TRYING HER HAND AS AMBULANCE DRIVER

(This was written up for the Univ. of Nations Communications Team for a semi-regular posting about local outreach in our community.) 

YWAM staffer Kris Richards felt like a real missionary on the Big Island last week.  Within the Micronesian community, she has attended funerals and baby first-birthdays, Christmas banquets and Gospel Day celebrations.  Now she was the main transport to the ER.  Last Thursday Kris showed up with Brazilian buddy Andreia Deca to pick up kids from a local housing project in a Salvation Army van.  She was surprised that no kids were able to join them that day, and drove back to Salvation Army puzzled.  

                 (Andreia plays with some boys in the housing project)

When they pulled up, Joshua Bouley, husband of the youth pastor Tersey Matto Bouley, ran out of the building looking concerned.  “My wife just called. She’s at Kahalu’u [a different housing project] and is feeling ill.  There’s no van here.  Can you drive me to her?” Realizing the gravity of this situation--Tersy has a hole in her heart--Kris quickly complied.  

                     (Tersy reffing a game for the kids at Salvation Army.)

  

En route, Joshua spoke to his wife on the phone, who was having problems breathing and was quite weak.  Kris and Andreia prayed for Tersy on speaker phone. When they were ten minutes out in the heavy traffic, Tersy announced, “I don’t think I’m going to make it.”  Frantically, Kris and Joshua called 911, but the nearest ambulance was much further away. Kris realized she’d have to be the transportation.  As she pulled into her stomping grounds of Kahalu’u Housing (where she has tutored and mentored children and adults), dozens of children, parents, and grandparents stood out on their front lawns, concerned looks on their faces.  Kris signaled to Marmaline, a teen mom and long-time friend. “Pray!” she mouthed, holding her hands up in a praying sign.  Marmaline nodded.  Grandmothers called to their children to get out of the way as Kris quickly drove to the end of the lot.  

                                  (Marmaline and her son and friends)

The door to the Salvation Army bus was open, the large vehicle still in the middle of the parking lot.  Tersy was half sitting, half lying inside.  Teenager Mo'o Keju was trying to keep scared children back.  She held Tersy’s newborn baby while Joshua scooped his wife up in his arms and placed her into the newly arrived van.  Andreia jumped out to calm and entertain the 30 or so children.    

Kris maneuvered the van past the families and up to Keahou Urgent Care, where a doctor came running out.   Checking her blood pressure and oxygen levels, he said she was OK, but beyond their help as Tersy’s heart was under enormous pressure.  She’d have to get to the Kona Hospital in Captain Cook—about twenty miles away.  

Since the ambulance was still far away, Kris and Joshua strapped Tersy  and her infant in and sped away towards the hospital.  As Tersy struggled to breathe, Kris prayed aloud, willing the van to get there faster.  At one point, Tersy called for her husband, who climbed out of the front seat and cradled his wife in his arms while Kris navigated her way through the rush hour traffic.   

A half hour later, they arrived at the Kona Hospital, where a triage nurse bumped Tersy to the front and checked her vitals.  Kris tried to hide her surprise as one of the digital numbers approached 200.   

With her baby in her lap and her husband at her side, Tersy was in good hands.  Kris texted the lieutenants of Salvation Army, who were on their way and would pick up Andreia from the housing project.

Entering the parking lot, Kris was relieved to see Chemeni Matto, Tersy’s brother and a good friend.  He introduced Kris to their mother, a Chuukese grandma visiting from Oahu.  She was happy to be there to assist her daughter and the baby.  After taking a few kids home, Kris pulled into Salvation Army well after dark.  “You were our angel today,” said Lt. Richard Wang.  He hugged Kris and prayed over her.  They both thanked God for God’s speed and protection that day.