Faith to calm the crocodile

Faith to Calm the Crocodile

By Susanne Perkins

The scriptures teach that if you have faith you can move mountains. I believe that to be true, but if you have faith you can also calm a crocodile in distress.

A good friend and sister from my ward has worked in the Copenhagen, Denmark Airport for some thirty years. She works in the cargo division of Scandinavian airlines. Among her many duties she has become an expert in arranging employee travel.

A few years ago three of her fellow Cargo workers had planned a trip to Australia. Normal routine requires you to book the ticket in a computer system and then on the day of travel you print a travel document absolutely necessary for travel.

This particular day it seemed that all the employee-printing stations in the entire airport were experiencing some difficulties, and they were not able to print out the travel documents. In desperation they call Jeanett and ask for her help. She comes to their aid and tries everything she knows how to do, but sadly without results. Unable to travel they are naturally quite disappointed. Jeanett is really sorry that she is not able to help them and as an afterthought says that there is one more thing she could do. ”What would that be?” the Cargo employees ask hopefully. ”I could pray for you and for this machine to work again”, she said.

They were skeptical but desperate, so they agreed. Jeanett bowed her head and prayed silently. Upon opening her eyes again, she told the guys to try the machine one more time. They did, and the machine immediately spit out the needed tickets. They were in total awe, grateful and on their way to Australia. They never forgot this lady in their Cargo division who had prayed for their tickets.

 

Jeanett didn’t think that much of the incident, because prayer and asking the Lord for help is second nature to her. She never really told anyone about the experience, but was glad she could help.

 

Three years later Jeanett is at her desk in the Cargo division in Copenhagen when she gets an urgent call from some employees in one of the cargo transfer halls. This man pleads with her to hurry to this particular hall because her help was needed.

Unfortunately she has to tell him she is unable to come because her station could not be left unattended. But once again he pleads with her to come as soon as possible.

 

Jeanett arranges for a colleague to come and cover and rushes to the cargo hall. Upon entering the hall she sees 6 huge cargo employees. Strong men who are used to lifting and carting cargo all over the airport. They all have fear on their faces and are standing some distance from a large oversized crate in the middle of the floor. The crate is hopping and dancing and appears to be close to breaking.

 

In the crate is a crocodile from Australia on route to Frankfurt. The anaesthetic administered to ease the travel had worn off sooner than planned and the animal was extremely agitated and violent. The workers were frightened and the animal caretaker had gone to get help.

 

The cargo guys meanwhile had remembered their experience with Jeanett years earlier. They had agreed that they would summon her to the cargo bay to say yet another prayer. This time for the crocodile.

 

Jeanett is needless to say surprised, and when she realizes what they expect her to do she is humbled and somewhat embarrassed.

 

But they ask her matter of factly to pray, and even ask if they can participate.

”Do we stand in a circle” they asked, ”and do we hold hands?”

 

Before Jeanett could really answer they had gathered around her and clearly they expected her to pray out loud.

 

”Dear Heavenly Father, this is one of your creatures who is not feeling that well. Could you please help this crocodile to calm down and feel better til it gets to it’s final destination. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

 

As soon as the prayer was finished the crocodile laid down still and calm. The cargo workers were amazed, and declared their utter respect for Jeanett and her faith. When the animal caretaker returned with the vet the first thing he asked was: ”Did you guys kill it?” He too was amazed when the workers told him what had happened.

 

 

 

The story of the wild crocodile and the Cargo lady who had prayed for it went all over the Copenhagen airport, and everywhere Jeanett went people commented on the incident and many questions were asked about her faith and Church.

Not only did she have faith to calm the crocodile, but she was also a great example of a member who is not afraid to share her beliefs and act upon them.