Nine people left on July 30 in a 20-foot boat for what should have been about a one-hour trip between islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, Charisma reports, citing Fox News. A storm pushed them off course. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search in August.
On Nov. 1, after roughly three months and an estimated 3,355 miles adrift, five of them, including two children, were found alive near Fanning Island in Kiribati. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. said they were badly dehydrated and malnourished; medical workers gave them IV fluids and they began to recover. A local Uniting Church pastor opened his doors to shelter them. Chuuk State Gov. Alexander Narruhn said, “Thanks be to God for his love and mercy that five of the nine people have been found,” and added, “We continue to pray for their four companions.” Four are still missing.
My take
Three months. The search was called off and God still wasn’t done. “If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me” (Psalm 139:9-10). Rejoice with the five, and pray hard for the four families still waiting. And thank God for a pastor who just opened the door. That’s the church doing what the church does.
God Bless, and Happy hacking!
