Failed driver’s test leads to divine appointment
Frank Lamca needed to pass his test that day. His ministry depended on it — or so it seemed.
Frank was taking a test for a license to pull a trailer in Germany, where he and his wife Jan serve with the IMB. The Lamcas had developed a successful marionette ministry that required a trailer, and so they needed to be able to pull the trailer to various venues.
Frank’s driving test that day went well — until he failed to make a hard stop at a stop sign.
“Can you imagine the frustration?” Jan writes. “Another two weeks before he could go back for another test!”
The next morning, Frank and Jan were driving to their marionette studio when they passed a familiar yellow and chartreuse car sitting at a gas station. The car belonged to Herr Effke, a local German the Lamcas knew.
Frank and Jan first met Herr Effke when he visited their church to hear an American singing group named “Undivided.” Herr Effke hit it off with Frank and others from the church, and the day after the concert, a whole group from the church went canoeing. On the canoe trip, Herr Effke happened to mention to Frank that he was licensed to drive a truck.
So the day after the driving test, when Frank and Jan saw Herr Effke’s car at the station, they turned around to ask the man if he was willing to drive them to retrieve their marionette trailer. Herr Effke agreed and then asked the Lamcas if they would accompany him that night to hear Undivided perform at another church.
“Neither of us had planned to go, but thought it would be a nice gesture to take Herr Effke since he was being so helpful,” Jan says.
Another church member, Hans, rode with the Lamcas and Herr Effke to the concert, and afterward the two Germans spent the evening discussing spiritual matters.
“Herr Effke told Hans he wanted to be happy like everyone in the group Undivided,” Jan says. “Hans explained to Herr Effke what he needed to do to be saved, and Heff Effke confessed his sins and asked Jesus into his heart.”
Herr Effke later drove Frank to the neighboring town where the Lamcas’ marionette trailer was. During the trip, the two men had ample opportunity to talk about the Gospel and the changes in Herr Effke’s life.
“Looking back, Frank and I can see God’s hand was in all things,” Jan says. “If Frank had passed the driving test, he wouldn’t have had the divine opportunity to spend two days with Herr Effke enjoying American music and sharing his life and faith with this German man.”
Posted by Brittany Conner on Apr 25, 2008
Similar: Germany
