Almost one month in Belize! Can you believe it? Any of you who have lived overseas might understand the strange sensation of feeling like you have been somewhere your whole life, but at the same time, feeling like you just arrived. Yup, that’s what it feels like! Dull moments here? I should say not! I could tell you all about:
Hours of weeding in the onion patch; learning how to stucco like a pro (well, you know...;), visiting new friends in the community; starting our first 5-week cooking class; cooking large quantities of food; living without electricity (I almost don’t want to get any here, ever!), Katie and I fooling the Spanish preacher that we understood everything he said; enjoying my family and great friends down here, but the pangs of home-sickness that sometimes strike when I think of my people in the states; the fear that gripped my heart when I was supposed to jump off the boat with the sharks and sting-rays (ok, just a bit dramatic:), laughing, crying, and praying with my close friends and family; and the list could go on, but we don’t have time for all the stories now. Here is one story that I would like to tell you about....
Jay is a new friend of mine who lives across the street from Fawna and Jeff’s place (a couple miles from the property where I live). A couple weeks ago, he was out walking on the main highway, enjoying the early morning darkness. All of a sudden, he was blinded by bright lights and heard the screeching of tires! Seemingly, out of nowhere, a truck came barreling down upon him! He attempted to jump out of the way, but there just wasn’t time! It hit him and knocked him down! He scrambled to his feet and went running away! He was scared, in pain, and in shock! It wasn’t until much later that day that his family found him and brought him home. When my sister, Fawna called me to come and help take care of his wounds, my mind went twirling! Ahhhhhh, I’m not a vet! Ok, so Jay is our neighbor’s horse. A very good horse that loves my nieces and nephew, enjoys doing his job of bringing in the cows, is very gentle and likes standing outside the front door waiting for the food that the kids give him.
He was injured very badly: a wound on his stomach probably 20 inches long and 12 inches wide, one on the back of his front leg, under his neck, and little scratches all over him. He was already warm with a fever. The vet couldn’t come until the next day, and even if he came, it would be a miracle if Jay lived! So, we decided to do our best, and trust in Jesus to perform the miracle! Huge charcoal poultice = huge mess! We cleaned him out as best we could and then with a sheet folded in half and plastic in the middle, we put a ton of charcoal on it and tied him up. Then charcoaled the rest of his sores and took him to a safe place to rest. At least twice a day, he has to be cleaned up and the poultice has to be changed. They never had the vet come.... But Jay is still alive today! He is walking around more, trying to get out the gate, waiting for food from the kids, and acting more like the Jay that everyone knows and loves!
God still is a God of miracles! But.... a horse? Why? Only He knows what the lasting results will be. But I do know one thing, this community is very interwoven, people know their neighbors and what is happening down the street.... When they hear how God used charcoal to save the life of a horse who was hit by a truck, it will break down barriers to a message of simple health! It is so exciting to see the ways that God opens doors and tears down walls!
