Shock

I was walking home from town this afternoon, feeling pretty satisfied. I had just eaten a Girango's, the restaurant where we recently celebrated Christmas. It was only my third time there since I arrived in Tarime. I was celebrating the fact that I actually have an appetite again.

Traffic is always a crazy mixture of cattle, people, and all sorts of vehicles in Tarime. I try to be defensive in my walking, but sometimes ADD kicks in. Today, I was trying to greet people I met while still walking to the mission house as quickly as possible when a white car went flying past me. I heard a sickening thud. Turning around, I saw what I at first thought was a dog lying on the opposite side of the road from the white car which was still racing toward town. Looking closer, I realized the "dog" was actually a woman. Her crumpled body lay motionless on the shoulder.

I was sick. I hesitated, not wanting to believe what had happened, and then slowly and sadly walked away from the angry, shocked crowd that gathered around the accident scene. The spring in my step was gone, and sorrow filled my heart.

Nate and Kate arrived at the mission house shortly after I did, and I told them what had happened. Then there was a knock at the gate, and Nate went out to talk to a visitor looking for a church.

I heard him call out to Kate, who then called to me. There over the mission house was a perfect rainbow! I thought what a great God we serve! He always finds a way to give us hope in the midst of our despair.

Please say a prayer for everyone involved in this tragedy today. I pray that the God of Hope will touch each one of them.
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