hi friends,
I’m not sure how to begin this….
This past Wednesday, as I was in the middle of explaining a project to my kiddos, I heard the neighboring EK class return from P.E. Since our P.E. classes are back-to-back, I quickly looked up at the clock.
10:40 a.m.
Huh, that’s interesting….they’re back 20 minutes early. I thought to myself. They must have been really bad for Teacher Luke. I chuckled. This class has a reputation of being a little crazy in PE.
But a few seconds later, I got some news broke my heart.
My TA solemnly stepped into my classroom and whispered to me some horrible news.
There had been an accident.
Teacher Luke’s 7-month old baby had choked on a small piece of plastic. His wife had found the baby not breathing and rushed from their apartment across the street to get Luke at school. She frantically interrupted his EK PE class. Luke ran out of class and retrieved their baby from the apartment. He stopped a civilian car, hopped in the passenger seat, and yelled, “Tongren, Tongren, Tongren!” the name of our closest hospital.
When he arrived at the hospital, baby Tiana was not breathing and had no heartbeat. She was revived and her heart started beating again. However, she still was unable to breathe on her own.
She stayed in this local hospital for the majority of the day. She needed to be transferred to a better hospital, but an ambulance supplied with a breathing machine could not be found.
My boss - who is amazing - helped by proceeding to call every hospital in our city in search of an ambulance, but to no avail. Finally, she asked our parents for help (having connections/money/power or “guanxi” is super valuable here in China). The parent of one of students (named Miracle!) had a friend who worked as the director of the best children’s hospital in China. This director helped supply an ambulance and the best doctors for Tiana.
On late Wednesday evening, Tiana finally arrived at the Children’s hospital. She was admitted to the NICU where she has been receiving treatment ever since.
I can’t begin to explain how this accident has affected the community here. With only a handful of foreign families living and working at my school, it is an understatement to say that this tragedy has hit close to home.
Thankfully, Luke and his wife are believers. It has been amazing to see their faith stand firm in the midst of such a trial. Luke and his wife are trusting in God’s goodness. As Luke’s wife wrote to our Ladies’s Study on Skype, “We are praying for a miracle for Tiana and for all the kids that are in critical condition with her. We want all the people there and the parents to belive in Jesus.” Through their time waiting for Tiana in the NICU, Luke and Davi have been able to share and pray with other parents whose children are in intensive care.
Tiana’s condition has not really worsened or improved since being admitted to the NICU. She is still breathing through a respirator. She has still not shown signs of brain activity. She is in desperate need of a miracle.
On Friday, Luke and Davi hosted a prayer time at their home. Friends, casual acquantencices, and even strangers gathered to pray for their baby. As we offered up prayers in four different languages, I was just reminded of the hope we have in Jesus. With Him, there is the promise that all things work together for good.
On Saturday, we joined Luke and Davi to pray in the hospital waiting room. Considering this is the best hospital in China, I was not impressed. Although I’m certain the doctors and the care is wonderful, it was not a very personable place.
In fact, it seemed rather hopeless.
The waiting room had four chairs in a corner. No receptionist. No windows. No air conditioning. It is extremely hot and stuffy. Usually the parents are unable to see their baby at all once he or she is admitted to the NICU. They will be called back to meet with a doctor for a few minutes, then requested to return to the waiting room. (Thankfully, Luke and Davi are able to see Tiana for five minutes everyday). The fact that these Chinese parents may never see their child again once they are admitted, just broke my heart. And it just breeds hopelessness.
In the waiting room, as we prayed for Tiana and the families around us, I was just once again reminded of the hope we have in Jesus. The reaction of Luke and Davi to this tragedy stood in sharp contrast to that of other families around us.
Luke and Davi have hope - because they have Jesus.
In HIM, there is hope for the hopeless.
Needless to say, this past week has been hard. And emotionally exhausting.
But there is HOPE.
There is hope for miracle. There is hope for life….yes, physically with Tiana. But also, hope for spiritual life in all those that this has affected.
“How do you pray?” My TA asked me.
“If Tiana lives, I will believe in God.” My Chinese Teacher confessed to me.
“Will you lead the EK in prayer?” My boss requested of me.
"Ek-2 friends, let's pray for Teacher Luke's sick baby," I told my class.
It has been amazing to see how this tragedy has woken us up. It has propelled to church to take action and use the gifts we’ve been given. We’ve done our best to supply meals, childcare for their two older boys, and most importantly, prayer. Its compelled us to wake up and remember that life is short….eternity is eternal. It has granted open doors to talk with our coworkers about eternity.
And personally, it has awakened me to the hope (and truth!) that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Friends, will you please join my in asking Him to use this tragedy to draw people unto Himself and give them new life in Him? And of course, would you please be praying for this family and the healing of baby Tiana? She needs a miracle….and we serve the God of miracles!
Thank you so much, friends.
ps. Also, if you think of it this week, I’d also covet some prayers for my class. We’re embracing Easter this week and striving to discover the true meaning of Easter. :)
