Just days before the one-year anniversary of the loss of space shuttle Columbia, widows of two of the crew spoke of joy and hope.
Evelyn Husband, wife of Rick, and Sandy Anderson, wife of Mike, have used every media opportunity to share how God has provided for them during the past year of grief. They spoke again during a tribute to their husbands held at Grace Community Church in Houston, Jan. 25.
When the Columbia broke apart during reentry Feb. 1, 2003, God answered a prayer, the women said.
Anderson's husband, Mike, had listed a specific request for his church family before he left on the mission. Recorded now in Husband's new book, "High Calling," released Jan. 13, the widow reported that the Columbia payload commander prayed for a successful mission but that wasn't all.
"We'd like to ask for your prayers as we get ready to go on this sixteen-day mission," Mike said. "And not only prayers for a safe flight but also that in some small way we can use this platform to really let people know what we believe and let God's message get out there."
That message has come through the faith of the astronauts' widows.
"I do believe that God has had His hand in this," Husband said. "God did not have an off day."
Husband said it is only in the intimacy of worship that her grieving goes away. "I don't know how, but He does" help me, she said.
