From Kriek Gerber, "Another heart breaking day for us in Swaziland. A little girl from Mangwaneni carepoint and her dad was hit by a car and passed away. The dad was walking the little girl and a sibling to the carepoint when they were hit by a speeding car. The sibling is still alive, but we don't know her condition at this stage. Heading down to the carepoint soon ... will keep you updated. Please keep this family, the ladies cooking at this carepoint, and our staff in your prayers today."
Mangwaneni carepoint is at the dump, very near the McAdams' home, where I'll be in just a few weeks. Here is a blog entry by a teacher of the child killed. It is beautiful in its perspective, though gut-wrenching to imagine the pain these children witness so often. You can read more here.
This is Helen.
Today when I arrived to the preschool there were two dead bodies on the road to the entrance. I wish I wouldn’t have looked but I saw the blood splattered all over the road. This was one of my students and her father. Although at first sight I was not aware.
Apparently her father walked his daughter Helen to school everyday, which is rare in Swaziland, normally the kids are on their own. I arrived at the pre school not knowing who it was, but when I saw Treasure's face I knew it was bad news. We were informed incorrectly and thought it was Helen's older sister who was dead. I was doing my best to stay strong. I went to gather the students who were still by the road looking at their dead friends body. When I walked back into the school area, there was a man telling the teachers that it was their student who was killed. This student had been in my class since February. Her and her father died from being hit by a car, but there is a 6month old baby in the currently in the hospital.
Today I heard the screams of the mother, as she saw her husband and daughter lying in the road. I have never and hope to never hear that much pain in someones voice. I held one of the teachers who was crying over Helen’s death. And as I walked away from some of the students to break down and cry myself, some still followed me. They hugged me and cried with me as I told them their classmate and friend was dead.
I am doing my best to find comfort in the fact that she is with God. But as I am sitting here thinking about it, does God have a plan for these children who may not fully understand giving their lives to him. Is she saved. I wish I had more faith right now, and I wish I knew something comforting to say to those around me. But i guess that is probably how everyone feels in this situation.
Keep this family in your prayers and especially the baby who is in the hospital. Pray for the teachers and students who had to witness the loss of their friend. And pray for the staff here working to help within this situation.
Today when I arrived to the preschool there were two dead bodies on the road to the entrance. I wish I wouldn’t have looked but I saw the blood splattered all over the road. This was one of my students and her father. Although at first sight I was not aware.
Apparently her father walked his daughter Helen to school everyday, which is rare in Swaziland, normally the kids are on their own. I arrived at the pre school not knowing who it was, but when I saw Treasure's face I knew it was bad news. We were informed incorrectly and thought it was Helen's older sister who was dead. I was doing my best to stay strong. I went to gather the students who were still by the road looking at their dead friends body. When I walked back into the school area, there was a man telling the teachers that it was their student who was killed. This student had been in my class since February. Her and her father died from being hit by a car, but there is a 6month old baby in the currently in the hospital.
Today I heard the screams of the mother, as she saw her husband and daughter lying in the road. I have never and hope to never hear that much pain in someones voice. I held one of the teachers who was crying over Helen’s death. And as I walked away from some of the students to break down and cry myself, some still followed me. They hugged me and cried with me as I told them their classmate and friend was dead.
I am doing my best to find comfort in the fact that she is with God. But as I am sitting here thinking about it, does God have a plan for these children who may not fully understand giving their lives to him. Is she saved. I wish I had more faith right now, and I wish I knew something comforting to say to those around me. But i guess that is probably how everyone feels in this situation.
Keep this family in your prayers and especially the baby who is in the hospital. Pray for the teachers and students who had to witness the loss of their friend. And pray for the staff here working to help within this situation.
Please pray for the McAdams, Clyburns, and Gerber families as they minister to those who are hurting, and grieve these losses themselves.
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