We never know what may happen in any given day. We make our tentative plans for how we may advance in language study during that day, but often, the Lord brings other things our way. We always trust that this is His will for our day, and for bringing glory to Him. Let us tell you about last Friday.
Stephen was at an Agutaynen friend’s house, talking with him about what Agutaynens usually do during New Year’s Eve. Ginger was at home, doing school with our girls. A man came, asking where Stephen was and Ginger directed him to the home where Stephen had said he might be. Ginger did not get any impression of a problem from this man, and he left to continue his search for Stephen.
Moments later, Stephen came running home, saying that he needed to take our friend, Eladio, to the hospital. Eladio has a table saw at his house, and was cutting wood with his sons. Eladio was working near the blade, guiding the wood, and his hand was accidentally caught in the blade.
The man that had come to our house in search of Stephen was Eladio’s son (pictured here along with Eladio on their motorbike). He mentioned that Eladio was or needed “ilo”. This Agutaynen word, “ilo”, has several meanings: “thread, poison, and dizzy”. Ginger got the impression that Eladio was dizzy, when actually the man was telling her that Eladio needed to “be sewn”, or get stitches.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Stephen thought that several of Eladio’s fingers would be cut off. But after three hours in the emergency room, the doctor patiently sewed all four of his fingers back together. Eladio had three broken fingers and nearly 40 stitches. We are still uncertain, however, if Eladio will be able to use any of these fingers in the future. As we are posting this update, color has not yet returned to any of these fingers. So there is still the possibility that these fingers might be cut off.
We do ask for your prayer, for the healing of his fingers, and more importantly, for the salvation of him and his family. Eladio is a close friend of Stephen’s, and our hearts are burdened for him during this difficult time.