I wanted to share a little story with you that happened this month, to help you get a better “feel” for the Indians. I wish I could send you through these cables the feelings/thoughts/sights that I have of this people group, but I’ll try to do my best via words and pics.
It came to my attention one day that there was a Tarahumara man that needed a ride to the hospital. The nearest hospital is about an hour and a half away, and unless the case is dire… there isn’t any quick/free way for them to get there. I volunteered to take this man, and a couple of other people with him. He had an ulcer of sorts that was filling up with fluid, and needed to get it taken care of. The drive to the hospital was very un-eventful, and we had a letter from the clinic in a neighboring town here to admit him into the emergency room. Upon arriving I imagined that they would read this letter and take him right in. We were acknowledged, and asked to wait along with some others just outside the door. It turns out our wait to admit this man ended up being about 2 and a half hours. I was amazed. How long do you have to wait if you’re not at the emergency room!! In any case, as we were waiting, we heard sirens approaching. As most people, it peaked my curiosity. It turned out to be an ambulance from the Sierra (hills) not too far from where I live. I imagined, as I’ve been accustomed to, that the ambulance would come roaring in and a rolling cot would be brought out and rushed inside. Well, that’s not exactly what happened. The ambulance did come up fairly close to the door, and a Tarahumara woman was let out of the back door. She clumsily walked slowly up toward the emergency room doors where we were sitting. There were two sets of doors; we were inside the first set, but waiting outside the second set. The man driving the ambulance came in and knocked rather rapidly on the second set of doors. I thought to myself, if he is in this much of a hurry, why in the world isn’t he helping his patient? The door opened, and some words exchanged that I didn’t hear. The man left, very obviously upset that he wasn’t getting the attention he felt he deserved. As he approached the woman still making her way up to the doors, he told her to go inside and wait along with us. Then he jumped into the ambulance and left. The woman finally reached the outer doors, and just stood there. This is where you need to understand this people group. She would not enter unless she felt she was invited. About 5 minutes passed when myself and the people I was with realized what was going on… so we went out the doors and asked her to come in and have a seat. She came in and carefully sat down on one of the chairs. She then put her head down into her hands and started to cry quietly. The sister of the man I brought asked her if she was ok, and she explained that she had a serious problem in her leg, and no one was able to come to the hospital with her. They put her in the ambulance all alone, and brought her here and just left her. She didn’t know what to do… or for that matter, how she was going to get back to her village. She was helped to calm down, and after just a short wait, was taken into the second set of doors. My heart broke for this woman, and I wished there was more I could do for her. I prayed and placed her into the very capable hands of our Father.
I hope this little story helps you to understand and “feel” the Indian people a little better. Please continue praying for them, that they would come to an understanding of the adoption into an eternal Kingdom that is available for them. I urge you my brethren, to be on your knees. I firmly believe that if we knew the power we had to change this world simply through our prayers, we would rather do nothing else!