It was on Sunday afternoon. Heidi and I had decided to do a bible study together with some of the ladies. Dam was also doing one but on another part of this island.
The timing was essential. Our group had already started walking towards the destination. We get slowed down by Dam's group who are catching up as we are apparently all waking in the same direction.
In my own world walking past the basketball court I suddenly get awakened by a loud noice. The woman next to me starts praying as her voice is cracking. I follow her to the courtyard and see that the pole (which is only supported by big rocks) has fallen to the ground. Past me runs a boy with blood running down his face and neck.
"Heidi you are a nurse! What do we do?" We run down the road to the boy who is standing outside the village clinic (a small room with very limited supplies). No one is there. We later found out that the doctor is on another island and the midwife not around.
Heidi is on the move, giving me and Dam instructions. The cuts are quite deep, one by his eyebrow and the other on his head. We cover the wounds with towels that were slowly turning red. The locals squeeze some plant juice over his head, and the bleeding stops. Me and Dam are frenetically looking for plasters and Heidi calms the boy.
More and more people gather, everyone wants to see, the room getting warmer and the noise accelerating. The boy is so anxious, he starts shaking his arms. "You'll be ok, you only need to see a doctor and get some stitches. Everything will be ok". No he's not worried about his own health. He's afraid his father is going to find out and get angry... Oh fathers...
We try to empty the room, fresh air and stillness is needed. We pray. The ladies are continuously yelling, actually making me anxious too. Finally the boat is ready and the ride is there. Heidi gives the instructions of how to care for the boy and of we send him with a big cloth covering his head. What awaits the boy is a three hour boat ride to see the doctor.
A couple of days later I find out the boy is fine. I hope his relationship with his father is too.
Apart from Heidi using her nursing skills (maybe even saving a life) we've shared in the church, visited and talked to people, made friends, done some construction work, swam and certainly got a lot of attention as not a lot of foreigners go there.
Sunday evening I volunteered to preach in the church. All day I was asking God on what? "Just remind them that I love them". That's it? Yes and that's what I feel one of our purposes of our trip there was. To tell them Carnaza is important, because they are important and God has not forgotten Carnaza. Fathers and mothers see a lot of their children grow up and leave, as well as many children see their older siblings move on. But God never left, He never forgott. Great and all mighty Creator, He who made everything out of nothing, loves Carnaza and His people.
