This is a testimony of a sister from Malaysia.
25TH DEC 2004- 8pm...
The night before the incident around 8pm, both my sis and I were walking down the streets. I had this sudden urged to sing a Christian worship song which I have not sung for a long long time. So as I was walking I sang the chorus over and over again. During our walk, my heart felt uneasy. I told my sis of my uneasiness and that she had asked me to pray in tongues to the Lord. I did just that. Looking back and realizing the lyrics of the song, I now understand how merciful God is because HE tried to prepare/ warn me about
the tragedy.
The song entitled STILL
'Chorus'
WHEN THE OCEAN RISE AND THUNDER ROARS
I WILL SOAR WITH YOU ABOVE THE STORM
FATHER YOU ARE KING OVER THE FLOOD
I WILL BE STILL KNOW YOU ARE GOD.
26TH DEC 6.00AM...
We were supposed to check out from one hotel and check in to another at 12.00pm on 26th Dec 2004. There was no reason for us to wake up so early since it was our much deserved holiday but on that 26th Dec 6.00am (both my sis and I which were sleeping on a separate bed) we felt as though someone was waking us up. I thought my sis woke me up to pray as she normally would but I thought, "can't be" as it was still so early. Little that I know, she felt it too and she had the same thought. I then opened my eyes and looked at her and realized that it was not our own doing. We were not scared, and
concluded that the Lord wants us to wake up to pray. So we did just that and later check out way ahead of time.
9.30am-10.00am...26th December 2004
We dragged our luggage and walked along the street towards the hotel. We arrived the next hotel around 9.45am. Soon as we handed our check in slip to the receptionist, we saw people were running frantically away from the beach towards the hotel. The moment we turned our head and look in front, we saw a huge big 30ft high wave came crushing through the glass door of the reception. It was so scary as the height of the wave covered the blue sky, the whole area were darken.
We were inside the reception area, there were no way to run as the wave crashed mercilessly towards the glass door. We could hear loud noises from the shattered glass and in a split second the reception area was filled with the sea water. The water rose to our neck and we were swept against another glass door, the glass door shattered and threw us out of the reception area. We both were clinging on each other, the water swept
through us and we went under the water. My mind went blank; I gulped some sea water-that was all I could remember. Somehow, somewhere in the middle of it, as everything happened so fast, we managed to cling on a wooden pillar. At that precise moment, all we could do was to just pray. I left everything on earth at that point of time, my family, my love ones, my business, my friends, everything... There was nothing I can cry to except to GOD and I did just that. I took out all the knowledge that I learned during my bible class called Deeper Life Seminar conducted by Pastor Vernon Falls. I remembered that he always told us to pray in tongues even more when are in trouble. That was the only knowledge that I have and can use then.
We were looking at the disaster, trying to comprehend but it was chaos. Cars were crashing thru the building, gas tank were leaking, roof were tumbling down, people were screaming, we knew dead bodies were everywhere. All I did was pray and pray and all I know was to hold my sister tightly to me so that we will not separated by the strong wave. Approximately seven minutes later the second much stronger wave came and swept us again. I am really amazed that I didn't cry nor had any panic attacked at the time. I still know what to do. In fact, there was this Thai lady who was clinging onto my sis so hard because she can't swim, she was screaming away. In time like that, I don't
know how I can still think, I raised my voice at the Thai lady, so that she could hear me and asked her to stop screaming and don't be panic. I told her to calm down and just pray. I saw how she hold on to my sis and was worried for my sis incase her weight might pushed my sister under the water. So I said, "don't scream, don't be panic and don't hold her so tight, Is okay, everything is going to be fine" She calmed down immediately and followed exactly what we asked her to do. My sister has always been very strong in her devotion with the Lord. She knew that she has to safe the Thai lady by asking her to accept the Lord as her savior. I knew you think it is crazy to do so in times like that, but in Christianity, we believed that eternity life begins when you received Jesus and that we believed that when you accept Christ as your Lord and savior you automatically go to heaven. And because of that, my sister knew our situation then, was life and death and that she feels that if anything should happen to the Thai lady at least she will end up in heaven. It was really amazing in crisis like that; my sis could lead the Thai lady into
prayer to accepted Christ. The Thai lady accepted Christ there and then and she joined us to pray loudly crying to the Lord, commanding the sea water to calm down and stop the wave from coming, in Jesus name". Our prayer felt stronger when the three of us prayed in agreement.
After the second wave, we took the risk to swim across to a staircase. When I was up at the balcony, the whole disaster hit me, only then I started to cry and the fear was overwhelming. There were about 20 foreigners were at the balcony, everyone were in shocked, people were crying and blood were everywhere. My sister only suffered some bruises while I had a deep cut on both my feet. It was painful but the shock was unbearable. I could not take my eyes away from the sea, worried that the third wave will attack us again. At the balcony I was still holding on to a pole, while my sister went around praying for others, telling them that Jesus will kept us safe from harm. I knew she meant well, she doesn't care about her own safety she know if anything happen to us we will go to heaven BUT she is more concerned for the others, she also want them to go to heaven. She kept telling them about Jesus and she prayed for all of them. She prayed in Jesus name to break and bind all the fear in them. I noticed, some foreigners appreciated her and accepted Christ there and then while others was calmer after the prayer.
She doesn't allow me to cry and she told me to keep praying in tongues and worships the Lord and I did nothing but just that. Later when she was next to me, I then asked my sister in my chocking voice "Can I sing a worship song"? She looked at me helplessly and said " ok you sing to the Lord"...Tears kept flowing down my cheek, I sang, when the oceans rise and thunders roar, i will soar with you above the storm, father you are King over the flood, I will be still know you are God" Right after I sang that song, my sister looked at me and quickly said " That's right!! That is what God is trying to tell us. He is the Kind over the flood and he is asking us to be still and know that He is GOD and he will overseas the whole situation." June continue saying " God was trying to prepare us before the tragedy that is why he gave you the song to sing last night and that is why he woke us up earlier this morning so that we could leave the room if not we would have been trapped" I listened attentively, nodded my head, still crying and agreed that everything she said make sense. The sudden feeling of God's presence and his greatest love just flows in my heart and immediately I had peace and fear just left me. I felt the Lord was telling me "Don't worry, everything is going to be over and the wave will
not come near you anymore" True enough, there were no third wave, the sea water subsided, the rescue team began to search and rescue all of us.
The ambulance took me to the nearby hospital as I was badly cut and could not walk. There were neither after shock nor 3rd tidal wave but the town were in chaos. The hospital that we were at, were in chaos condition. They could not treat me but only offered me a bandage. We walked out of the hospital to find a pair of scandals as my scandals was swept away by the wave. As we were walking to look for a shop, my sister realized I cannot walk and I was still bleeding due to the deep cuts. She asked me to wait for her, while she proceeds to look for a shop to get me a pair of scandals. While waiting
for her, people were again seen running towards me. The police were making some announcement in their local language. I could not understand. I thought I lost my sister, but thank God she came out looking for me and we found each other in the midst of people running for their life. We asked one of the locals and we were told to run to the mountain as there could be an "after shock" and the possibility of a greater damage. I felt
the tense again, we walked as fast we could but we have no idea where to. Later, we stop a van and the driver drop us near a hill top. We reached the mountain and we saw a bungalow belong to a local. There were many foreigners seated along the road side. My sister told me to find a quiet place so that we could pray. We found this little corner at the side of the bungalow. We seated and started to pray. The place we were resting overseeing the sea. I hated the sea then. I never thought such a beautiful and peaceful place can turn out to be so ugly, so fierce, and so merciless. I was angry at the sea-deep in me I know it was the devil's work. The devil chooses the holiday season to kill much innocent life. I just could not leave my eye looking at the sea, crying and praying at the same time. I was feeling very insecure and worried of another attack.
About 30 minutes later, the owner of the house came out and asked us if we wanted a drink. I knew we look miserable and dirty, in our wet shorts and t-shirt, dirty sand on our hair, we looked and felt like a refugee. At that instant I really know how it feels to be one. My sister had earlier said to me, should we need to notify anyone, it has to be someone who can pray and intercede for us. So I asked if I could call our Pastor, and she agreed. We both walked towards the house entrance and asked the owner's permission to use their phone. We were blessed that we still had our passport and money as we stuff those in a waist pouch. We knew that we could pay the owner on the telephone charges made by us. I believed it was the favor from the Lord, the local owner not only allowed us to used their phone, they even offered us to take a rest in their place. They told us to shower, provide us with dry cloths, gave us food to eat, provide us with new blankets, and even gave us mattress and pillow so we could be more comfortable. We were the only 2 among many foreigners that were given such treatment by that owner. The rest of the victims were left waiting and camping along the roadside.
The 2 hours after shock never came and time passed we were still waiting. It was already 6pm. The locals told us that the airport is opened. My sister was feeling uneasy; she felt that we should leave the island. But we wanted to hear from the Lord. We knew God can give us instruction. So we prayed in agreement and prayed in tongues. Again I felt the Lord was saying something to me. I felt that the Lord is saying we will be flying off that night itself. If I were to use my mind to analyst, I knew it is impossible as everything is in chaos and we can't even call the airport. All the telephone lines were dead. In my mind, even if we were to reach the airport, it is near to the sea and what if another attack hit, we would be facing what we faced earlier. Being up in the mountain is not the safest place to be either. Should there were an after shock, the mountain will give way and causes another major collapse. I obeyed what I feel the Lord said to me and told my sister. My sister then prayed to the Lord and said, "Lord, if it is your will for us to leave the island tonight, Pastor Vernon will call the house. And that will be the confirmation" We continue praying. At 11pm, the phone rang and it was Pastor Vernon. June asked Pastor and told him about our plan. Pastor mentioned that during his prayer he also felt the Lord wanted us to leave the island as soon as possible. That was the confirmation and we asked the owner's son to take us to the airport immediately.
We reached the airport at 12.30am. There were only a handful of people. None of the victims were seen in the airport except June and I. No body knew what happened to us and we proceed to asked if there were any tickets to KL. There wasn't obviously but the lady told us there is a plane leaving to Bangkok in half an hour time. We looked at each other; we were very surprised and quickly purchased 2 tickets to Bangkok. We arrived at Bangkok airport at 3am. I noticed that the flight that we were in was a delay flight from Phuket which was meant to fly off at 7.45pm. I had a disbelief look and deep in me I know that the Lord must have waited for us to board the plane. Again I was totally amazed with the Lord's timing and his plan for us to leave the island. Again I had learned another lesson from the Lord. When HE gave you instruction, don't think how, just do it. Everything is possible according to HIS will.
We both returned safely to KLIA at 12.00pm on 27th December 2004.
HE is truly an awesome GOD and HE is alive and HIS words are real. I don't regret going through the disaster as it has make me a stronger person, and my faith in the Lord has definitely soar higher.....higher than the tidal wave for sure.
Thank you all for your kind concern, your sms and your calls. God Bless you always.
Chung Eng Lee
Petaling Jaya-Malaysia
25TH DEC 2004- 8pm...
The night before the incident around 8pm, both my sis and I were walking down the streets. I had this sudden urged to sing a Christian worship song which I have not sung for a long long time. So as I was walking I sang the chorus over and over again. During our walk, my heart felt uneasy. I told my sis of my uneasiness and that she had asked me to pray in tongues to the Lord. I did just that. Looking back and realizing the lyrics of the song, I now understand how merciful God is because HE tried to prepare/ warn me about
the tragedy.
The song entitled STILL
'Chorus'
WHEN THE OCEAN RISE AND THUNDER ROARS
I WILL SOAR WITH YOU ABOVE THE STORM
FATHER YOU ARE KING OVER THE FLOOD
I WILL BE STILL KNOW YOU ARE GOD.
26TH DEC 6.00AM...
We were supposed to check out from one hotel and check in to another at 12.00pm on 26th Dec 2004. There was no reason for us to wake up so early since it was our much deserved holiday but on that 26th Dec 6.00am (both my sis and I which were sleeping on a separate bed) we felt as though someone was waking us up. I thought my sis woke me up to pray as she normally would but I thought, "can't be" as it was still so early. Little that I know, she felt it too and she had the same thought. I then opened my eyes and looked at her and realized that it was not our own doing. We were not scared, and
concluded that the Lord wants us to wake up to pray. So we did just that and later check out way ahead of time.
9.30am-10.00am...26th December 2004
We dragged our luggage and walked along the street towards the hotel. We arrived the next hotel around 9.45am. Soon as we handed our check in slip to the receptionist, we saw people were running frantically away from the beach towards the hotel. The moment we turned our head and look in front, we saw a huge big 30ft high wave came crushing through the glass door of the reception. It was so scary as the height of the wave covered the blue sky, the whole area were darken.
We were inside the reception area, there were no way to run as the wave crashed mercilessly towards the glass door. We could hear loud noises from the shattered glass and in a split second the reception area was filled with the sea water. The water rose to our neck and we were swept against another glass door, the glass door shattered and threw us out of the reception area. We both were clinging on each other, the water swept
through us and we went under the water. My mind went blank; I gulped some sea water-that was all I could remember. Somehow, somewhere in the middle of it, as everything happened so fast, we managed to cling on a wooden pillar. At that precise moment, all we could do was to just pray. I left everything on earth at that point of time, my family, my love ones, my business, my friends, everything... There was nothing I can cry to except to GOD and I did just that. I took out all the knowledge that I learned during my bible class called Deeper Life Seminar conducted by Pastor Vernon Falls. I remembered that he always told us to pray in tongues even more when are in trouble. That was the only knowledge that I have and can use then.
We were looking at the disaster, trying to comprehend but it was chaos. Cars were crashing thru the building, gas tank were leaking, roof were tumbling down, people were screaming, we knew dead bodies were everywhere. All I did was pray and pray and all I know was to hold my sister tightly to me so that we will not separated by the strong wave. Approximately seven minutes later the second much stronger wave came and swept us again. I am really amazed that I didn't cry nor had any panic attacked at the time. I still know what to do. In fact, there was this Thai lady who was clinging onto my sis so hard because she can't swim, she was screaming away. In time like that, I don't
know how I can still think, I raised my voice at the Thai lady, so that she could hear me and asked her to stop screaming and don't be panic. I told her to calm down and just pray. I saw how she hold on to my sis and was worried for my sis incase her weight might pushed my sister under the water. So I said, "don't scream, don't be panic and don't hold her so tight, Is okay, everything is going to be fine" She calmed down immediately and followed exactly what we asked her to do. My sister has always been very strong in her devotion with the Lord. She knew that she has to safe the Thai lady by asking her to accept the Lord as her savior. I knew you think it is crazy to do so in times like that, but in Christianity, we believed that eternity life begins when you received Jesus and that we believed that when you accept Christ as your Lord and savior you automatically go to heaven. And because of that, my sister knew our situation then, was life and death and that she feels that if anything should happen to the Thai lady at least she will end up in heaven. It was really amazing in crisis like that; my sis could lead the Thai lady into
prayer to accepted Christ. The Thai lady accepted Christ there and then and she joined us to pray loudly crying to the Lord, commanding the sea water to calm down and stop the wave from coming, in Jesus name". Our prayer felt stronger when the three of us prayed in agreement.
After the second wave, we took the risk to swim across to a staircase. When I was up at the balcony, the whole disaster hit me, only then I started to cry and the fear was overwhelming. There were about 20 foreigners were at the balcony, everyone were in shocked, people were crying and blood were everywhere. My sister only suffered some bruises while I had a deep cut on both my feet. It was painful but the shock was unbearable. I could not take my eyes away from the sea, worried that the third wave will attack us again. At the balcony I was still holding on to a pole, while my sister went around praying for others, telling them that Jesus will kept us safe from harm. I knew she meant well, she doesn't care about her own safety she know if anything happen to us we will go to heaven BUT she is more concerned for the others, she also want them to go to heaven. She kept telling them about Jesus and she prayed for all of them. She prayed in Jesus name to break and bind all the fear in them. I noticed, some foreigners appreciated her and accepted Christ there and then while others was calmer after the prayer.
She doesn't allow me to cry and she told me to keep praying in tongues and worships the Lord and I did nothing but just that. Later when she was next to me, I then asked my sister in my chocking voice "Can I sing a worship song"? She looked at me helplessly and said " ok you sing to the Lord"...Tears kept flowing down my cheek, I sang, when the oceans rise and thunders roar, i will soar with you above the storm, father you are King over the flood, I will be still know you are God" Right after I sang that song, my sister looked at me and quickly said " That's right!! That is what God is trying to tell us. He is the Kind over the flood and he is asking us to be still and know that He is GOD and he will overseas the whole situation." June continue saying " God was trying to prepare us before the tragedy that is why he gave you the song to sing last night and that is why he woke us up earlier this morning so that we could leave the room if not we would have been trapped" I listened attentively, nodded my head, still crying and agreed that everything she said make sense. The sudden feeling of God's presence and his greatest love just flows in my heart and immediately I had peace and fear just left me. I felt the Lord was telling me "Don't worry, everything is going to be over and the wave will
not come near you anymore" True enough, there were no third wave, the sea water subsided, the rescue team began to search and rescue all of us.
The ambulance took me to the nearby hospital as I was badly cut and could not walk. There were neither after shock nor 3rd tidal wave but the town were in chaos. The hospital that we were at, were in chaos condition. They could not treat me but only offered me a bandage. We walked out of the hospital to find a pair of scandals as my scandals was swept away by the wave. As we were walking to look for a shop, my sister realized I cannot walk and I was still bleeding due to the deep cuts. She asked me to wait for her, while she proceeds to look for a shop to get me a pair of scandals. While waiting
for her, people were again seen running towards me. The police were making some announcement in their local language. I could not understand. I thought I lost my sister, but thank God she came out looking for me and we found each other in the midst of people running for their life. We asked one of the locals and we were told to run to the mountain as there could be an "after shock" and the possibility of a greater damage. I felt
the tense again, we walked as fast we could but we have no idea where to. Later, we stop a van and the driver drop us near a hill top. We reached the mountain and we saw a bungalow belong to a local. There were many foreigners seated along the road side. My sister told me to find a quiet place so that we could pray. We found this little corner at the side of the bungalow. We seated and started to pray. The place we were resting overseeing the sea. I hated the sea then. I never thought such a beautiful and peaceful place can turn out to be so ugly, so fierce, and so merciless. I was angry at the sea-deep in me I know it was the devil's work. The devil chooses the holiday season to kill much innocent life. I just could not leave my eye looking at the sea, crying and praying at the same time. I was feeling very insecure and worried of another attack.
About 30 minutes later, the owner of the house came out and asked us if we wanted a drink. I knew we look miserable and dirty, in our wet shorts and t-shirt, dirty sand on our hair, we looked and felt like a refugee. At that instant I really know how it feels to be one. My sister had earlier said to me, should we need to notify anyone, it has to be someone who can pray and intercede for us. So I asked if I could call our Pastor, and she agreed. We both walked towards the house entrance and asked the owner's permission to use their phone. We were blessed that we still had our passport and money as we stuff those in a waist pouch. We knew that we could pay the owner on the telephone charges made by us. I believed it was the favor from the Lord, the local owner not only allowed us to used their phone, they even offered us to take a rest in their place. They told us to shower, provide us with dry cloths, gave us food to eat, provide us with new blankets, and even gave us mattress and pillow so we could be more comfortable. We were the only 2 among many foreigners that were given such treatment by that owner. The rest of the victims were left waiting and camping along the roadside.
The 2 hours after shock never came and time passed we were still waiting. It was already 6pm. The locals told us that the airport is opened. My sister was feeling uneasy; she felt that we should leave the island. But we wanted to hear from the Lord. We knew God can give us instruction. So we prayed in agreement and prayed in tongues. Again I felt the Lord was saying something to me. I felt that the Lord is saying we will be flying off that night itself. If I were to use my mind to analyst, I knew it is impossible as everything is in chaos and we can't even call the airport. All the telephone lines were dead. In my mind, even if we were to reach the airport, it is near to the sea and what if another attack hit, we would be facing what we faced earlier. Being up in the mountain is not the safest place to be either. Should there were an after shock, the mountain will give way and causes another major collapse. I obeyed what I feel the Lord said to me and told my sister. My sister then prayed to the Lord and said, "Lord, if it is your will for us to leave the island tonight, Pastor Vernon will call the house. And that will be the confirmation" We continue praying. At 11pm, the phone rang and it was Pastor Vernon. June asked Pastor and told him about our plan. Pastor mentioned that during his prayer he also felt the Lord wanted us to leave the island as soon as possible. That was the confirmation and we asked the owner's son to take us to the airport immediately.
We reached the airport at 12.30am. There were only a handful of people. None of the victims were seen in the airport except June and I. No body knew what happened to us and we proceed to asked if there were any tickets to KL. There wasn't obviously but the lady told us there is a plane leaving to Bangkok in half an hour time. We looked at each other; we were very surprised and quickly purchased 2 tickets to Bangkok. We arrived at Bangkok airport at 3am. I noticed that the flight that we were in was a delay flight from Phuket which was meant to fly off at 7.45pm. I had a disbelief look and deep in me I know that the Lord must have waited for us to board the plane. Again I was totally amazed with the Lord's timing and his plan for us to leave the island. Again I had learned another lesson from the Lord. When HE gave you instruction, don't think how, just do it. Everything is possible according to HIS will.
We both returned safely to KLIA at 12.00pm on 27th December 2004.
HE is truly an awesome GOD and HE is alive and HIS words are real. I don't regret going through the disaster as it has make me a stronger person, and my faith in the Lord has definitely soar higher.....higher than the tidal wave for sure.
Thank you all for your kind concern, your sms and your calls. God Bless you always.
Chung Eng Lee
Petaling Jaya-Malaysia
