“Be ready”. As my squad leader said those very words, I was certain that this month would be unlike any other on our Race. I heard the Lord say, “Lauren, you will need to fight for one another-to advocate for each other. You will need to be bold.” Little did I, or anyone else, know what God was preparing our hearts for in April. The flight from New York to New Delhi was not very pleasant for me. I had an upset stomach that led to multiple vomiting episodes during the course of 15 hours of air travel. Not having eaten practically anything for almost two days, I definitely enjoyed my first meal in Hyderabad. I thought, “the worst is over”, now onto God’s good plan for us as a team and as a squad, in India. However, our idea of “good” is rarely anything like God’s idea. Praise the Lord for that reality.
Two of my teammates decided to leave the World Race in the last few weeks. The first week, I spent two seven-hour days in a local hospital caring and advocating for one of my teammates. The first teammate left the second hospital day. Our time with her was sweet and precious. I am grateful for the joy, wisdom, and love she brought to our team and our squad. I reminded myself after her departure that the same God who watches us here in India is watching her in the United States. He is everywhere at all times. On April 21st, my team got the phone call that you never dream of-the one that resides in some of your deepest fears. Four of our squad-mates had been in a terrible car accident in Bangalore. Their car had flipped over after the driver lost control. Two were admitted to the hospital, but released later that day. One was admitted for surgery and is now with us here in Hyderabad. The fourth one is now recovering from surgery in Bangalore (two of her teammates and one of our squad leaders are with her now) and she will be going home to the U.S. in a few weeks. Only by the grace of God are they are all alive. Once we heard the news, we fell to the floor in intense prayer. I’ve never prayed that desperately in my life. We asked the Lord to give us some of the burden of pain and suffering to bear. I felt the pain and my emotions were more alive than ever before. I’ve been praying for God to give me empathetic compassion and He has certainly been answering my prayers this year. The song, “His Eye is on the Sparrow”, came to my heart as we prayed. In the Bible, we read that not even one sparrow falls without God watching. He sees all. This gave me immense comfort. Since the accident, my squad has been stronger than ever. Most of us have come to understand how much we need each other and how we are a family. I’ve watched people worship, choose joy, choose faith, and choose hope. The words of the classic hymn, “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”, have never rung true for me more than in this past week. Last Friday, I heard the news that my great-aunt had gone to be with Jesus. She was at the hospital the day I was born. Her first words after seeing me: “She’s precious!”. She was my Memaw’s older sister, my mother’s aunt, my cousins’ mother and grandmother. She was a joyful, friendly, loving woman and I am proud to have been her grand-niece. While I was very sad to not be able to be at the funeral, I am thankful for the 22 years I had with her and I know I will see her again one day. The next day, Nepal suffered an earthquake unlike anything the country had experienced in fifty years. Now, my squad’s next country for service is not determined. I have dear friends from Nepal who have family and friends there now. This life is but a vapor. One minute could be all it takes before a life is forever changed. However, if His eye is on the sparrow, we know that we serve and worship a God of details. He is a God of compassion and wisdom beyond any human comprehension or ability. They say this accident was the worst one the World Race has ever encountered. Our organization’s leader wrote us in an email, “You have been entrusted with pain.” I have never been more grateful to be entrusted with pain, because my Savior suffered the worst pain imaginable, separation from His Father, on my behalf. I desire to give Him the reward of His suffering, but I know it will take my sacrifice and suffering. Suffering produces character and character produces hope…and hope does not disappoint. Am I ready for it? I will never be ready, but His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
