Thursday, December 1, 2011

Remarkable

After bumper to bumper, door to door, horn blaring traffic we arrived at our much anticipated final destination, the wound clinic. Once we arrived, we found out the wound clinic was closed. As in life, the journey was well worth it.

Our interpreter, Wilson, traveled with us in the taptap. As we made our way to the clinic, he told us his story on the day of the earthquake. Wilson was at school that day and decided to go get a drink of water from the market. Just after he left the market the ground started to shake, leaving him clinging to a stranger on the street. Wilson said his school collapsed and killed all 540 of his school mates, as did the market where he purchased the water minutes before.

As we continued down Delmas road to the wound clinic, Wilson told us about each building that collapsed that day. "That was a bank. It collapsed. That was a government building. It collapsed. That was a school. It collapsed. This was a big market. It collapsed. This was a clinic. It collapsed. That was a college. It collapsed." Building after building he carefully gave us the details. His eyes told us how important each place was as his story continued.

We finally turned down the street which would lead us to the wound clinic. We passed through a market, much like our farmers market. The market was packed shoulder to shoulder with people selling and buying goods. Some people were not happy with our disruption. Some men postured their disapproval and followed behind our taptap. I felt uneasy, and asked Wilson to close the opening to our taptap. I was very glad for the safety of the door on the taptap. Our driver laid on the horn, and slowly navigated his way to a gate which gave us access to the wound clinic.

The gate opened and immediately we heard singing. The cold prickly feelings we felt in the market melted away as we were blessed with the beautiful voices. I felt the unmistakable head to toe wash of the Holy Spirit as I witnessed their worship. An open area with about 400 people had hands lifted high and were praising our Good God.

I was humbled that day to witness the praises of these people, who only a short while ago, experienced the horrific tragedy of the earthquake. They who live in dire poverty and struggle just to feed their children. Voices raised, hands held high, shoulder to shoulder - giving it all for the glory of our Good God. Humbled, very humbled. They have it figured out. I yearn to have what they have - a reliance on our God despite circumstances.

Thank you Wilson for sharing your story. Thank you Lord, for the remarkable faith of these beautiful people.

Karen

No comments:

Post a Comment