I was on a ship on Milford Sound on  a sunny clear day and I was on the upper deck and I was admiring the beautiful scenery before my eyes with the snow covered mountains, high mountain peaks all around the green forests and the deep blue water surrounding the ship.  As I was looking up at the scenery a voice suddenly said, "Isn't it beautiful Andy, this is Jan, your wife, I am in heaven, I want to thank you for all your prayers that helped me get to heaven. I love you Andy and I send my love to you and your wife, Patricia.  No, send my fondest love to you and Patricia. I will see you in heaven one day."

I was stunned speechless and I knew it was Jan speaking (we had been married for 41 years). I don't know how but I knew it was Jan.  For a short time I just thought about it and felt a peacefulness I had not experienced before.

I came to the realization that all sincere prayer is answered by God and in this case I offered my daily Mass for my dead with since she had died in 1999 so that she could get to heaven. Before she died I never went to daily Mass and it was only after her death that I decided to do this for her so she could get to heaven and that is exactly what happened.

I wrote to a Charismatic priest friend of mine in New Zealand and this is what he said to me.

(Original message) Andy Thank  you for sharing that wonderful experience the Lord granted you when you were out on Milford Sound. To start with your conversation with Jan in heaven is a good example of the Communion of Saints. It also illustrates the importance of intercessory prayer, especially prayer for the Holy Souls, and the power of the Mass as a prayer. Anyone who reaches heaven is a saint.  In the person of Jan you have a saint special to you.

I hope you your encounter with Jan  on Milford Sound with many others. It is truly powerful in itself and I can see it can be a great comfort to those who have lost a loved one.

God bless you and keep you and Patricia.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?  No

Did you ONLY sense an awareness of presence of the deceased without actually seeing, hearing, feeling or smelling them?            No

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?          No

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?            No

Did you see the deceased?         No

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?      No

How long did the experience last?        half a minute

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?         The voice just commenced speaking, and after saying I will see you in heaven one day. that was it.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?           No

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?           Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:           I can't give an explanation for my views but I believe it can happen in the right circumstances

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No
 

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?           Yes

It confirmed to me that praying for the souls of the dead is listened to by God.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      I don't know. I never felt any different.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No      

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?  No           

 Death Compacts are when two or more living people promise among themselves that whoever dies first will try to contact the other(s).  Have you ever made such a compact?   No

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?           No

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?            No

Did you see a light?           Yes

Not at this time but a day after her funeral I was bathed in a light that came from above me while I was in bed and I felt a sense of peace over the loss of my wife.

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?            No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     With many others

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?            Uncertain

 Is there anything else you would like to add regarding your experience?       No

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?            No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No 

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?           No 

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    Not that I can think of