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Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Thursday, August 22, 2019
OH So much. Start with Our Car...
So how do I begin to catch up. We have a newsletter coming soon. It highlights the very surface of the craziness of our life. Don't get me wrong, I love it most days, but I especially enjoy the slow gentle days. The day I am going to talk about today is not one of those, but it is one that has added such perspective to life, my walk with the Lord, and reminded me to base my beliefs off the Bible not culture and circumstance.
It was Saturday, July 6th - We enjoyed the day as a family and had some friends out to our summer cabin (I will blog about that later, because it has been such a sweet tool for our family this summer). Anyway, it is local here in Jarabacoa. So we were looking at a 15 minute drive home. We had enjoyed a day full of swimming, napping, eating, and what not. We were also hosting our friends Jeremy and Heidy. Jeremy had gone on ahead back to our house, but had to stop on the way to CMA and grab a few things. So our family hoped into the car and headed toward CMA. We all included Josh driving, me and the kids, and our 2 dogs (one of which is a mastiff). As we were driving home, the truck in front of us slammed on their breaks and we were unable to stop fast enough. Our car rear-ended the truck pretty hard. Fortunately none of us got hurt. The car we drive is very sturdy, it is also sold in Australia to manage and drive in the outback (Toyota Prado) so I'm told. Anyway, in the DR as soon as there is an accident there is a crowd. Our friend Jeremy, ended up 2 cars back and quickly escorted me, the kids, and our smaller dog to his car with a great sense of urgency. I did't understand, because to me it was only a fender bender. As I asked him what his concerns are, he explains that the reason the truck stopped so suddenly is due to a moto that was in the wrong lane that the truck ended up hitting head on. The man driving the moto was throw off his motorcycle and was none responsive and most likely had died; which was confirmed the next day that he had died on impact.
At this point the reality of the situation sunk in. It can be very dangerous with accidents especially those involving death or injuries. It is important those involved drive straight to the police station and report the facts prior to the family's emotions rising and creating a dangerous mob scene. It is amazing how quickly the community and specific people were there to help. Within 5 minutes, our nanny had showed up, a very influential Dominican friend of Josh's was there, also a few others that were bi-lingual. Jeremy was able to take me and the kids home to not create fear or more stress in their lives. To this day, I don't hear them talk about the accident much. There are not scared of the road or the car.
Josh was able to drive our car to the police station and there fill out a police report and was sent home within a few hours. Josh was not at fault and was treated very well by the DR governmental officials. We praise God for his kindness and know the prayers of those we love protect us <--- but in this statement also acknowledge bad things don't mean the statement is false. This is where I had to wrestle again through who God is? Is God good all the time? What does good mean? How do I boast of what protection was showed to our family when there is a man and his family grieving next door? I still have no full answers only tears for the trails that man's family still experiences, but rest knowing death is not punishment. Death has victory. Just as this statement is true so is Life full of opportunities for victory. Life with Christ is good, but at other times hurts, but that doesn't change who God is or the peace he provides amidst so much pain.
I pray that in reflecting on the experience we had, you can remember God is so many things. I can't even begin to explain the wrestling of near death experience; I pray what I take away is Biblical and propels me to be more in the Lord and walking with him in relationship. It reminds me to make every day count not because it could be my last but because it is such an opportunity to create the base of eternity and because I love my God whom I serve daily in life or death. Death is not the end, it is only the beginning. If you have any encouragement or thoughts in relation to these moments or your own moments - I would love to hear them. Sharing life and fellowship is such a privilege!
It was Saturday, July 6th - We enjoyed the day as a family and had some friends out to our summer cabin (I will blog about that later, because it has been such a sweet tool for our family this summer). Anyway, it is local here in Jarabacoa. So we were looking at a 15 minute drive home. We had enjoyed a day full of swimming, napping, eating, and what not. We were also hosting our friends Jeremy and Heidy. Jeremy had gone on ahead back to our house, but had to stop on the way to CMA and grab a few things. So our family hoped into the car and headed toward CMA. We all included Josh driving, me and the kids, and our 2 dogs (one of which is a mastiff). As we were driving home, the truck in front of us slammed on their breaks and we were unable to stop fast enough. Our car rear-ended the truck pretty hard. Fortunately none of us got hurt. The car we drive is very sturdy, it is also sold in Australia to manage and drive in the outback (Toyota Prado) so I'm told. Anyway, in the DR as soon as there is an accident there is a crowd. Our friend Jeremy, ended up 2 cars back and quickly escorted me, the kids, and our smaller dog to his car with a great sense of urgency. I did't understand, because to me it was only a fender bender. As I asked him what his concerns are, he explains that the reason the truck stopped so suddenly is due to a moto that was in the wrong lane that the truck ended up hitting head on. The man driving the moto was throw off his motorcycle and was none responsive and most likely had died; which was confirmed the next day that he had died on impact.
At this point the reality of the situation sunk in. It can be very dangerous with accidents especially those involving death or injuries. It is important those involved drive straight to the police station and report the facts prior to the family's emotions rising and creating a dangerous mob scene. It is amazing how quickly the community and specific people were there to help. Within 5 minutes, our nanny had showed up, a very influential Dominican friend of Josh's was there, also a few others that were bi-lingual. Jeremy was able to take me and the kids home to not create fear or more stress in their lives. To this day, I don't hear them talk about the accident much. There are not scared of the road or the car.
Josh was able to drive our car to the police station and there fill out a police report and was sent home within a few hours. Josh was not at fault and was treated very well by the DR governmental officials. We praise God for his kindness and know the prayers of those we love protect us <--- but in this statement also acknowledge bad things don't mean the statement is false. This is where I had to wrestle again through who God is? Is God good all the time? What does good mean? How do I boast of what protection was showed to our family when there is a man and his family grieving next door? I still have no full answers only tears for the trails that man's family still experiences, but rest knowing death is not punishment. Death has victory. Just as this statement is true so is Life full of opportunities for victory. Life with Christ is good, but at other times hurts, but that doesn't change who God is or the peace he provides amidst so much pain.
I pray that in reflecting on the experience we had, you can remember God is so many things. I can't even begin to explain the wrestling of near death experience; I pray what I take away is Biblical and propels me to be more in the Lord and walking with him in relationship. It reminds me to make every day count not because it could be my last but because it is such an opportunity to create the base of eternity and because I love my God whom I serve daily in life or death. Death is not the end, it is only the beginning. If you have any encouragement or thoughts in relation to these moments or your own moments - I would love to hear them. Sharing life and fellowship is such a privilege!
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