Yesterday, however, we we're shaken back to the abnormalities of third world life.
Just down the street, in front of Blanca and Raphael's salchipapas (hot dog/french fry) shop, viewing distance from our front porch, at 10:15 in the morning, while Jon and I were shopping for a guest room bed...
...a murder took place.
The shock you feel reading this can only be multiplied by 100 to equate what Jon and I experienced when we read the news from Charlie's text message...
..."Bro, flippin gnarly. Some guy just got shot 3 times in the head outside of the bakery on the corner. He's dead, so they covered him in newspaper."
Supposedly, what we've learned from the radio, is that the guy had 3 unpaid debts (equals 3 shots). The police have caught the culprit, who after shooting the guy in broad daylight, on a bustling street corner in our barrio, went RUNNING down the street to "get away". No car. No gang. No place to hide.
After the man lay dying on the sidewalk for minutes, the ambulance arrived. Upon them finding him dead, they covered him in newspaper and drove away. Soon after, the coroner showed up with the police and news cameras to record the event. An hour and a half later, the body was finally removed.
All the while, the bakery 20 feet away continued to do business, the woman selling watermelon on the corner continued to yell, "Sandia. Vientecinco Centavos..." The neighborhood children continued to run through the streets without ANY adult supervision...
This is life in Barrio San Roque.
Jon and I walked home from dinner last night. Two blocks from our house, a man stopped us and said..."Ten cuidado. Este barrio es muy peligroso." (Be careful. This neighborhood is very dangerous.) To which we responded..."Nos sabemos. Vivimos agui." (We know. We live here.)
Thank you God, that the murderer is behind bars for at least the next 30 days (the minimum for ANY offense here...even a traffic citation) and that everyone we know is safe.
We're still here and we're not going any where quite yet. We're safe and know many people in the community. We know that God is protecting us in each day, yet we pray for continued safety and wise eyes and ears as we continue to love on these people and this place.
As our community processes through this devastation, as we learn to love these people and this place in the midst of our fears, as these men's families grieve their losses, I pray this...
...a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi...
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek...
To be consoled, as to console.
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
4 comments:
Wow, that is really scary! I cannot even begin to imagine how this experience is shaping and forming your lives, marriage, worldview, faith, etc. Thanks for St. Francis' prayer. It is one of my favorites and only gets bigger and better as we grow with it. Peace, dear friends! -Gitch
Thank God you guys are ok! We're praying for you and your safety.
You are safe in the arms of Jesus and when we pray for you we see you there. We are so blessed by your service in the Kingdom. We miss you terribly.
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