reason for delay

[Jeremy Gable]

Hello everyone!

 

Just thought I'd write and let everyone know why my last letter came a week (I think) later than when I'd intended to send it.

 

 On the Thursday before my internet time, someone arrived at our clinic after dark with a report of a woman who was very sick.  The village she was at was about 2.5 hours away (hiking of course).  Trying to hike there in the dark would have been extremely tough and carrying the patient back (which was probably needed) in the dark would have been virtually impossible and extremely dangerous for the patient.  Therefore, the decision was made that two people (probably myself and Napthali) would hike to her village at the crack of dawn to get her.  When morning came, I received instructions from Mrs. George on how to give a very basic exam of the patient's vitals and to report what I found via radio.  Then with our guide, we set out for Entak [Uhn-tock].  Three hours later, we arrived and found the patient to be in very critical condition (she had been very sick for 6 days before sending someone to get us).  After consulting Mrs. George, it was decided that her condition was too serious for us to treat.  Loading her onto the stretcher we'd brought with us, we carried her down the mountain, along the treacherous trail that was more suited for a mountain goat than a person, and checked her into the emergency hospital in Brook's Point.  The rest of that day (Friday) was spent ensuring that the patient's family had enough food to last them through Sabbath and also preparing for Sabbath ourselves.

 

We spent Sunday looking for rice at a good price to bring back into the mountains for the little store we run up there, and didn't get back into the mountains until Monday (well after my internet time on Sunday morning).

 

On Sabbath morning we went to the Brook's Point SDA church and spent most of the day there, even attending the Adventist Youth (A.Y.) program in the afternoon where I was invited to share my testimony.  Afterwards, we went to visit the patient only to find out that she had died that morning and the family had already returned to the mountains.  Hearing about one of the patients dying after they've come to us for help is always disappointing, but the disappointment reaches a whole new level when YOU are the one who examined her, carried her down the mountain at the risk of your own safety, prayed with the family, spent every minute of your time with her praying for her to live, and more importantly, to accept Christ before it's too late.  When you cling to the throne of God, calling upon every Bible promise you can think of, and then watch the person fade away anyways, you can't help but feel a little disappointed.

 

The encouraging part of the whole situation is that the person they sent to get us has begun studying for baptism and is the sister of the patient's husband (who had 2 wives until this).  She had been staying with them to help care for the sick lady and after we had checked them into the hospital, she also prayed out loud (in Pelawan) for the family.  While this person hasn't yet been baptized, it's very apparent that she has given her heart to Jesus.  I take hope in the knowledge that the sick woman had a Pelawan Christian for a sister-in-law, that they'd spent so much time together before the end, and that the patient was able to hear a prayer for her in Pelawan, and so had an opportunity to accept Christ before she died.  Because she was only in a semi-conscious state by the time we arrived, there's no way of telling whether or not she accepted Christ before her death.  It's my prayer that I'll see her again on that bright and glorious day!