In 1969, I joined a Volunteer Rescue Squad in Jefferson County, Alabama, and was a member until the late ‘70s. Our missions consisted of searching for people lost in the woods, for drowning victims, and once for a young woman who was not mentally stable who was missing. We worked areas hit by tornadoes, and one time were deputized to keep the peace in an area where a mine where explosives were made exploded and shattered windows and knocked electricity out for miles around. The story I’m going to tell you about happened in the western section of Birmingham.

 

There are many rock quarries in the Birmingham area. Many have been filled with water for many years and are a great place to fish and swim. Unless contaminated by a plant operation, the water is crystal clear. In the summer, young people would make a habit of swimming in a quarry that was not fenced in.

 

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We put boats into the water

and began dragging and

did not find the other boy.

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One day two young fellows about the age of seventeen decided to take a swim. Both of them were swimmers and their parents had no problem with them swimming in the quarry. One of the teens jumped into the water and did not come up. According to what we were told, his friend made several attempts to find him, but could not. Actually the story sounded untrue since the water there was so clear. The teen was questioned by police and other officials, but he stuck to his story. We put boats into the water and began dragging and did not find the other boy. It was getting dark, so several of us spent the night there. For several days and nights we searched the water and found nothing. The other boy was questioned again and again and even threatened with jail time if he was lying, but he insisted that his friend had drowned.
 

The area where we were was near several sets of railroad tracks. The Salvation Army had sent their canteen out to assist us on this mission. Believe it or not, someone was able to contact some Navy hard helmet divers from Florida to assist in the recovery.

 

One evening, two men came to our camp to witness for our Lord and were there several hours. They were talking to one young man about receiving Jesus and he said he was doing all right and had plenty of time. One of the visitors said to him, “Just let God take that hedge down from around you and see how all right you are.” It was apparent that the fellow had some knowledge of the Bible because the visitor’s statement shook him up.

 

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“Just let God take that hedge down from around you and

see how all right you are.”

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When the visitors were leaving, my buddy and I decided to walk with them and make sure they got to their car safely, since the area was known for crime. When we got to where they needed to cross three sets of tracks and walk down a little hill to reach the vehicles, we thanked them and turned to walk away, and in a few seconds turned back to watch them all the way—and they were not there! The fastest runner in the world could not have crossed those tracks, run down a small hill, across a rocky parking area, gotten into a car or truck and left the area in that short time. We stood amazed and watched the area and never saw them. Beware, you just may never know whom you may be talking to!
 

On day seventeen of the recovery effort, an air hose had wrapped around the lifeless teen’s body and it rose to the top. Cameras had even been used before but no one ever saw the young teen.

 

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Heb. 13:2