We wish all our friends in Canada a “Happy Thanksgiving”. The Lord has been and is continuing to be good to us. His mercy endures forever! He protects us from harm!
Just recently I (Petra) returned from a weeklong trip to the coast with a medical team, on which I had the privilege to serve as translator and assist in medical care of the patients. After having performed around 64 operations over 5 days, we returned to Antigua for a day of rest and relaxation. On Saturday morning, after the team had already left to catch their flight, I walked through the town in order to take some pictures. And that is when it happened! A guy, smelling of alcohol, approached me, demanding my camera!
The encounter was actually quite cordially. He said "Give me your camera", I replied "No". A tug-of-war ensued. He insisted to have it, pulled a bit harder, and broke the wrist strap. I was afraid that the camera would drop and get smashed, so I let go. As he ran down the road, I asked some mid-twenty guys to help me. One of them hopped onto his motor bike and got the police. They came, arrested him, and asked me if I'd like to press charges against the thief. Yes, of course, I would like to press charges, otherwise he’ll rob someone else as soon as we let him go.
Meanwhile, the drunk was telling me something about needing money for antibiotics etc. and I gave him a lecture about that not being an excuse to rob folks. Why didn't he ask me, I wanted to know? I had a whole duffle bag full of meds in my hotel room (where I had stayed over night with the medical team). Well, the police officer put the robber into the back of his pick-up truck, I sat in the front cab and was worried for the drunk that he would try to make a jump off the truck and hurt himself in the process.
After having filed a report at the make-shift police station, I inquired what the consequences would be for him. The police informed me he'd go to jail for about 8 days. At hearing that information and thinking about Charles Colson's book on "Prison Fellowship Ministry" in Latin America, tears streamed down my face and asked the police officer if that sentence wasn't a bid hard.
Just before the police drove me back to the hotel, the guy was hand cuffed to some hand railing at some steps. I went over and touched his shoulder. He started to sob. "Don't do this again," I said. "Oh, but I need antibiotics," he sobbed. "Let me see your wound", I replied. "How did this happen?" He informed me that he cut himself on some sheet metal. "Well, next time, be careful." "Oh", he wailed, "I need antibiotics." "No, it is not infected at this point," I advised. As the officer drove me to the hotel I asked him if the prison had medical care available and was assured that they did. Apparently the guy has a family. His wife and children live in a nearby village. I think it might be a relief for his wife, who probably is working hard to support her children, to have her alcoholic husband off her back for a week, sobering out in jail. Who knows how the Lord will use this experience in the husband’s life.
Yes, the Lord is truly good. His mercy is new every morning. He protects us from harm. No one was hurt in the ordeal. Therefore, praise the Lord!
