Seven Angels for Seven Days

Angelina Fast-Vlaar

Description

Angelina Fast-Vlaar recounts the true story of a dream camping trip through the Australian outback with her husband Peter, which produces an untimely encounter with death, and an adventure more amazing than they could have ever dreamed. We are told that we sometimes entertain angels unaware, but never did Angelina imagine that God would send “not one,” but seven encounters with “angels” in the remote outback to help her cope with a drastic turn of events. This amazing “trip of a lifetime” will leave readers chilled and constantly moving between deep sorrow and bubbling joy. Angelina’s gripping account of her personal struggle with lonlieness, depression, and intense grief becomes a major tribute to the grace and love of God. Seven Angels for Seven Days is a must-read for believers. Winner of the 2004 First-time Canadian Christian Author award.

Sujets

• Religión
• Grief
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Death

Informations

• Publié par: Castle Quay Books
• Date de parution: 15 avril 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781894860949
• Langue: English

Extrait

Seven Angels for Seven Days
Copyright © 2005 Angelina Fast-Vlaar
All rights reserved
Printed in Canada
International Standard Book Number: 1-894860-30-6 (paperback edition)
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-894860-94-9 (electronic edition)
Published by:
Castle Quay Books
1307 Wharf Street, Pickering, Ontario, L1W 1A5
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.castlequaybooks.com
Copy editing by Janet Dimond
Cover Design by John Cowie, eyetoeye design
Printed at Essence Publishing, Belleville, Ontario
This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publishers.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are from The Holy Bible, New International Version . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved. • Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version . Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982. Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. • Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The Holy Bible, King James Version . Copyright © 1977, 1984, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. • Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from The Amplified Bible , Old Testament. Copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. • The Amplified New Testament , copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Fast-Vlaar, Angelina
Seven angels for seven days : a true story of mystery, grief, healing
and God's amazing faithfulness / Angelina Fast-Vlaar.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-894860-30-6
1. Fast-Vlaar, Angelina. 2. Angels. 3. Grief--Religious aspects--
Christianity. 4. Christian biography. 5. Widows--Canada--Biography.
I. Title.
BT966.3.F38 2005 248.4 C2005-905272-4
Dedication
Dedicated to my dear children: David, James, Ruth Anne, Bruce and Wayne.
In loving memory of Peter.

 

 
 
Map of Australia
 
 

 
Australia
Acknowledgements
First of all, my thanks goes to our Lord, the “Shepherd and Overseer” of our souls. I thank Him for His hand in the events of this story and in the telling of it.
When discouragement set in during chemotherapy treatments in 1998, I turned to the Scriptures for comfort and came upon “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done” (Psalm 118:17).
I sensed a three-fold message. First, I would survive the cancer. Second, I was to arrange the journal I had been keeping into a book. This became The Valley of Cancer: A Journey of Comfort and Hope (1999, 2003, Essence Publishing).
And third, I sensed a deeper, somewhat familiar nudging. There was another story tucked away in my 1987–1989 journals, and now was the time to bring it to light and share “what the Lord has done.”
Thank you to the many who, in one way or another, became part of this story.
Thank you Steve, Michelle, Margaret, Doug, Loretta, Marge, Merv and Graham, for your part in the tale. I’ll never forget it.
It was difficult to go back and relive this earlier experience, and the writing progressed at a snail’s pace. Thank you, Inscribe Christian Fellowship, for awarding the first chapter a prize in 2001. It spurred me on.
Thank you, Ray Wiseman, for your positive critique in 2003 and for impressing upon me the importance of completing the work.
My children received a copy as a Christmas gift in 2003. Thank you, kids, for your encouragement to share this slice of our lives with others.
Thank you, Suzanne Harssema, for asking to read the manuscript. You turned out to be the editor I needed at that point and your excitement was so contagious!
Thank you, Donna Mann, for your friendship, your prayers, and your sensitive “reader’s ear.” You give so freely.
And Janet Dimond—I was so thankful the “angels” landed in your kind, capable hands. Thank you for your editorial skill as you polished their wings for takeoff!
A special thank you to Larry Willard, my publisher, and Gus Henne of Essence, who chose me for the “Best New Canadian Christian Author” award. Thank you, Larry, for being gentle with my “heart.” Thank you for your guidance and expertise—for getting “all the stars in place!”
Thank you, The Word Guild, for creating opportunities for writers who dream.
Thank you, Castle Quay Books and Essence Publishing, for making dreams come true!
And to you, Joe. Thank you for your love, support, and patient understanding. Thank you for cheering me on to the finish! I love you.
Prologue
It all begins when the telephone rings on a lovely spring day in May of ’87. Peter lifts the receiver, and immediately I know it’s the expected call from our son Jim in Australia.
“A boy?”
“Congratulations!”
“Dylan James! Very nice!”
“Julie and baby fine?”
After a few more exchanges, he replaces the receiver, turns to me, face beaming, and with the familiar glint of humour in his eyes says, “Imagine! We receive a phone call on May 14th to tell us our grandson was born on May 15th!” Then, staring out the window, eyes now misty, he softly adds, “I must go to Australia to see my new grandson.”
Throughout May and June, Peter patiently tries to persuade me to take a trip down under. A long trip—at least six months. He’s retired from his teaching career with an early pension so is free to go. He feels I can “easily” take two terms off from my part-time teaching position, and the trip can be our thirtieth wedding anniversary celebration.
One day he comes home, fetches our big atlas, opens it to a map of Australia, and plunks the book on the dining room table.
“There!” he says, his eyes holding mine as if to say, “That’s where we’re going!”
The atlas remains on the table, open, and now and then Peter tells me about the fascinating island continent. It brings back memories of him telling the same stories nearly thirty years ago when he taught his grade eights a course about Australia. I know it’s a dream of his to go and see the beauty for himself.
One day he bursts into the house with one of his “Guess what!” exclamations. His sister and brother-in-law have booked a trip to Australia! He marches to the dining room table, points to the atlas and says, “We can have a grand family reunion with my niece, Loretta, in Adelaide.” With his finger on the map he adds, “We can drive through the outback to get there!” I merely glance as his finger traces the route.
“What’s stopping us?” he asks.
His health is stopping me—heart surgery eighteen years ago, more surgery recommended six years ago but cancelled due to a poor prognosis. A daily regimen of drugs helps to keep the cholesterol levels low and the angina pain manageable.
One afternoon in late June, I settle in one of the blue rockers by the bay window overlooking our wooded backyard, knowing that, eventually, I’ll have to reach a conclusion about whether or not to embark on such a long journey.
I pick up my Bible and read Psalm 139. The ninth and tenth verses jump out: “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
It catches my breath. It may just as well read, “If you fly all the way to Australia on the other side of the ocean and settle there for a time, I will look after you completely.” Words of reassurance: God watches over us no matter where we are.
The front door opens, and in a moment, Peter stands in the living room. He has a way of filling a room just by entering it. He fastens his eyes on me and I know something important is about to be said. In a determined, almost aggressive tone, he states: “I am going to Australia. The only thing that will stop me is my dead body.”
His eyes hold mine as he waits for the words to sink in. His breath comes short and fast. Behind his grey beard and moustache I can see his mouth drawn tight. I know he is expecting my usual resistance and he seems ready to challenge it. I also wait a moment, for effect, and then softly say, “It’s all right, Hon; we’ll go.”
He stands motionless, staring. Then his face opens up and I watch the rapidly changing emotions wash over it: disbelief, wonder, surprise, pleasure. His blue eyes find their sparkle again; his mouth curves into his generous smile. He slowly crosses the room and bends down to kiss me. I show him the Scripture and start to read, but my voice breaks. He nods and smiles.
“Six months?” he softly says.
“Sure. I’ll call the college tomorrow.”
With the decision made, the scenery changes. We excitedly prepare for our trip of a lifetime. The children cheer us on and Peter takes ample time to say goodbye to family, friends and neighbours.
We fly out on September 12th, and, crossing the International Date Line, we miss the 13th, our anniversary! We spend five beautiful weeks with Jim and Julie in Palm Cove, an idyllic coastal town just north of Cairns. Besides doting on Dylan, we take long walks, relax on the beach, play in the ocean, read in the shade of the palms, savour tea at