Tragedy Strikes Again in This Land

When you hear a news report from this place with "official" numbers on loss of life, it's good to at least multiply the number by 5. For some reason the "officials" think that they look better if less people are thought to have died. But all of the locals know the truth so it just reinforces the untrustworthiness and complete selfishness of their leaders.

A fuel tank truck went up on a curb -- a common occurrence as the traffic jams ("go slows") cause people to drive anywhere they find an opening. The truck rolled and hit another truck. Both ignited into flames. This was shortly after 5 a.m. Workers on the mainland have to take dumpy transport buses at the wee hours of the morning in order to get to work by 8 a.m. In the area there were transport buses holding about 4 times the proper amount of passengers. (They only have to pay for the seat space so if they can arrange to sit on someone's lap they split the fare or if they stand between the person's knees and the back of the next seat, they can stand for a smaller price.) Some of those transport buses burst into flames. Overcrowded buses are impossible to evacuate.

So, the "official" numbers are that 12 died. But it sounds like there were at least 50 unidentifiable bodies at the morgue. Plus more than 12 were identifiable. Hospitals in the area have many more in critical condition.

This comes close to home for us because one of the passengers in one of the transport buses was a driver for our company. Thomas. A nice man. One wife. Five children.

The wife has tried, with the help of a couple of driver friends, to find her husband. But there was nothing recognizable about any of the bodies she viewed. Practically no one goes to a dentist. And those who have money and do go to dentists still wouldn't expect the dentist to actually have any proper records. So mysteries always remain. The children always hope that one day their father will walk through the door. There will be a mass burial.

The contract company that supplies our company all cars and drivers has done nothing to help the widow -- neither to search for the body nor to assist with expenses. The drivers are treated poorly by their company, to say the least. The widow's youngest child is 5 years old. Women and children have very little value here. Probably, she will move in with a brother or an uncle and try to earn her way. It's a rare man who would marry a woman with 5 children.

So, I'm organizing collections from the employees. Responses have been great. (Well, actually some of the locals have not liked the idea of giving the widow too much money ... like she doesn't need it or something and might waste it!!!) I get all excited when I see others step up with generosity and then I remember the situation ... it's nothing to be excited about. At least we can totally overwhelm the widow with kindness. And at least the drivers know that my driving force is Jesus.

Blessed by a short visit with Joey!

Our dear son, Joey, flew into our lives for 8 days! What a total joy to have him around for awhile. It was interesting to see our world through his eyes. So many things which we've just learned to ignore became very obvious to us once again. He confirmed that this really is a crazy place to live!

We are thrilled with what God is doing in and through Joey's life. He's definitely got strong relational gifting and is superb in his work with young teenagers! Now he's back in Australia to finish up his internship with Student Ministries at Hillsong.

We had to work around work but squeezed in a lot of good times and good visits in his few days here. Shots below include time at our beach hut, visiting our driver's family -- that's Jide's Dad with Joey, and saying our farewells. Final shot -- Joey in his own bus (as the only passenger), heading to the airport, with armed escorts following in the white truck behind the bus.

We miss you, Joez!

Happy 4th

Another 4th of July without fireworks, stars and stripes, ... It's hard to even remember what month it is -- they all look alike!
I wore blue and white clothes and a red watch to work -- that was the closest I got to celebrating America's independence.
But here's a strange twist that I didn't even catch until late last night.
Jim left for meetings in Paris yesterday. So some friends, taking pity on me, invited me to join a dinner party at their home. Lovely food, lovely time ...

When I got home, locked myself up tightly in the house, climbed into bed, and picked up the book that I had on my bedstand -- it hit me --
I had just spent the evening of July 4th with a bunch of Brits!!!

So, I read until I fell asleep
that book that I'd been slowly working through
without any previous thought of the season or approaching holiday ...
1776 by David McCullough!!!
Great book!
Great heritage!
Great independence!
Great country!

Rome, Part 2