Cross-eyed, delirious and laying on the bare wooden floor just to be still and horizontal – it was time. After nearly 10,000 miles: 24 hours flying, a few hours trying to sleep and 8 hours driving over bumpy dusty “roads,” my pager went off…..albeit figuratively 🙂
Our missionary received a phone call 6 hours into our drive. A villager got a stick in his eye – not figuratively. After checking my schedule and verifying his insurance we confirmed him for a 9pm appointment.
The human cornea is one of the most sensitive areas of the body. Corneal injury pain is a hurt I would wish upon no one – except maybe my older brother: “dude. are you going to write bad things about me again tonight?”
The villager came in as expected: hand over eye, hands and cheeks full of tears; not crying because this is the kind of pain where crying stopped helping hours ago. A vertical laceration covering nearly half the cornea but fractions of a millimeter below the pupil so hopefully no permanent vision loss.
We got him patched up and we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow.
Our missionary translated the conversation. His family asked, “how much?”
“These men came from the United States because they know Christ’s Love and want to show others, including you, His Love.”
Gonna be tough to sleep now 🙂
John 13:35 (NASB)
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
2020aroundtheworld 
Heart-warming. Thank you! We will continue to be vigilant in our prayers for you and your team. -Mark & Tracy Whitehead