A Divine Appointment at KFC

On March 25, Joy Ely wished that all the drama in her life would just take a break. But a visit to KFC and a ’07 Toyota FJ Cruiser would see to it that her wish did not come true.

For Joy, 46, animation student, mother of three and soon-to-be June bride, life is pretty busy. Every day, she gets up, makes breakfast, sees her kids off to school, runs errands, plans the wedding, does homework, goes to class then makes – or gets – dinner. Thursday, March 25, started out like any other day. But that night proved to be extra-ordinary.

After finishing her night class at Regent, She met with her fiancée Eric Manoleros. It was late, they were hungry and they wanted something healthy at a place close-by. They decided to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken - having heard good things about their grilled chicken.

“The cashier was new and flustered,” Joy said. “The man in front of us wasn’t nice to her. When we walked up we smiled and told her we were easy people and joked with her to help her relax a bit. She was super appreciative and we prayed for her when we blessed our meal.”

As they looked around for a place to sit, they saw that most of the booths were dirty. They chose a table, which as Joy put it was “the least of evils.” For the next few minutes, they ate and talked about their day.

“We had our backs to the window…I was closest to it. Eric and I were talking, and I had just finished eating. I was tidying up my trash and a car parking to my right caught my attention…she parked right next to my car. Then we heard what sounded like an explosion – I thought that car exploded.”

“As Eric and I moved away from the window, the glass shattered into the restaurant and we saw the car. We looked at each other, then I ran for the door to check on the driver and make sure they were okay. She and her daughter were fine but a little in shock about what had just happened. I told the driver to turn the ignition off and get out of the car. I forced open the passenger door and held it so her daughter could get out.”

Thankfully, no one was hurt. The mother, Sheila, and daughter were “shaken up a bit,” and Joy and Eric were hit by debris. “But no cuts and no bruises.”

After the accident, both Joy and Eric stayed to pray with Sheila. She had just bought the Cruiser (a Toyota) a few weeks ago – one of the vehicles not listed for re-call. As Sheila explained, the car had come to a complete stop in the parking spot, when it suddenly jumped the curb and crashed into the side of the building. Her foot was on the brake the entire time.

Joy believes that their visit to KFC “was a divine appointment on more than one front.” That night, Joy and Eric were able to witness to the cashier and Sheila. They even spoke with one of the staff, who arrived after the accident – a man who usually sits in the booth that was hit by the car.

“He was amazed… going on about how he always sits in that exact spot during his break, but that night he had to run home for something.”

As Joy sees it, there is no question what kept her and the others safe that night. It was “a total God thing. For me, personally, it was a reminder that nothing surprises Him, no matter what is coming down the pike.”

Currently, Joy and Eric are busy planning for their June wedding and finding a new home. Joy plans to go back to KFC soon.