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CoPilot Angel
---For about five years, Diane Oesterreich was the manager for Michael
Furchert, a young Christian/cultural speaker and pianist from Berlin,
Germany. He was booked to speak in many cities and states while in the USA.
It was part of Diane's job as manager to drive with him to engagements and
help with his information table and bookings. Michael spoke about growing up
behind the Berlin Wall, and how three generations of his family stood for
their faith from the Nazi era through Communism, and the rise and fall of
the Berlin Wall. God worked so many miracles in their lives; for example,
his grandfather faced two almost certain executions and God brought him
through and once Michael took a homeless man into his apartment to feed him
and the man pulled a gun on Michael and yet Michael was spared. These are
only a few of the miracles. God was there with his protective angels during
those times in Germany for three generations so Diane is not surprised His
miracles continue as they did one evening two years ago. Let her tell you
about it:
We had had a busy week. Michael spoke on a Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. at
a Christian festival in one city in Wisconsin and we had to leave there at
8:30 at night and drive through to Illinois where he was to speak at a
morning church service at 8:00. We always prayed before each trip and asked
God for travel mercies, but this time the weather was bad, rainy and foggy,
so driving was not the best. We arrived at the town at 4:00 in the morning,
were given two hotel rooms and then we had to be at the church by 7:30 in
the morning. He did two services and then we were invited to the church
picnic after the service. We spent time visiting with the people of the
church and the pastor. We always enjoyed this time of fellowship.
We were finally back on the road by late afternoon and it wasn't long before
the sun went down and I was driving in the dark. Michael was asleep in the
passenger seat. I realized I was more tired than usual but we had busy
schedules many weekends, in fact for the entire five years we did our
ministry. So, I was determined to keep my eyes open. We were on a country
road in Wisconsin. My headlights would shine on the trees on both sides of
the highway as I drove along in the dark. I watched in case deer would run
into the road, which had happened before. But my eyelids were getting heavy.
The lack of sleep was catching up with me and we had at least ten hours of
driving going back. Before I knew it, my eyes were shut and I was going 55
miles per hour on a two-lane country road.
Suddenly, I was shaken very hard. I couldn't help but wake back up. My right
shoulder was still being shaken. I opened my eyes immediately and turned my
head to thank Michael for waking me up.
But he was still sound asleep, slouched in his seat, his head toward the
window.
I never forgot that incident. I kept awake the rest of the trip but from
then on, we would switch drivers or would make stops to keep awake and so I
never put myself in that position of being so tired again. I know I was
shaken awake, and I thank God that I was and that we arrived back safely. I
am confident He listened to our prayers.
Note: Michael has temporarily stopped touring, but you can check the website
to see what he is up to: http://www.michaelfurchert.com/index1.html
(C) 2005 Joan Wester Anderson
www.joanwanderson.com
(C) 2005 Joan Wester Anderson
www.joanwanderson.com
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