Recently we started construction on a new housing duplex for the clinic staff. We hired an additional foreman to be in charge of the project in an attempt to expedite the construction process. Despite our best efforts, the project got off to a rough start due to poor communication and big misunderstandings. You see, things are done slightly differently here, so I (Bryan) did not have all of the supplies ready when all of the workers arrived. Furthermore, our remote location makes it very difficult to get supplies delivered and our little Toyota Tacoma can only carry so much rock, cement and block. So about 2 weeks ago I went out in search of a dump truck to come and carry a few loads for us. Since it seemed like a daunting task, I brought along our camp manager to translate for me. Fortunately we found a truck rather quickly and agreed on a reasonable price per load. The truck followed me as I drove back down the road to pick up the rock. At one point there were a few donkeys scattered across the road that I had to avoid (very, very common on Ethiopian roads). I went to the right and the dump truck following me went to the left of the donkeys. That’s when I saw him, a boy riding a bicycle down the hill on the road. I watched my review mirror in horror as the boy’s attempt to get out of the way failed. He fell off of his bike and dump truck bumper hit the boy’s head. Before I had time to think, my truck was turned around and headed to the nearest “hospital” about 30 miles away with the boy and 5 others in the back.
I drove as fast as possible down the bumpy dirt road, then down the paved highway, trying to focus on the road and prayer, not the moans and blood behind me. It seemed to take forever, but we finally arrived at the hospital. The boy was carried into the “ER” and placed on a bed. We waited for an hour to see if there was any news. The hardest part was seeing him in so much pain, receiving little attention from the staff and nothing that I could physically do to help. I can’t really put into words the pain I felt for the boy as I prayed for God to find a way to use this horrible accident for his glory and honor. My heart was broken and getting ripped out.
After getting contact info from some of the men who came with the boy to the hospital, we left. Later we found out that, by God’s grace, the boy did not have any fractures or broken bones. A few days after that, we found out that the boy is the son of a guard on our compound who does not believe in Christ. We also found out that another boy was also on the bicycle the day of the accident, but he had just gotten off at the top of the hill. That boy saw the entire accident and died the next day from some form of heart problem or attack.
Things like this don’t make sense to me. Yes we live in a fallen, sinful world. Yes we all deserve to die for our sin. No, children are not innocent, but my earthly heart says that things like this should not happen. Yet, Christ allowed Lazarus, a dear friend, to die, just to show his power, glory, and love. In the end, this just reinforces the need to share the Gospel with everyone around you. Without Christ, there is no hope in death; only an eternity of punishment in Hell. Will you share Christ with someone today?
Please pray for the families of both boys in this difficult time. Pray that God’s love, grace and sovereignty would be obvious and praiseworthy to them.
“But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!”
UPDATE: The boy that was hit by the truck came to our clinic today for a check up. A cut on his leg is infected, but the wounds on his face are all healed. It looks like he has a bad concussion, but the nurses here expect him to make a full recovery. Praise be to God!
I drove as fast as possible down the bumpy dirt road, then down the paved highway, trying to focus on the road and prayer, not the moans and blood behind me. It seemed to take forever, but we finally arrived at the hospital. The boy was carried into the “ER” and placed on a bed. We waited for an hour to see if there was any news. The hardest part was seeing him in so much pain, receiving little attention from the staff and nothing that I could physically do to help. I can’t really put into words the pain I felt for the boy as I prayed for God to find a way to use this horrible accident for his glory and honor. My heart was broken and getting ripped out.
After getting contact info from some of the men who came with the boy to the hospital, we left. Later we found out that, by God’s grace, the boy did not have any fractures or broken bones. A few days after that, we found out that the boy is the son of a guard on our compound who does not believe in Christ. We also found out that another boy was also on the bicycle the day of the accident, but he had just gotten off at the top of the hill. That boy saw the entire accident and died the next day from some form of heart problem or attack.
Things like this don’t make sense to me. Yes we live in a fallen, sinful world. Yes we all deserve to die for our sin. No, children are not innocent, but my earthly heart says that things like this should not happen. Yet, Christ allowed Lazarus, a dear friend, to die, just to show his power, glory, and love. In the end, this just reinforces the need to share the Gospel with everyone around you. Without Christ, there is no hope in death; only an eternity of punishment in Hell. Will you share Christ with someone today?
Please pray for the families of both boys in this difficult time. Pray that God’s love, grace and sovereignty would be obvious and praiseworthy to them.
“But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!”
UPDATE: The boy that was hit by the truck came to our clinic today for a check up. A cut on his leg is infected, but the wounds on his face are all healed. It looks like he has a bad concussion, but the nurses here expect him to make a full recovery. Praise be to God!
