2:45am - Rise and shine, make sandwiches for breakfast and start getting ready
3:45am - Leave Dow Village, 15 minutes later than planned, but still with enough time to get up the highway, even with the inclement weather
4:15am - Start hearing a high pitched sound, as though the engine is straining. Never noticed it before, so made a mental note to let the mechanic check it out when I get back
4:25am - Realise that the van is slowing down, even though I am trying to accelerate. Switch over from using CNG to gasoline and start praying
4:30am - Despite the switch over, the van keeps losing power. At this point, I start wondering if we would make it to the port. Call Dyann for prayer support.
4:38am - After decelerating to 20km/h, decide to stop under the Aranguez flyover because (1) I had no desire to be stranded on the Beetham with the only male in our party being 2 years old and (2) At least if the rain started to fall we could shelter under the flyover
4:40am - Call my church parents Lorraine & Lawrence to take my passengers to the port so they would not miss the sailing. Stevann was a bridesmaid in the wedding, so she needed to get there before Saturday
4:50am - Call my cousin Anand who lives in El Socorro. He is an electrician, but felt he could help troubleshoot, as well as keep me company since it was still dark
5:01am - Lawrence arrives and takes my passengers to the port so they were able to check in. Although they took their luggage, I still had all our food supplies, as well as some of the wedding videographers' equipment in the van. Started thinking about where is the nearest mechanic
5:10am - After confirming that there is water in the radiator and there is no visible sign of engine trouble, Anand decides to try starting the van
5:15am - The van starts normally, and is able to reverse and drive forward on the shoulder with no resistance
5:17am - Anand suggests that the van will drive if I try it, but I wasn't sure if I would make it to the port in time, especially since by this time the traffic is already starting to build up heading into Port of Spain
5:22am - Steve assures me that I would be able to make it in time for the sailing, so I start driving, with Anand following behind just in case of any further difficulties
5:30am - Arrive at the port, pick up my passengers and drive on to the boat
9:15am - Drive off the boat in Tobago
NO VAN ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND!!!!!!
Throughout this entire experience, I was calm. I didn't know how it was all going to work out, but I knew that God was in control, and that I would make it to the wedding somehow. Mummy asked me afterwards what we had done to make the van work again and I said nothing. All we did was pray - God did the rest ;) It was indeed a miracle on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway! I thank God for the friends and family who were there to support, and for His help in ensuring that we got to Tobago and back safely.
Oh and did I mention that after a couple days of rain, we had perfect weather for the beach wedding?
I tell you, I truly serve an AWESOME God!
