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Praying Friends,
Here is a prayer request regarding a sad accident in Rwanda. Let’s support our team with earnest prayer.
Norval Hadley, EFM Prayer Coordinator
FROM THE CARPENTERS:
We just got word from the Thomas family about an accident they had this evening (on Sunday evening) on the road coming back from Kumbya.
They were driving through the city of Gitarama in the dark when a very drunk man suddenly stepped right out in front of their car. They hit him pretty hard, and the surrounding crowd became very angry, threatening violence. Thankfully, the police arrived quickly and took control. The police were understanding and calm about the situation and were aware that it was not Dave's fault. The drunk man was taken to the hospital alive, but they do not know the extent of his injuries. They were allowed to continue on home to Kigali. Dave will have to go back to Gitarama, about 45 minutes away, in the morning (Monday) to continue giving details for the police report.
Please pray:
-For the injured man, that he will recover.
-For Dave and a Rwandan colleague who will accompany him to Gitarama tomorrow, for God to give them wisdom and to go before them in this difficult situation.
-For the Thomas family as this is a traumatizing event.
-For wisdom to decide if Dave should go to the week-long Friends conference in Kenya on Tuesday.
In Christ,
Brad & Chelsea
UPDATE FROM THE THOMASES:
Dear friends,
We have a lot to praise God for today. Thank you all for praying for us and for the drunk man we hit last night.
I got up early this morning and Brad and I headed out to Gitarama. Our church leaders recommended a man in Gitarama help us, Sebastian, who is also our Yearly Meeting head of stewardship. The police were very busy today preparing for a presidential visit, and yet the policeman who helped us last night saw us briefly. He gave me back drivers license and car papers, and then had us go and visit the hospital where the drunk man had been taken. By the time we got there he had already been released from the hospital. We found him and about ten young men who had been there night before at the accident. He had some bruising on his forehead and a very sore shoulder, but he was ok and walking. Being white foreigners they were hoping to get a lot of money from us. This town is also known for robbery and drunkenness. Sebastian talked with the young men and they respected him because he looks like a government leader. He resolv ed the problem and we gave him some money to help with his medical expenses. I was really glad Brad went with me, because as soon as the whole problem was resolved my calm, steady energy left and I realized I was really tired. Brad drove us back to Kigali. We were home by 11:00 am this morning.
I see God's hand at work in many aspects of this event. I am amazed at how quickly this situation was resolved. We were caravanning with Gary Bennett and he was with us through the whole accident. God protected us from mob justice. The police came just in time, arrested one of the ring leaders and the rest dispersed quickly. We thought we had killed the young man, and I see his lack of serious injury as God's intervention. The Rwandan policeman, Eric, was calm, strait forward and a man of integrity. There was never an issue of bribing. (In other countries around us corruption and bribery are common as well as mob justice).
Pray for this young man's continued and complete physical healing. Pray for all of us to rest and come down well from this stressful event. Pray for the kids to talk through this event well, and heal from the trauma. Debby is recovering well from her (two year) adrenal fatigue, but an event like this can set her back. She experienced shaking, deep exhaustion, and a desire to stay home for a long time. Pray for deep healing rest for her this next month. I am staying home with the family for the rest of this week. I will go to Kenya for the FWCC conference on Sunday and come back Tuesday. I especially hope to see some friends from Bolivia.
Thank you all for praying! Your timely prayers make a huge difference.
David Thomas |
