Right from the start I knew that this was definitely not my day. I had looked forward to that evening, when my friend Marek and I were to make a trip by train to Moscow, but it seemed that everything was going wrong.

By the time we got in the car to leave for the train station, it was getting late. I began to worry that we wouldn't make it to the train on time. As we attempted to drive off, the car wouldn't start. Time was running out! We piled into a friend's van, and were on our way at last. Then we missed a turn, got lost, and had to go back the way we had come.

I prayed, "Lord, I'm sorry we're so late. I know that You never fail, so please do this miracle that we need so desperately! Delay the train! Please, Lord!"

As we pulled up to the station, I looked at the clock. It read one minute till the train's departure. It was impossible to make it!

"Jesus, please!"--And I was off, running to catch the train. Marek ran behind me.

By the time I reached the platform, the doors were shut and the train was already moving. The train began to pick up speed.

"No! It can't be! Jesus, why don't You stop the train?"

I jumped up on the step by the train door. Then I realized that the doors were locked and there was nobody in that car to let me in.

There I was, hanging onto the door of the rapidly accelerating train. Realizing that it was no use trying to get in, I thought I'd better jump off. "But the ground is covered with ice," I thought to myself, with growing horror. "If I land on the ground, I'll probably slip right back onto the tracks!" But I saw no other choice.

As I jumped, my foot caught on the train's step and I was pulled underneath the train. Desperately, I grabbed for something under the train. The train kept picking up speed.

My hands felt so sore and tired, and they were freezing! How much longer could I hold on?

My head dragged and banged on the ground, between the train's wheels. My long hair hung loose, and to this day I still can't understand why it didn't get caught in the fast-moving wheels. The loud noise of the train's wheels on the tracks drowned out all other sounds. Screaming would have been of no use.

At that moment I gave up all hope. I prayed, "Jesus, in a couple of minutes I'll be seeing You face to face. What am I going to say? What was my life worth?" I waited for death. I wasn't scared, but I was so sorry that I had not done more with my life that I had now so foolishly thrown away. If only I could have another chance!

My hands felt so sore and tired, and they were freezing! How much longer could I hold on?

Then suddenly the train stopped.

I later found out that the train's conductor heard some commotion on the platform, looked out, saw my boot sticking out from under the train, and pulled the emergency brake. The whole ordeal had lasted just a few minutes.

I expected to be badly injured, but to everyone's amazement I only had a few scratches and bruises.

"She was saved by God Himself," the conductor said, in awe. A crowd gathered, and everyone stared at me in disbelief. And there was Marek. He had lost sight of me before I hopped on the train, and then had turned back to look for me when he saw the train moving. When he heard people screaming that a girl had fallen under the train, it hadn't even occurred to him that it could have been me!

We boarded the train, and the next morning we arrived safely in Moscow.

Thinking back on that day, it's hard to believe that it really happened to me. I'm sure an angel was with me. I didn't see him, but I know he was there. I wasn't alone!

Now I understand that my life does not belong to me. Perhaps it did at one time, but I foolishly threw it away. Then the Lord, in His wonderful mercy, took it into His hands and gave it back to me. Now I truly belong to Him!