Elizabeth's Account of a Traumatic Event

10/13/09

I'll let the children type their own version of our experience tomorrow as they are all pretty shook up and want to write about it (just like me!).

Lucas Gudeman has been hired to run the auger cart this fall (he works for Ben's company, Cherry Tree Kitchens, usually and they are giving him time off). This is only about his 3rd day of work here since it's been so wet, etc. Anyway, his wife, Dianna, came late afternoon to ride w/ him and brought along their three children: Collin-5, Hallie-3 and Bryce-1. They got done picking the field they were in and were discussing what to do next and Dianna and the children were hanging around the house for an hour or so. She was in helping me & all the children except the babies were playing outside. Around 5:30, they decided not to pick any more, so Lucas and Dianna were ready to go home and couldn't find Collin. We looked in the house, they looked all around the shed, asked all the children, etc. and Andrew reported that he was last seen hiding in the corn. Thus began an hour-long search by Lucas, Dianna, Matthew, Bruce, & Dad. I kept all the other children in the house and tried to get some supper for them. After 20 min. or so we called Bill and his boys to come and help, and after 30 min. Bruce called the sheriff. Keep in mind, it was about 45 degrees and late enough in the day that it would soon be dark. I lined up all the children at the couch and we prayed for Collin's safety and that God would give wisdom to those searching for him.

Finally, at 6:30 Bruce called to say he was found! Tyler found him and they figured he had wandered 1000 feet in the corn field! It really was a miracle he was found in such a short time and there wasn't much time to spare w/ darkness setting in and the cold temperature! What thankfulness and relief we all felt!