Hey everybody. Sorry it's been so long. We've now returned to Illinois after our time in the SPLICE program. This was a program focused on helping us to survive the stresses of working in a culture different from our home. I would tell you all about it, but to be honest a lot of it was overshadowed by the beginning of our last week there.
The beginning of our last week was supposed to be our time to look at grief and loss, two common things we will experience as we leave our families and friends for an extended amount of time. We had no idea how real our time focused on these things would be. On Sunday, about a week and a half ago, some of our friends in the SPLICE program were traveling to hear a speaker in Denver. Heather and I were to go with them but I got sick that Saturday night and couldn't go. On the drive up, the van was involved in a terrible accident. Two of our adult friends were killed instantly, Jessica (21 years old) and Karin (42 from South Africa). The other 4 in the van were taken to area hospitals. 1 of the 4 was a 17-month boy, one of the cutest little boys we have ever seen. We'd gotten to know him and his parents (also in the van) very well over the previous month. By 12:30 AM Monday, he had also died. His name was Isaac.
This really was my first time losing anyone close, not from old age. I struggled with guilt from feeling like it should have been us in the van, not Jessica and Karin, and anger about how Scott and Andrea have to deal with the loss of their beautiful boy, and joy about Jessica and Karin and Isaac being taken from the pain and sin of this world. What a paradox.
In the end, SPLICE was a time for us to learn how to grieve well in community. It was incredible how this group of people came together in sadness and joy, honored our friends who were killed, and prayed for our friends who have a very hard road ahead. We still lift them up to God in prayer.
Scott has now been discharged from the hospital. He stays in Denver to care for his wife, Andrea. She is still in critical condition but is showing improvement everyday. Em, the 6th person in the van, is doing incredible. She has moved out of ICU, and is now able to walk around some, talk, and even type with one hand. It really is a miracle how they have come through this.
We praise God for the hearts He has given His people - hearts that experience joy and grief and sadness and anger and hope all at the same time. We thank Gd for our new friends who we are closer than ever to because of our shared experience. We praise God for the lives of the 2 women who are now with Him. And we praise God for Isaac who brought so much joy to everyone around him during his 17 months here on earth.
We're back in IL now, trying to finish things up, including visas and budgets and goodbyes. Crazy to think we're only about a month out. We love you all!
Later guys,
Matt
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5 comments:
Wow, sorry you had to experience all of that :( I had seen a comment on your facebook wall about from your aunt Kathy, but had no clue it was that bad :( We'll be praying for the families.
We're pretty open for the next month, so let us know and we'll try our hardest to be wherever you are. :)
Definitly praying for your friends. thanks for sharing this.
What a hard thing to experience....my heart hurts. We had wondered why things had been so quiet. I'm praying for you and for your friends....and hoping to put our hands on you before you leave!
So sorry. I haven't had anyone close to me pass away, so I don't know how to respond... Maybe I should have been in your Grief and Loss training...?
Good to hear from you. I'm really glad to hear Em's doing well, hadn't heard much on her. I'm sure you're going through tons of surreal moments right now with leaving SPLICE family, all the transitions, etc. We'd love to catch up with you if you ever have a spare moment (Hannah and I are available most of the time. . . Derek - just Sundays) We really miss you! I finally updated our blog... it's such a bittersweet gift that life goes on as usual with our amazing baby while it's taken this wrenching turn for our friends. I haven't posted about this b/c I don't really know how. You did a good job. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Stacey
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