I was hit by the 18-wheeler!
Rikki's Story
His mission was to die for me; my mission is to live for Him!
Below is my story of not only how God protected me; but how it came about that He currently has me in ministry school.
It amazes me how asking God for direction in one's life can alter everything we think we know about where we think we are headed.
I once heard someone say, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." I sometimes think I make Him laugh a little too often. [LOL] He [in my opinion] is always the best one to turn to for answers. He always know the true outcome of all things pertaining to me [and you], and He has never steered me wrong [ever].
Also, if you would, partner with me; God has called me, but I still need to cover tuition and mission trips; as well as various other things during this time God has me in school.
Any questions please feel free to email me. His greatest blessing in your life!
Follow Me on Twitter. Follow @RikkiAndrews
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I was on Assignment
Just a few day before this accident occurred, I had sat in prayer at a friend's church. I ask God this question, "Where do I go from here? What next?" Immediately I saw myself standing in a hallway, people going up and down. I had a pamphlet in my hand; as I looked it over - I knew in my heart that it represented classes I needed to take.
I started rationalizing it out. "What am I thinking? Me? - go back to school? I'm too old to be learning a new trick; and plus I don't have the money." These were just a few thoughts racing through my mind as to why I couldn't do this. I shrug off the thoughts and started to lay the pamphlet down in my spirit.
Immediately - the pastor of the church I was at stood up and stated, "If you need to go back to school - go back to school." He then sat back down. So I kept a grasp on the idea in my spirit; but at the same time opened my eyes to look around the room to see who else was there that could possibly be having any thought of going back to school. Surely someone else was thinking this - he couldn't possibly be speaking to me.
I left after prayer without telling anyone of what had happened. On the way home a friend call me that was on his way to Dallas on business. He kept asking me what I was going to do? I told him that I was probably going to do some laundry and clean the house some, not much planned. He then ask me several more times what I was planning to do? It was Saturday morning, and I hadn't plan to do much that day. Again he ask, this time in a firm voice, "RIKKI, What are you planning to do?" I ask him, "What exactly are you wanting to know? This is Saturday morning, I don't have that much in store for the day. Are you needing me to do something or what?" I was beginning to get a little snippy, he knew I was not one to answer the same question over and over. My attitude is one of - if you want something - ask; don't beat around the bush.
My friend then ask me this question [and remember, this is within a thirty minute time frame of this vision], "Do you feel like God is wanting you to go to school?" You could have slapped me in the face with a cast iron skillet at this point and I probably would not have felt it. I stammered, "Yes" to which he ask again, "Is God calling you to go to school? Is He is leading you to do this so that you can do what He has called you to do?" Again I replied a weak, "Yes." I was in shock; I had not opened my mouth to share this thought with anyone [yet], now here this person was calling me [from miles away] asking me about it. I sat and listened to him as he told me that he felt the same and if God was calling me to go to school then I had his 100% support.
I was in shock, in less than 45 minutes God had managed to confirm to me what He had showed me in the secret place of my own heart. And He had confirmed it through two vessels of honor that I loved and held value of in their opinions. I knew that God had not only heard my question that morning, but He had brought an immediate answer.
I was close to the local college so I thought that I would go on over to see if I could pick up any info. I went to the college, but being Saturday they were closed. (What up with that?) I then purposed in my heart to do it first thing on Monday.
Pastor's Warning
The next day I went to back to this church. After church my friend who is the pastor there came up to hug me bye. I stopped him and said, "Wait - you don't know what happened here yesterday." I then told him everything that had taken place during our Saturday morning prayer time. He then told me that he had something he had to tell me. (Pastor Alvin Proctor of Kingdom of Grace Ministries in Pearland Texas is one of the most prophetic I have ever known.) So trust me I listened. Side note: if you live in the Pearland and surrounding area; looking for a good church to be a part of I would highly recommend Kingdom of Grace Ministries.
He started by telling me the enemy was extremely upset; that I was finally stepping off into my true destiny, and that the enemy was going to try to kill me. I off course shrugged and said, "So what's new with that?" (He does not know a lot of my back ground or where I came from. But I did; so that was the reason for my response; not out of disrespect to my friend/pastor.)
He stopped me and said, "No - hear me." then he continued. He said, "You are continuing to move in the direction and are now stepping into the true calling that God has on your life - the enemy is very mad. It is my job to tell you this warning. If I do not give it to you like God is revealing to me; then I will be held accountable; so hear me. The enemy is extremely upset that you are not backing down and that you are now going after what God is calling you to do. So you need to be on the alert - he is going to try to kill you! BUT there is a line that he can not cross."
I said, "Yes sir"
He then ask, "You know that line?"
I replied, "Yes sir, I do."
He said, "Okay - as long as you know that line. We are here for you; we love you and will be praying. Call us if you need anything."
We hugged. I saw the clock behind him - it was 1:30 on Sunday afternoon.
24 Hours Later
The following morning I got up went to the college gathered information; went to Taco bell for lunch and then headed off to a friends for a praise and worship session she was having at her home .
Within several miles from her house this accident took place. As I was searching for my cell phone to call 911 - I saw the clock on my dash - it read 1:30. Exactly 24 hours after pastor's warning for me to be on the alert.
As I stated, pastor is very prophetic - I have never known him to be wrong in what he hears from God. I can't describe to you the alertness that came from deep within my spirit minutes before this accident occurred. But then again, my pastor friend had warned me to be on the alert; I praise God that I listened to His warning through His vessel of love.
THANK YOU PASTOR ALVIN PROCTOR FOR BEING A TRUE VESSEL OF LOVE;
FOR BEING OBEDIENT IN HEARING GOD'S VOICE
AND DELIVERING HIS MESSAGE AS HE GIVES IT.
BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS
I WAS PREPARED FOR WHAT WAS COMING.
I LOVE YOU & SISTER PROCTOR ALWAYS ~ MAY GOD BLESS YOU MIGHTILY!
God is faithful!
As I stated earlier
I knew God had me on assignment that day.
As an Eye Witness. My spirit alerted, I saw that the man driving the Lincoln Navigator was not slowing down and was not going to stop. Therefore, I stopped my vehicle in the middle of the road because I knew that the people in front of me were in harms way and I wanted to give them a chance to try to stop. I knew they may have to lock up their brakes to avoid getting hit.
As an Eye Witness: For Frank Burton, the truck driver, one of the first comments I heard as others came up to the scene was "The truck driver must have fallen asleep at the wheel." Frank Burton did not have a blink of a chance when it came to this man's actions. The man driving the Navigator shot our in front of him like a bullet. So I had to correct the officer that made that comment and stand up for the "truck driver". Folks - it is NOT always the truck drivers fault. Please know that. If I had not been on assignment this driver would have been blamed for everything.
As an Eye Witness: So that I could stand in front of Tyler at his mom's funeral, telling him truth of what happened and proclaim to him that there was absolutely nothing he could have done to prevent this from happening. To try and make sure that he did not live with the guilt for the rest of his life knowing that he was the one driving the car that his mother was killed in.
The Event
On May 24th, 2010, I watched as a man driving a Lincoln Navigator ran a stop sign. In a blink of an eye his actions changed the lives of all who were in his path forever. Without even slowing down he blared right out in front of Tyler Smith (21) and Karen Smith (53), making contact with Frank Burton a truck driver that was headed toward us from the opposite direction.
I was directly behind the Toyota Camry that was occupied by Tyler and Karen. I watched in horror as this storm of a hurricane played out all around me.
The vehicle I was driving was struck by the 18-wheeler seconds before the 18 wheeler went air borne then flipping end over end finally to land twisted in total destruction in the ditch behind me.
The man that caused all this has admitted his fault, but he walked away from this with only a few scrapes.
Tyler Smith and Frank Burton were both air lifted to the hospital. Amber and Robert Sheppard had come out to the scene; so I chose not to ride in an ambulance but to let Amber drive me to the hospital to get checked out.
Amber and Robert thank you so much for being there for me. I love you both very much.
Tyler - was severely burned over various parts of his body, among other things. After months of doctors visits and physical therapy Tyler has returned to his job working at Block Busters. I ask that you would keep him and his entire family in constant prayer.
Frank - sustained a broken leg and a fractured leg, broken ribs, concussions and lots of contusions, and has had to undergo several surgeries. He had just started driving for the company several days prior. Please pray for his healing, and his family. I don't know if he was the sole support of his family financially or not. So please keep them in prayer. I have not received any updates on Frank yet.
The hardest thing that I have to report is this.
Karen Harvell Smith was killed.
Within those few seconds on the road that day,
a wonderful woman was taken from all who knew her.
I, along with Joan Wynn, Toni Corona and Marilyn Stringer, was able to attend her funeral. I personally never got a chance to meet this woman, and again I am sadden. As I sat watching the story of her life playing out in a short slide presentation - I knew in my heart I would have liked her. She was a real go getter, a friend to many, and someone who showered love on all who knew her. "She said what she meant, and meant what she said." Please continue to lift her family up in prayer, and all those who knew her. They miss her terribly; though I did not know her myself - I find I do too.
Please continue to pray for the families of both Karen Harvell Smith and Frank Burton.
Please continue to pray for the families of both Karen Harvell Smith and Frank Burton.
