“All of my life, in every season
you are still God, I have a reason to sing.
I have a reason to worship.” – Hillsong
She was on a medical missions trip on her way to serve a small team of missionaries a couple hours away when an accident happened that would change her life forever.
Her name is Sarah and she was in Bolivia as part of a medical missions team. The majority of her team returned to the states a little while ago while her and two others stayed behind to continue visiting people and places in need of some t.l.c. and medical supplies. She said that the World Race teams that are here in Bolivia would be her new ministry for the rest of the month so after visiting us here at Casa de Esparanza, she headed to visit another one of our teams in Llica, Bolivia.
While on its way to Llica, the bus she was on got into a bad accident. It collided with a van and somehow Sarah’s arm ended up getting pinned under the vehicle. Although I am not clear on the details I know that some of the nearby World Racers went to the scene to help anyway that they could and it seems that they were some of the first respondents.
The latest is that Sarah has lost some of her fingers on the hand of the arm that was pinned and some of the other passengers, not related to the World Race, lost their lives.
I was absolutely stunned by the news. She was just here visiting our team a couple days earlier healthy as can be. In fact, my team and I were talking to her about some of the complications we’ve had since being here and head lice came up in the conversation. At one point while sitting next to me she looked at me and scooted away as she asked, “Wait, do you have lice?” Looking back on it I chuckle a little as I remember her expression.
Last night and this morning however I was left with a little bit of sorrow in my heart after hearing about the accident. During one of our conversations while she was here I asked her about her job at home and she said that she works as an emergency trauma nurse and that even though it is difficult, she loves it.
What will she do after she recovers, I thought to myself? How will her life change and is her faith at a place where she will be able to stay strong through this trial? Because let’s face it, even though Jesus warns and reassures us about the trials we will face in the world, no one ever expects to experience something like that.
So, this morning when I heard from a teammate that Sarah had been singing praises and asking others to sing too during her rescue my spirit was absolutely elated.
What incredible faith. It reminds me of Paul who sung even while wrongfully imprisoned and in chains. He chose to sing about the goodness of God despite his circumstances and as a result his chains were broken. So it is my prayer that her praises have set the tone for her recovery and I hope that you will join me in that prayer.
Also, I want to challenge every single person who reads this to allow yourself to go that deep with God. Allow Him to show you just how incredible He is so that when the storms of life come, you won’t be shaken and you will be able to have hope, faith, and love.
Father, I thank you so much for your promise to redeem the broken moments in our lives. I praise you that no matter what we have or ever will experience that you remain the same. You are a God of love and nothing can snatch us from the palm of your hand. May we allow ourselves to fall that deeply in love with you that we trust you in every season and may Sarah’s response to her accident be a testimony that changes the lives and eternity of many. Please give her abundant joy and be with those families who lost loves ones. Bless her Father and her family and may all of our questions find their rest in who you are and your promises.
