for His love for us; His pursuit for us when we are lost; His provision; His protection; and for His Wisdom; and for His joyful reunions we are found!!

God's Blessings,

Scott and Tonya