One of our Iris guys died last week in a car accident. He graduated secondary school last year and went on to train as a driver/mechanic at a vocational training college in town. He was about 24. I think I'm still in shock over his death. It doesn't feel real, partly because I wasn't in Sudan on the compound when it happened. My first reaction was anger, at the government, for not caring about its people and building good roads and financing health care. South Sudan, a territory the size of France, has only 50 miles of paved roads. Yei Hospital has cats wandering around in the operating rooms. I know car accidents and deaths happen even where there are decent roads and proper medical facilities, but not as frequently. His body was picked up by our staff and transported to his family's village for the funeral. I can't imagine having been there for that.
We were never meant to die, to see people we love die, and endure that grief. This was never God's original design when He created man. I received an email from one of our guys out there updating me on what happened and how the kids were doing. He said everyone was really sad, but his last statement brought joy to my heart - "we know that to live is Christ, and to die is gain." I am continually amazed and challenged by the faith of the people there, that even right in the midst of such a painful, incomprehensible experience, they don't doubt the Lord and His goodness. It doesn't matter what happens in the world around them. He is good; they are sure of it.
I look to the day when He returns, makes all things new, the day when there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain.
Arikangelo, we miss you...but we know where you are, and we will see you one day. soon.
