My throat constricted again, and my chest tightened.
It was getting harder to breathe, and I choked on the darkness.
And then suddenly…I knew.
I was dead.-Dan Woolley, excerpt from Unshaken
You and I first met Dan (aka webguydan) in El Salvador. Dan came along with our blog bunch to El Salvador to collect more stories and images for a site he was building Compassion. But he came home with more than that: new friends…and video proof that he and I are too old to play soccer.
The El Salvador blogging team and I started spreading the word on-line as soon as we heard Dan was missing. And you joined us.
We feared the 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti on January 12, 2010 may have taken Dan but we prayed and hoped and, thankfully, thousands of you did too.
Dan was found alive 65 hours later in an elevator under the six stories of rubble formerly known as Hotel Montana. Brave rescuers from Virginia risked their lives to bring him to the surface. His body was scratched and sore, his leg badly lacerated to the bone and broken. But alive. Reunited with his wife and boys soon after.
That’s all the story most of the world knew. But there’s much more to tell.
I just finished reading an advanced copy of Unshaken Dan generously shared with me. It was easier to hand me a book than to answer all my questions one by one!
It’s the story of what happened in those 65 hours underground. And much more. Being broken and buried alive for nearly three days wasn’t the darkest night Dan walked through.
But no matter the depth of his darkness, Dan has never been alone.
This message is deftly communicated without veering off into shallow cliches and empty platitudes spun for some Sunday school class.
Dan is vulnerable and as honest as is healthy with total strangers. His openness opened a window on my own broken places and I believe God will use this book to do the same for thousands more.
Unshaken is for anyone who loves a good suspenseful story and for anyone swallowed by darkness today or walking someone else through theirs. For anyone halfway living, in need of resurrection from the doldrums of dutiful religion and dispassionate relationships. For anyone seeking inspiration and evidence that God is unshaken by all that shakes us.
Unshaken releases January 12, 2011. To pre-order Unshaken visit DanWoolley.net.
Unshaken Teaser – Surviving the Haiti Earthquake from Dan Woolley on Vimeo.
You’ll see and hear a lot more about Dan and Haiti here in the days ahead. He’s asked me to return to Haiti with him in January. He will be speaking with media there about his story and I’ll be showing the world how donations to Compassion’s disaster relief fund were used to care for Compassion’s thousands of sponsored children affected by the quake. Stay tuned for more details. And please, begin praying for us now.
dean says:
oh man! i’m looking forward to reading that!
cshell says:
Man, what a way to end the week! Can’t wait to read this book.
Thank you.
@LaureeAshcom says:
ordered my copy for my Kindle!!!!
We are THAT family says:
Can’t wait to read this. Meeting Dan last weekend was a true highlight for me. My kids still remember praying for him while he was missing…such an amazing miracle!
Shaun Groves says:
And you don’t even know half the story yet. Even more miraculous than I’d imagined.
JessicaB says:
You recommending a book to Christians is like Oprah doing it to all those heathens.
I NEED it now!
Kris says:
Heathens?
JessicaB says:
(Joke) : )
Sarah says:
Can’t wait to read this… and follow along on your trip in January!
Amanda says:
I can’t wait to read this. Praying for your trip!
Lindsay says:
I can’t believe it’s nearly been a year. I still remember the completely helpless feeling. I remember the prayers for Dan and David. I’m so thankful for Dan’s story, and I still mourn David’s.
I’ll be praying for you guys as you head down there. Praying that God works through you both in amazing ways…like He always does!
Jason says:
My wife and I really look forward to reading this book.
Beth says:
Just ordered mine from Amazon. They have it listed as releasing on the 28th.
Beth
Rebecca says:
Can’t wait to read this. What a platform God has given him.
Abby says:
Will you be going to Chemin Neuf? My sponsored child is there. I would love to see him in pictures!
Jabber Jaws says:
We can’ wait to read the book! One of our kids is in Haiti too. We will be constantly checking for your posts. This year we didn’t sponsor an Angel Tree because we want to help him build a new home so all our extra and some of our needs too are going to him. I cannot wait to read your posts!!!
Kelli says:
This sounds like an amazing read. Thanks for telling us about it. I will be praying as you prepare to go to Haiti.
Ida Mundell says:
I look forward to getting my copy! Thanks for the info.
I leave for Haiti the day after Christmas. As I prepare for my trip, I’ll be praying/thinking of you guys as well.
Adam says:
Thank you for the heads up, this looks like an amazing read. I can’t imagine the conversations he had with God…wow.