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Stroke, kick, stroke, kick. Shirley Addink glides through the water at the California Baptist University pool. Back and forth. Back and forth memorizing Bible verses and praying for her children as she swims. Outside of the pool her smile and sweet spirit touches the swim team, pool staff and everyone else around her. But one of the most incredible things about Shirley Addink is that she swims with only one leg.

Interestingly enough, it was a water accident that would change Addink's life forever. When she was 24, Addink was water skiing at Lake St. Charles, Miss., when she swam up to the back of the boat and the driver reversed into her in an attempt to miss another boat.

"I felt a buzz on my leg, when I popped up I realized that my leg was gone and I thought, 'This is going to change my life,' and then an incredible amount of peace came over me and I realized that I was going home," Addink said.

But even as Addink recited Psalm 23 to herself realizing that she felt like she was "in the valley of the shadow of death," God had other plans for her.

"All of it was a miracle because the tow rope got wrapped in the propeller and I'm convinced that that is why it stopped at my legs," Addink said.

Addink may have lost a leg that day, but changed life she was given would be one that God would use to glorify Himself and bless others. Because of her injury, Addink has found that people are more willing to open up and share with her the dif- ficulties that they are having in their own lives.

"I have a segue to share with them about the Lord, because everyone goes through something hard and I can just reassure them that He will never leave or forsake them," Addink said. "I am reminded every day that I am dependent on Him like I am dependent on a leg.\"

Addink, a mother of three, started swimming after she got hurt. Addink comes to CBU to swim because her in-laws have donated much of the grass on the front lawn.

Along with snow skiing, swimming is one exercise that Addink can do with her kids. "I got back in the water and all I thought was 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,'" Addink said. "I just sit back, relax and go on a prayer swim."

"It's true. We all have a handi- cap. We all have something that is a handicap in our lives."

No matter how difficult life might seem at times, Addink allows her weakness to strengthen others and will continue to swim.