When the Nitty Gritty Hits Close to Home

While it is always a treat to talk with Trish for a blog post call, today’s topic was anything but treat-worthy. So let’s skip the small talk and get right to the nitty gritty.

Some of you may know that Ben is currently living about three to four hours from Gracias. For those who like to picture things geographically, he’s in the city of Comayagua. Recently, Ben shared some difficult and alarming news with the Sowers family.

Ben shared that he was on his way home from work when he was mugged by someone wielding a machete. The young man many of us still think of as “Bucket Boy”— fondly remembered for his childhood talent of posing for photos while sitting in a five-gallon bucket — was left with serious injuries. The miraculous news is that God protected Ben from death, and his injuries are not life-threatening. He did sustain a deep slash to his neck, which a doctor confirmed missed a major artery by the tiniest margin.

At present, the most pressing medical concern is a fracture to Ben’s left elbow, which will require surgery — possibly as soon as today, Wednesday, January 21. At this point, the family doesn’t know exactly what the surgery will involve. Complicating matters further, they are unable to drop everything and make the long trip to Comayagua at this time.

While there are still many unknowns, here is what is known:

• Ben reports that his pain is manageable, thanks to medication, as long as he does not move his left arm.
  
  

• He is being treated in a public hospital, which theoretically means free medical care. Because the hospital is located in a larger city, it is likely reasonably well-equipped. That said, patients are often responsible for certain costs, including paying for a blood donation if no friend or family member is able to donate.
  
  

• While Trish is unsure what the surgery will ultimately require, she believes it will not involve pins or other hardware. In the past, when such supplies were needed for a child in the sponsorship program, Sowers4Pastors has often been asked to purchase and deliver them to the hospital — something that has not happened yet in this case.
  
  

• Ben is currently on antibiotics, which is very reassuring given the nature of his injuries.
  
  

• Honduran hospitals rely heavily on patients’ families and friends to provide everyday necessities we might normally take for granted—items like socks, pillows, or even sheets. Ben’s girlfriend has been faithfully caring for him, including bringing him a phone so he can communicate with Allen and Trish.
  
  

• The family has also been in contact with a pastor friend in Comayagua, with the hope that he will be able to act as a go-between for them, in meeting Ben's needs. As of yesterday, however, the pastor had not been granted access to visit Ben, because he's not family.

Meanwhile, life and ministry continue at a full sprint. Trish is scheduled to leave on Friday for an extended visit to the States. The ministry is currently hosting the first of three back-to-back teams. Secia — who would normally handle many of the organizational details for these visits — is still recovering from gall bladder surgery. Add in ongoing vehicle repairs, and it’s clear this is a particularly full and demanding season.

Please pray for all of these moving pieces — but most especially, pray for Ben. Pray for a successful surgery, complete healing, peace, and protection. And pray that God would be glorified through this entire ordeal, even in the midst of circumstances no one would have chosen. - posted by Christi