So, Mary Jane arrived safely to Borongan, thanks be to God! It was wonderful to see her here, and it is so wonderful to see how much she means to everyone here. Some people see her, smile, go in for a hug and burst into tears with joy that she came back. The children, the coworkers, the sisters, the scholars... they all love her so much and the love Mary Jane has for them is evident in her caring eyes and beautiful smile.
Each day, it seems, special things are planned for us to do. Today, Monday, we were going up north to a resort to spend two days resting and bonding with the sisters as they played host to sisters from a high school in Cebu who were administering an entrance exam to poor students in Eastern Samar for scholarships to their school. It was to be a relaxing, swim-filled, fun-filled couple of days... was to be. But, something happened on the way to the resort.
We took two cars there, one held the sisters from Cebu and Sisters Minerva and Ethel and was driven by Joey, one of our coworkers. I was in the other car with Sisters Clarissa, Aileen and Michelle and Mary Jane. We were laughing and telling stories, when about 2 hours into our journey we got a message... the other car hit a child. You can probably imagine our anxiety and worry over the circumstances of the event, and how the child was, how Joey was.
To make a long story short, our car went to the hospital where the girl was taken to see about her injuries while the other car was taken to the police station to file a police report and wait while an investigation into the accident was being done. Mary Jane and I waited at a nearby church, out of the way of the working sisters, worrying over the situation and doing some bonding ourselves.
Here is what happened...
---Joey was driving down a main road in a town called Taft when he passed a tricycle. He saw a little girl on the side of the road, but she was playing with some stones or something. All of the sudden, she darts out across the street and Joey is unable to avoid hitting her. However, instead of hitting her head on, which probably would have killed her, his reflexes were in tip-top shape and he quickly turned the wheel, slammed on the breaks and must have knocked her down with the corner of the car. She had abrasions on her face and needed a few stitches on her forehead, and a big bruise along her right side. It was a horrific experience for Joey, and he felt guilty and so bad for hitting her, but he was not found at fault at all as a result of the investigation, which is absolutely right. He will definitely need some time to recover from this, though.
Here are some amazing facts...
--- Sister Minerva swears she saw a young boy holding this little girl's hand, although she admits she only got a quick glance at the girl, and Joey only saw the girl, Lizell Jane.
---Later, when asked, the girl said she was playing on the roadside when someone told her to cross the road right now, although no one was near her, which is why she ran.
---Lizell, who is 6 years old, has 2 younger siblings and is being raised by her great grandmother. Her mother abandoned the family and her father sometimes sends them money from Manila, but it is not something the family can rely on. They are extremely poor and in need of help. When the great grandmother was called to the scene and saw the sisters, she begged Sister Minerva not to abandon them.
---Although the police and bystanders can be brutal to people who are in accidents such as this one, the police were very helpful and sympathetic to the situation. They said they could see Joey's sincerity and remorse and were impressed that Sisters Clarissa, Aileen and Michelle were already at the hospital taking care of and responsibility for the girl. The police were helpful and kind to the Oikos Sisters.
---Behind Joey's car was a shuttle bus heading north that had room to take the Cebu sisters to the northern towns for the tests, and with a single phone call, Sister Minerva made arrangements for the sisters to be taken to the other towns and accommodations for the night at a rectory.
---Sister Aileen knew the hospital supervisor where the little girl was and, upon hearing the story, the supervisor said all of the bills incurred at the hospital would be taken care of.
---Sister Clarissa had to find an ambulance to bring the girl to the Borongan hospital. When she asked someone at the church we waited at about the availability of a town ambulance, she did not get a favorable reply. However, an ambulance was readily available to transport the child, and Sister Aileen, a trained nurse, accompanied her and her great grandmother in the ambulance.
---While at the hospital attending to Lizell, the sisters met a mother whose 3 month old baby daughter had just died of a seizure. They took the time to comfort the mother and pray with her over the child. They were so compassionate and loving to this mother who was in so much grief.
So, we thought we were heading north to help out some sisters from Cebu and to take a little time for ourselves, but God had other plans. I truly believe this is a case of Divine Intervention. The sisters are so in tune with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I honestly believe He guided them today.
Here was a family on the verge of destitution, possibly worse, a great grandmother in serious need of assistance, and what I am absolutely convinced is an answer to a desperate prayer by God. Unfortunately, especially for this little girl and Joey, help came from a traumatic experience, but I can think of no other way Oikos would have encountered this family to help them.
Do you believe in angels? I do. I believe an angel moved this girl into action, an angel helped Joey react quickly to avoid seriously hurting her, and the Holy Spirit guided the Oikos Sisters to be in Taft at that exact moment and open their hearts to Lizell and her family.
My plans have once again been changed and something I was looking forward to was taken away, but in the face of all that happened today, as a bystander, I can only stand in awe of the power of God and the faith of the Oikos Sisters as they live every minute for God. More and more, I find myself letting go of the things concerning me. I am reminded of something John the Baptist said after encountering Christ, "He must increase; I must decrease." John 3:29. He is indeed increasing in me.
Please pray for Lizell, her family, Joey and his recovery, the mother who lost her baby today and for all of us living in the Oikos community. Thank you!! xxoo
