An hour before I boarded a MAS flight from KLIA to Kuantan on Monday 3 March 2003, I managed to organise and confirm the itinerary of our chapter meeting for the day. A quick word with the secretary, Bro Philip Koay, to inform him of a few details, prompted the same to pray for my safe trip to and from Kuantan. I was quite surprised for the prayer over me encompassed items that I felt could have been saved for someone else. However, graciously I said Amen, and flew to Kuantan.

I checked in at Shahzan Inn and was given room 405. My two colleagues checked in around 11.00 p.m. into room 406. My roommate only turned up at 12.30 a.m. We chatted and soon decided to call it a day as we had a heavy schedule the next day.

I was about to doze off when I heard loud knocks on my door. Jumping out of bed I ran to the door and latched it. A look through the peephole on the door proved to be fruitless for there was no one around in the corridor of the hotel.

Thinking that my friends in the next room wanted to go for supper, I called them on the phone. I waited for a whole two minutes but there was no response. Giving up I crept into bed. A couple of minutes later, I was rudely awakened by my next-door friends who reported that they had been robbed of cash and expensive mobile phone by a man armed with a parang.

I thank God for prompting me not to open my room door. 'The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.' (Ps. 34:7)

A report was subsequently lodged at the police station and we finally went to sleep at 4.30 a.m.

I praised God for His mercies and constant protection over me.

Two days later, I left Kuantan by return flight at 2.30 p.m. As the plane was taking off I heard a loud blast. Immediately I turned to the man seated next to me and told him of the burst tyre. He looked at me with polite disbelief. I even told a passing stewardess of the burst tyre. She looked nonchalantly at me and went about serving the passengers cold juice.

I sat and began to call upon the name of the Lord, should it happen to be my last flight. All at once I saw a vision of myself lying on my back in the pose of a baby. The forty-minute flight gave me plenty of time to pray and thank the Lord for all the many blessings that He had endowed upon my family and me. I asked the Lord to forgive all my transgressions and the sins of my transgressors. As the plane approached KLIA, I was ready to meet my Maker should something untoward occur during the landing.

I felt calm as the plane prepared for the landing. As expected it was unusually bumpy and a strong drag was felt. Thank God for His mercies upon all of us as He guided the pilot's hands for a safe and uneventful landing. The plane taxied to a halt and the captain apologised for the uncomfortable landing and confirmed that the plane had burst a tyre upon take-off. There was a delay as the plane was towed to the parking bay.

In retrospect, it was a small problem but in the plane was demonstrated that God is real and that He would come to the assistance of anyone who would earnestly implore His intervention in adverse situations.

Again and again the Lord had shown me His love and protection over me. My experience of the gentle hands of the Lord shielding me during both incidents that had occurred concurrently is sufficient prove of His everlasting covenant over us. I know that no harm will befall me 'even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, … ( Ps.23:4).

To God be the Glory. Amen!