A first in Mali

Yesterday I had a first here. My first accident. Everyone always says it isn't if you have an accident but when. Yesterday was my when. I was trying to get through the market which is always crowded. There was a van parked on the side of the road which croweded the space even more. The first thing I saw was a man yelling at a boy on a water cart (it's like a wagon with a barrel of water on it). Next thing I know I hear a terrible sound. I get out thinking that it is just a bad scratch. Nope, the kid had pulled off the entire piece above the wheel as well as the mud flap. It also broke the bumper. The kid started leaving but I yelled out to him to stop. I was kind of in shock when I saw parts of the car on the road. Thankfully, a man I knew who works at the cotton factory was passing through so he stopped and talked with me. Near the end another man from the hospital stopped. I called Brett and seeing that it was impossible for an 8 year old kid to pay for the car, we just let him go. The best I can figure is that as he was passing me he lost control of his donkey and it just went too close to my car.

I've been reading this book "Calm My Anxious Heart" (yes, I've actually read a second book in the last few months! I'm trying to better myself and am reading things on areas that I am lacking). Anyway, so the chapter I had just read the day before was "what ifs" and "If only" and how these are not beneficial. Often we worry about many what ifs and they never even happen. The If only's just cause pointless frustration. Rather, we should trust this was God's will and His plan for our good. As soon as I got in the car, I immediately thought, "If only I had left a minute later" then I realized this was what the book was about. I needed to trust it was for my benefit, for my teaching. To be honest, the things that bothered me the most was the money it would cost to fix it and my pride of having to drive around with a messed up car (I know this is absolutely ridiculous, like anyone here would care my car was messed up- it would just blend in more!). So I tried to be thankful. Thankful no one was hurt. Just the car. Every single Malian who heard about it, asked me if there was anyone hurt. It really hit me how significant this is. People have accidents every single day and people get hurt and die. So I should have never cared about the silly car. I found out that our mechanic in town could fix our car so he actually did it today! So it's all fixed aside from the scratches and need for paint. I thought all the parts would have to be replaced, which would have been a ton of money, but praise the Lord it could be fixed. I'm glad to have my first accident behind me. It was very minor, no injuries, easily correctable (only $40 bucks!) and the best part- it wasn't MY fault! :)