This dramatic supernatural event took place during our ministry in Hawaii. Phyllis and I were staying there with some friends.
A volcano erupted near the city of Hilo on the "Big Island." It shot hot lava over one thousand feet into the air. Many people traveled from Honolulu to the Big Island to see this spectacular sight.
Two preachers wanted to see it from the air. They asked me to take them up in my airplane. I wanted Phyllis to go, but I only had a two-passenger plane. I decided to rent a four-passenger airplane so that all of us could see the volcano erupting.
It gets dark early in Hawaii. I told these preachers to be at the airport at 4:00 PM. This would allow ample time to get to Hilo before dark. Unfortunately they were late. I debated if we should go. Clouds were beginning to form overhead. I was concerned it might get dark even earlier than usual.
In spite of the ominous warning the clouds were giving us, we decided to chance the trip.
Sure enough, the cloud formations increased, and it began to rain heavily. Darkness took over the sky, and I couldn't see anything. Fear gripped my soul. I reached over and switched on the large gas tank, in hopes we would not run out of fuel.
In that part of the Hawaiian Islands radio contact is sometimes difficult. I was told this situation happens because of minerals in nearby mountains. Fatal plane crashes were known to happen in this particular area. I personally knew of four young pilots who got lost and went into the ocean.
I felt totally helpless. The only thing I knew to do was pray. If anybody ever called upon God for help, I did at that time. I didn't pray aloud. I knew the preachers and my wife might panic if I did.
I thought of our two children who were waiting for us back in Honolulu, completely unaware of our situation. It was a dangerous one, with a probability everyone aboard the plane would die. If we went into the sea, we would never see our children again.
And then it happened - a miracle. Suddenly I saw a big tunnel appear within the storm clouds. I was amazed there was no rain inside. It appeared to be a heavenly-made pathway to safety. I flew the plane right through the middle of this tunnel.
I saw a light. It was at the end of this tunnel. As we passed into the light, I looked down in hopes of determining where we were. There it was, the Hilo airport. I thought, "What a welcomed sight."
I swung the airplane around. We landed. One of the preachers said, "What a good landing." I said, "If it hadn't been for our God intervening, we would have ended up in the ocean." I told them the whole story. Then we thanked God for sparing us.
The next day we viewed the volcano. We took pictures. Every so often I look at the photographs, and I remember the goodness of God and how He saved our lives.