He is Worthy

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3, NIV

They answered God’s call to leave America to share the gospel in Asia*. After a year of teaching English at an international school, Tori described their experience as “an unspeakable joy like a deep calm ocean.” That was before the wreck.

It began as a five-hour van ride on a rainy day to take students, volunteers and two children to enjoy beautiful scenery. It turned into a nightmare. Tree branches had fallen on both sides of the road in the storm. An SUV swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid the branches and slammed head on into Tori’s ten passenger van. The van slid off the road. Tori and her husband were sitting in the front seat and sustained the worst injuries. Tori’s husband had deep cuts all over his face, and Tori broke her leg in 3 places. All the other passengers had minor injuries, which was a miracle since the van had no seatbelts.

“I give praise and glory to my Heavenly Father that none of our students or children were killed,” said Tori.

The accident victims where split up and sent to different medical centers. It was more than ten hours after the accident before Tori and her husband were reunited. She thought he looked like a mummy all wrapped in gauze. His face had stitches in eight different locations.

“I was so happy to see him, no matter what he looked like,” said Tori.

For the next several weeks both Tori and her husband where in and out of the hospital for treatment of their injuries. As students and faculty from the school came to visit them they testified about God’s grace and protection.

“God used this accident to make our students more soft and tender to His word,” said Tori. “He has brought them one step closer to our Lord, Jesus. We just sow the gospel. We remove stones and weeds from the hearts of our students, but it is God who will harvest souls in His time.”

Tori and her husband plan to stay and complete the second year of their commitment to overseas service. Reflecting on their experience Tori said, “A six inch scar on one leg, nine pins attached to bone, two surgeries, and over 100 stitches on my husband’s face are nothing if it brings God glory. He is worthy of our sufferings.”

*Locations and names have been omitted or changed for security. This article is taken from a testimony given by an ISC worker in Pacific Rim.

Pray that:

God will save many students and teachers through the faithful witness of Tori and her husband.

Protection will cover Pacific Rim personnel as they sow the gospel in hard to reach areas of Asia.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.