You might be surprised to know that missionaries have nightmares. Although I am not naturally a fearful person, I am surprised at how often I am tempted to dwell on the possibilities. One of the most dreaded is to hit someone while driving. The penalty for death of a pedestrian is life in prison. For missionaries, it usually means prison time, paying a huge fine, buckling under immense stress and leaving the field.
It is surprising how many missionaries in Ethiopia have either seen a tragic accident or been involved in one. In fact, I don't know anyone who hasn't. As roads improve in Ethiopia, not only does the speed increase but so do the accidents. A driver must avoid potholes, buckled asphalt, herds of cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, and large numbers of villagers walking to the market.
Two basic perspectives must be understood and embraced from the start. 1) Pedestrians will consent to share the road with motorists. 2) In the case of an accident, the wealthier party pays.
Eight months ago, there was a hit and run about 1km from our house. We were the nearest vehicle able to transport the broken body of an elderly woman to the nearest hospital 3 hours away. She had become confused at the sound of the vehicle approaching from behind her and run across the road. The driver didn't have a chance and so thinking the woman was dead, he kept going.
A month later, I got the dreaded phone call.
“I have been in an accident but I am fine.”
A well known reckless motorcycle driver without a license emerged from a forest onto the main road at full speed. Rolf, braking hard, nearly came to a complete stop as they collided but it was still enough of an impact to break the passenger's ankle. This passenger was a Gumuz from an enemy clan to the village that we live in. In the past, Gumuz killed for less than this.
Rolf arranged for the transportation of the injured man to a hospital several hours away and was then placed in police custody. For the next seven hours he sat in the presence of police who had no idea what to do with him. Everyone was confident of Rolf's innocence but there was the unspoken rule. He was the wealthier party.
He was finally released and a guard was placed outside our home for twenty-four hours though we weren't sure whether it was for our safety or to ensure Rolf didn't escape.
In the coming weeks we paid for all the medical bills, and once the bone was healed the Dibatie court case was put in place. It was a mix of traditional Gumuz trial and Ethiopian trial. Gumuz judge in their own fashion and there was no choice but to do it their way.
Each person brings an elder who will speak on their behalf and agree on the judgement. Rolf didn't have a chance. Even his Gumuz elder was shocked at the end result. He would have to pay life sentence because a leg in Gumuz culture is worth a life. There was no guarantee (in the mind of the Gumuz man) that his leg would fully heal. In addition, the motorcyclist demanded full payment for his damaged bike. Yet everyone spoke highly of Rolf and of his complete innocence.
A goat was purchased, plenty of alcohol passed around and the blood sacrifice/feast ensued. The first round was raw liver and tripe, the second round was semi roasted meat and the third round fully cooked meat.
The shock of the judgement hit our Gumuz community and the church in particular and yet we wondered why it bothered them so much. We see unfair judgements handed out all the time. It is the Gumuz way. But it was because everyone knew Rolf was innocent and yet was judged as guilty. We were reminded and spoke of another innocent sacrifice made for us so many years ago. Jesus' sentence was death.
Believers visited us in our home to pray for us and encourage us and during church one of the elders prayed that the Lord would bring the judgement of hell on those that had unfairly judged Rolf. A sober reminder that they still have a way to go in understanding the teaching “pray for your enemies”.
But what surprised us most was the emotional stress that the waiting and the trial had taken on Rolf. We have no rights because we are not citizens and we know that we will be taken advantage of because of the colour of our skin. Yet the lack of justice and mercy bothered him deeply. It was a natural reaction to unfair circumstances. Bitterness will not rule in our hearts, and we pray that as Gumuz watch us in our trials, that they might also learn to forgive.
Praying for the safety of missionaries is vital. We are physically and emotionally vulnerable as foreigners and we are constantly involved in situations out of our control. Pray that we might be wise, that we might not take offence to discrimination and that we might be quick to forgive. It is in our trials that our testimony speaks strongest. It is as we forgive that we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
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