Here I am, beginning my first September in PR and learning that God is Protector and God is good.
Probably many or most of you heard of the unique experience God brought into my life the last week of August, and so I want to thank you for your prayers. On Tuesday morning, Aug. 26, I was assaulted while waiting to take a bus to work. It was early and there was no one else around. I had been taking a later bus until it started arriving late and I was getting to work late. This was my third day taking the earlier bus. To make a long story short, a young man approached me and asked if I had a phone or money to make a phone call. I said no. He started to get upset, and I was getting scared. As I turned to see if the bus was coming so that I could escape, he hit (punched?) me on the right side of my face. (I didn't actually see what he hit me with.) The next thing I remember, I was on the ground, covering my eyes and screaming at the top of my lungs. I didn´t see the assaulter again. I assume he ran when I screamed. A Christian man who owned a business across the street came running out, gave me a towel for the bleeding, sat me on the bench, and called 9-1-1. I was able to call E (the missionary). She actually arrived first and drove me to the nearest hospital. The ambulance didn´t arrive, but the police did come to the hospital. As it turned out, I had cuts above my right eyebrow and to the side of my right eye, a very swollen and red eye, and fractures under my right eye and on my cheekbone. However, I am very thankful because it could have been much, much worse. God protected me a lot. This Monday (Sep. 1), after the swelling in my eye went down, I had surgery to repair the fractures. I now have three metal plates and screws in my face (in the bone under the skin)--a topic which always leads to funny conversations about metal detectors, magnets and x-ray vision.
Anyway, I have been able to learn a lot and to see many blessings through this experience. Obviously, I am very thankful for God's protection and will definitely be more careful in the future. Other blessings have been...
...my aunt (who is Puerto Rican). She had just arrived on the island the day before the assault. God makes no mistakes in timing. She stayed with me for three days in the hospital.
...my amazing coworkers. They have donated over 90 hours of vacation time so that I could keep my pay while recovering. Several of them are also volunteering rides to work.
...my mom. She was able to fly down from the States to be with me through the surgery and immediate recovery. I have enjoyed spending time and laughing with her.
...the universal body of Christ. Every day I hear of someone else who was praying for me. Thank you.
...the local body of Christ in PR. So many people from church came and visited and encouraged me with prayer and from God's word.
...E. She has been wonderful--taking time to visit with my mom and me in the hospital, to help us with transportation and hospital paperwork and to be of spiritual encouragement.
...my eye. It suffered no permanent damage although it may be more sensitive to light from now on.
...a good recovery. The doctors say that everything is going well, and I will probably have minimal to no scarring once everything heals.
As for plans, it is my desire to stay in PR, and I'm sure that over the next few weeks and months there will be decisions to make regarding living and transportation arrangements (things that everyone considers while beginning adult life). I am looking forward to working with kids' club at church and possibly helping to organize a cantata for Christmas. (That would be a big challenge, but it would be fun, and people are interested.) I will also need to finish filing a police report and have some follow-up appointments for my eye (to make sure that there is no damage.) Pray also that I would draw closer to the Lord. Being in the hospital made me realize how precious the Bible is when I didn't have it for a couple of days and how many more verses I wish I had memorized.
Thank you again for your prayers.
R
