(Disclaimer: do not read if you are squeamish)
We hopped off the hot, crowded bus and saw her fall. About 60 years old and carrying two heavy bags of fruit. One the guys on my team immediately rushed through the busy walkway of people to her side and began to help her gather the grapes that were now scattered everywhere. He grabbed her arm to help her to her feet when he realized the graveness of the situation.
Blood was beginning to pour down her leg from a deep gash just below her right knee. In the busyness of everything going on; people continuing to walk by, vendors on the side of the road, even more people pouring off the bus, my team and I blankly stared at teach other for a brief second before jumping into action.
Let me clarify that none of us have any medical backgrounds or official training, but we did what we could. We realized that in the midst of her fall, she had directly landed on one of her bags that contained a few glass jars. Upon her impact, the glass had shattered and punctured her leg. Not a pretty sight.
We assisted her to the nearest bench and frantically began searching for a way to stop all the blood. We called out for water (apa), one of the few words we knew how to communicate and one the local shopkeepers brought out some. Pulling out our first aid kit, we realized quickly it would be no help. A few band aids and Neosporin would not fix this problem. She needed stitches.
A few of us said silent prayers and I began to look around for something to wrap her leg with. I realized that she was wearing a head scarf. Something the women here wear as a sign of submission to God while praying. I pointed to her head scarf and she nodded through the pain and allowed me to remove the scarf and wrap it around her wound. (It was probably and inch deep.)
I began to grow impatient and frustrated. Obviously this women needed serious medical help, but no one seemed to care. Other than the group of 7 Americans that couldn’t speak the language. People were just walking by like nothing strange was happening. How heartless can you be?!? It took more than 10 minutes before we could successfully coax someone to call an ambulance. Another vendor brought over a wooden crate so we could elevate her leg while waiting.
So in the midst of the masses, two or maybe three individuals were willing to help. Does anyone else see the problem with this picture? I would like to believe that if I was in trouble, someone would go out of their way to come to my aid. God had ordained our steps perfectly in his plan so that we would be there to help that women. I honestly don’t know what would have happened if we weren’t there. Maybe a local would have stepped up, maybe not.
The ambulance did arrive and the paramedics laid her on a stretcher and took her away. We were able to pray over her just before the ambulance arrived and I don’t know what has happened since. I do know this fact though. God is in control. I have no idea why everything happened the way that it did, but God does. If it means me learning to step up and out, I guess that is okay.
I don’t know if I could qualify my frustrations towards the unhelpful masses as righteous anger, but I will admit that I was angry. After sitting back to process the whole situation, I am still upset, but I have to forgive those who walked by without compassion. I know that I have intentionally passed by opportunities to lend a hand in the past. The busyness of life takes over and you forget that people are people. If I can learn anything from this situation, it will be the obligation to think twice when I come across a need. I need to step out of my comfort zone and selfishness and lend a hand.
It’s situations like these that remind me of why God brought me here. Learning these lessons are hard, but so necessary.
