IN THE EMERGENCY room at St. Francis Hospital of Nairobi, Jim laid on the softest bed he had felt for almost two weeks. He was sitting up eating with one hand and holding onto his wife’s hand with the other. He had been examined, cleaned up, and was eating as if he hadn’t for weeks. In fact, he hadn’t. Now, they were waiting for the doctor’s return with Jim’s test results.
Jim still couldn’t believe Shelly sat next to him. He had torn Mombasa apart looking for her, and here she was, beside him, safe and well, except for her broken arm and the damage to her head, of course. He couldn’t erase the smile on his face. He held her hand and there wasn’t any way, short of death that he was going to let go.
In turn, Shelly’s chair was tucked as close to his bed as it could get. She held onto him just as firmly. He’s really here! He’s alive and well, breathing on this good Earth by God’s grace and mercy, she thought with tears in her eyes. Thank you Lord, Thank you with all of my heart.
Jonathan joined them a short time later, after his examination and treatment was complete. He gently sat at the foot of Jim’s bed. It was wonderful to be clean, fed and safe for a while. Shelly could see that both men had been through a lot, and she was dying to find out what had happened to them, but Jim insisted on her story first.
She began her story when she had left Jim to find her cross. When Shelly got to the part where she encountered Mattie, Jonathan, Mattie’s brother broke in.
“Where is she? Is she all right?” he asked.
“The last time I saw her, she was at the Enguli Compound alive, but hurt very badly. I’m not sure what has happened since I left five days ago. The war was very close by then,” she answered sadly.
“Be patient Jon,” Jim requested. “Let her tell it all, we’ll find out more that way.”
Jonathan relented. The two men sat there as she continued her epic tale. She watched her husband’s face change from dread, fear, excitement, and wonder as she related all that had happened to her. When she told them about the attack on the Volvo, Jonathan exclaimed in fear for his sister.
“I’m sorry Jonathan, I thought she was dead! I really did… I’m so glad she’s still alive, at least she was when I was rushed out of the compound almost a week ago,” she said sadly. “Please believe me, I wish I could have stayed or at least said goodbye, but I had the children with me,” she explained.
“Children, what children?” asked Jim in surprise.
“I haven’t gotten to that part yet,” she said with a smile of affection for the man she loved.
“Sorry,” Jim said eagerly, waiting for her to continue.
“Go on,” requested Jonathan with a sadness in his eyes.
On she went with her story, telling them of her experience in the bush and how she felt God had taken care of her and gently directed her. When she came to the part in the tale about the Madison farm, she could see dismay on their faces as she told them of the death she had found there. She watched a new curiosity on Jim’s face when she described Tom and Faith.
He sat there, watching his wife’s expressions showing deep affection for the children as the story unfolded. He was intrigued by her description of Tom and his little sister Faith, their bravery, and stoic personalities, but most of all their faith in God. They must have had wonderful parents and the loss must be hard for them to bear. His heart went out to them, even before he had met them.
As she finished her story, the doctor came in. The test results indicated that both men were suffering from dehydration, malnutrition and exhaustion. Good rest and food would put them right in no time. The doctor said that Jim’s neck had been badly bruised, but that his x-rays and tests didn’t show any permanent damage. Jim’s voice should return to normal in a week or so. Then the doctor said the most wonderful words, “You both are free to leave as soon as the paperwork is finished.”
Shelly looked out into the hall. She could see that there remained a great number of patients needing more help than her dear husband and friend. It was time to go. Her heart skipped a beat with the thought that they could leave now, if only Faith’s papers were ready. She yearned to go home. She wanted to get away from the death and destruction raging in this country. She wanted her own home, and to be there with her husband, now that he was found.
Soon, all three were walking out of the hospital together. The American Embassy was sending someone over to pick up the Ferguson’s. Jim turned to Jonathan and asked, “What are you going to do now? Do you want to come with us to the embassy?”
“No, I’m going to find my way to Mattie. I have to find her,” he said firmly.
Jim knew him too well to talk him out it… of not going back into the battlefields. He just said, “I know I’ve thanked you for risking your life to save mine several times, but I want you to know that if there is ever anything I can do, please contact me. I want to help, if I can. I know I speak for Shelly and myself when I say that we both pray with all of our hearts that you find Mattie safe and well. We hope all of your family will survive this war, and that it will be over soon.”
Jonathan gave a sincere smile and reached out his hand to shake Jim’s. As they started to shake hands, Jim pulled him close and gave him a big hug. Tears glittered in their eyes and they seemed to have a hard time speaking.
So much must have occurred between these two men in their flight from Mombasa, thought Shelly.
Jonathan couldn’t say anything more and silently turned away to walk down the street.
Jim called after him, “Write, when you can. Let us know how you are.”
Jonathan turned, nodding his head in agreement and waved goodbye.
Jim placed his arm around his wife as they watched Jonathan walk among the people on the sidewalk. At the corner he turned once more, placed his hand high in the air in a final farewell. Both Jim and Shelly waved back in turn. Then Jonathan turned and walked out of their lives, hopefully not forever, but war is such an uncertain thing.
A vehicle from the embassy pulled up to the curb, in front of the hospital. It quickly transported them back to the protection of the American Marines. At the gate, Sergeant Jefferson told them that Mrs. Bruna wanted to see them in her office right away. Shelly and Jim walked through the large, cavernous lobby, hand-in-hand, through the double doors and into the office of Mrs. Bruna.
“Please sit down.” she offered as she indicated the chairs in front of her desk. “How are you feeling, now Mr. Ferguson? she inquired.
“Much better, thank you.” he replied
“Would you mind giving me a statement on your ordeal in Mombasa and how you got here?”
Jim looked guarded and turned to Shelly, “Would you mind waiting outside for a while?”
Shelly was shocked by his lack of openness. She was never aware, at any time in their relationship, that he had kept anything from her, but this time she knew he was going to.
With a sensation of concern for him, she said, “I’ll go and find the children. We’ll wait for you in our room. Mrs. Bruna can tell you how to get there.”
They hugged and she said, “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Jim said with feeling, but the guarded look in his eyes remained. It was time to go.
Shelly turned with sadness in her heart, knowing that something horrible must have happened to him, something that he couldn’t or wouldn’t share. With a sigh, and a prayer for both of them she went to find Tom and Faith.
Two hours later, there was a knock on the door of the little room. Shelly opened it to find Jim standing there. “Are you all right?” she asked him, as he took her in his arms and hugged her again.
“I’m fine now,” he answered with feeling.
In the years to come, she never knew the details of what had happened to him. He just told her that Jonathan had recognized him from the night before, at the restaurant, and had risked his life to get him away from the fighting. They had stayed in Mombasa for days, trying to find her. Eventually Jim had to concede to Jonathan’s opinion that she was
not on the island and that the American Embassy was the best place to get help in finding her. Their ordeal was long and hard fought, with hunger, death and misery a large part of their tale. He never would tell her how he got injured. He would make light of the episode and just say, “God brought us back together for a reason, let’s just go on from there.” And so they did.
Isn’t it funny how things change so quickly at times. Like the time Shelly and the children were whisked away from the clinic to Nairobi. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason for it, just that faith tells us to believe in His timing and provision. As soon as Jim arrived in the room, with no time to meet the children, Mrs. Bruna was at their door.
“I’m sorry to rush you, but the final document has just come in. You need to get to the airport as quickly as you can. The evacuation could end at any time, now. There was a terrorist attack on the airport this morning. Here are your passports and the children’s papers. Corporal Stoughton is going to drive you to the military evacuation area. Please grab all your things as quickly as you can,” she said in a rush. “We need to get you there as soon as possible.”
Shelly had been ready for days, but there were a few things here and there that were out and in use, like toothpaste, brushes and such, along with the new books she had bought the children. She quickly scanned the little room as Tom swept them into the backpack and the old white bag they had brought from his home. Jim stood stunned, not having anything but the cloths on his back. He took the documents from Mrs. Bruna.
Tom was ready in just a few seconds, holding the bag over his shoulder.
Jim turned, looked down at Tom and asked gently, “May I take that for you?”
Tom stood still for a second and shook his head back and forth, not wanting to let go of his things.
Jim smiled in understanding and said, “Okay, just let me know if you need any help.”
Tom smiled a grateful smile and turned to assist his sister.
Faith wanted to be held by Shelly. “Here, take this,” she asked her husband. Jim took the backpack as Shelly knelt down and pulled the little four-year-old up onto her side, holding the child with one arm.
“I can take her,” Jim offered his assistance.
“Do you want to let my husband hold you,” she asked the little girl.
Faith shook her head in an emphatic no.
“I’ll be alright,” she told him. “Maybe later, when the children get to know you better.”
Jim seemed to understand. He was so ready to leave this country and the sadness that was everywhere.
The Ferguson’s with their small charges left the shelter of the embassy. The sergeant drove them through the city and onto the grounds of the international airport. A large crowd of refugees trying the leave the country inundated the area. The military jeep drove through them to a military checkpoint just inside a fenced off area of the airport. Papers were examined and the small family was allowed to pass. They stood in line, with other nationals boarding one of the last flights out of war-torn Kenya.
Soon, the Ferguson’s were seated in a row, near the wing. Jim sat next to the window, Shelly next to him, with Faith by her side. Tom sat across the aisle. They quickly fastened their seatbelts as the engines came to life. As soon the transport was full, the door shut with a thud. With that sound the excitement grew. They were leaving.
The engines whined, the transport backed away from the terminal, turned and taxied to the runway. As the plane readied itself, the military transport stood its ground as the engines roared, readying itself for takeoff. Then, slowly at first with the engines screaming, it rolled down the runway. Faster and faster it sped until it rose in the thrill of flight into the evening sky.
Jim could see the land diminishing out the window, as the flight left the war torn, exotic land of Africa.
When the seatbelt sign went off, Faith climbed into Shelly’s lap as she wrapped her arm around the child. Tom came over to sit next to her and she gave him a warm smile. Jim and Shelly talked softly together, relieved to be going home. The children drifted off to sleep as the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon.
This transport was headed directly to the states. They would be landing on American soil for which she had a new found appreciation. How different this flight home was compared to the flights they had taken to Africa. Coming here had been a dream vacation which had turned into an experience of fear and death. The return flight was one of rescue and bound toward the comfort of home.
Home, the thought brought tears to her eyes. Yet her home with God meant more, now. She could envision heaven and being by his side someday. She would always be grateful she had found a deeper walk with Him, even amidst the anguish and hardships.
Then she thought about the wonderful experiences before the war, the beautiful country of Africa with its clear blue waters and white beaches, of the beautiful hotel and the adventure of discovery in the old city. She thought of Mattie and all the others that she had met and learned to care about. Then she looked at the children, Thomas and Faith. She would never regret finding them.
“I want to apologize to you for this trip. It certainly didn’t turn out like I had envisioned,” Jim expressed his regret to her.
“Don’t be sorry, Jim. This could have happened anywhere, anytime, even at home. Our world is a sad and broken one. It doesn’t have to be like this, but it is. The right kind of love, real love, is lacking in our world. Do you know what I mean?” she asked.
Jim sat for a second or two and then said, “While we were struggling to survive, Jonathan told me something that touched me deeply. He said that it was easy to hate, but hard to love, to love like God does. He said that when Jesus walked this Earth, he condemned the religious people because they didn’t have the “love of God” in their hearts. He asked me if I had that love in my heart. I couldn’t tell him that I did. I knew I had love for you and those I care for, but I was surprised to realize that I wasn’t allowing God’s love to exist. Is that what you’re talking about?” he asked.
“Yes.” she answered. “When I was at the Enguli Compound, I learned that we have a choice in this world, to follow our Lord Jesus down the narrow path to God, living by his principles and doing good in this world as long as we are here, or doing our own thing, without God. I want to follow that narrow path, Jim. I really do. I want to love, if I can, as much as I can, by His grace.”
“So do I. I’m glad we can do it together,” he said with a large, grateful smile to his wife.
Shelly looked at the precious people in her life: the children sleeping sweetly and peacefully nearby, her best friend next to her. She laid her head on Jim’s shoulder and looked out his window, watching the orange and pink clouds float by.
We’re safe for now. Thank you Lord so much for all you have done for us. I wish we could keep Tom and Faith. I have grown to love them so much. But, I know their grandmother must love them too. If only we could be a family together somehow, Lord. It feels so right.
Shelly sighed and felt a peace about His will in their lives.
One day at a time. One step after another down that narrow path to you Lord, I come, she vowed.
The military transport flew on toward home, into the setting sun. God’s provision awaited them. Indeed, it waits for us all, if we look for Him down that narrow path.
Epilogue
A Tale Of Choice Page 22
