A Much Needed Update!

I’m sorry for not update here lately.  Last time I did it was to get you caught up on our stateside.  In January we came back to Zambia.  Our trip from Lusaka to Mbala turned out to not be a good one.  I really didn’t want to write about what happened and so I have been ignoring the blog. 

On that trip, on the last leg  between Kasama and Mbala we had an accident.  We were not speeding.  I just wanted to state that up front.  We were loaded down, as we just came back from the states (18 suitcases).  Here in Africa people are always walking all over the roads.  We were in the middle of the road, already slowing down, passing people walking on our side of the road.  A lady with a baby on her back, pushing a bicycle walked out onto the road.  She never looked to see if anyone was coming.  Steve got on the brakes and the horn.  He got back onto our side of the road, as she had entered the other side of the road. 

When he beeped the horn, a little boy beside her took off running the whole way across the road.  She grabbed at him, as we saw him jerk back, but she didn’t get a good hold.  We slammed the brakes and swerved off of the road.  Thank the Lord no one was on that part of the road!  The boy hit his head on the side of our bull bar.

Steve got out to check on the situation.  We in the car started moving all the stuff we could from the middle seat to the back.  We took the boy, lady and the man that picked up the boy to the local clinic and then to the hospital in Kasama. 

We then went to the police to report the incident.  We took the policeman to the hospital to see the boy.  The police let us drive the rest of the way home, but told Steve he had to report back tomorrow morning at 8AM.  The Uncle stayed with the boy.  We dropped the lady off at the accident site.  The police gave Steve chalk to mark his skid marks in case it rained that night and washed them away. 

When we pulled up to our gate we got a call from the Uncle telling us the boy had died.  The first part was emotional enough.  Now a whole new set of emotions came over us.  It took a lot of praying for us to fall asleep that night.  Many phone calls were made and people were praying for us all over the world through our organization.  We thank you for all those prayers.  We know that is what kept us going.

On Tuesday morning Steve was in Kasama at the police station by 8 AM.  Our team leader, Blake,  left his home at 2AM to arrive in Kasama by 8AM to be with Steve.  The police went out to the accident site and spoke to witnesses of the accident.  They confiscated the vehicle and trailer.  Blake brought Steve back home that night.

On Wednesday they again were in Kasama by 8AM.  Blake stayed with Steve until about noon.  He had to get back home, as he had family members from the states visiting and they needed to get to Lusaka to catch their flight home.  Our company has member care people stationed around the world.  Our member care couple flew to Lusaka on Tuesday.  They tried to fly to Kasama on Wednesday, but the weather did cooperate for them.  The police gave Steve our vehicle back and so he drove back home himself.

On Thursday, Steve again was in Kasama.  Member care didn’t fly in until the afternoon.  They spent the morning waiting for the fog to lift in Lusaka.  Steve was able to meet the plane.  They dropped the pilot off at Thorn Tree Lodge and then Steve drove Don and Jane (member care couple) along with our leader over Zambia up to our place in Mbala.  It was nice to be able to speak with them.  They were able to tell us what we might expect emotion wise in the future.

On Friday, back to Kasama.  Steve took our guests to the airport and they flew home.  The police said they would call when they knew anything.  The case went to an attorney and he would decide if it needed to go to court.

One day the next week Steve went to Kasama to pay the workers at the house our mission owns there.  He also had to pay their retirement money to the NAPSA office there.  He stopped at the police station but found out nothing new.

I think we waited three or four weeks before the policeman called and asked Steve to be in Kasama on a certain day.  Not sure what day of the week it was any more.  I do know he gave us a few days notice.  Steve asked if he should bring his lawyer- you can.  He also asked if he should cancel his afternoon appointments – yes.

Steve went to Kasama the day before.  Arrangements for lodging needed to be made for the lawyer and pilot.  Also, he wanted to make sure he was there on time.  Anything could happen on the way there and being late would not look good.

They charged Steve with: causing death by dangerous driving.  A Police Bond or Recognizance letter was filed out and Steve and Blake signed it.  Basically, if Steve doesn’t appear when and where he is asked to appear, He and Blake will be fined.  Then they let him go home.

He appeared before the Magistrate in Kasama in April, May, and June.  These court dates were just to prove that Steve was still here while they waited on papers from the High Court stating they would hear the case.  In June those papers came.  So he doesn’t have to appear before the Magistrate anymore, as the case is out of his hands and in the High Courts hands. 

We were told Steve would be called when there is a date to appear before the High Court.  They only meet in Kasama every other month.  We have been in touch with our lawyer and the prosecutor, but no date has been set yet.  Please keep us and this case in your prayers.