Aversion

I narrowly averted harm today. I saw them gathering as I was walking along the fringes of the slum. The lead youth signaled others to join him, waving them over with low sweeps of his hand. They tracked me down a slum row as I was taking a parallel course on a busy street lined with sidewalks of broken pavers covered in slippery mud.

(DIRTY WATERS. A row of slum homes perches on a polluted riverbank in Addis Ababa)

They didn’t know that I had noticed them, but after traveling to some eighty developing-world countries, I’m super-sensitized to such things. The lead guy took an intercept course towards me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lift the rear of his shirt and quickly put a knife behind his belt at his lower back. He pulled down on the hem of his shirt to conceal it. The other youths, about ten in number, circled around a lone shanty in front of me, presumably to trap me between them and their leader.

(DANGEROUS LABYRINTH. Slums in Addis Ababa abut busy roads and commercial districts)

A wave of traffic was approaching on the street, about thirty yards away. Just at the point of our convergence, the leader raised his hand up gesturing me to stop. He shouted something inaudible. I quickly stepped into the oncoming vehicles, dodging cars across six lanes as they slowed or swerved to miss me. The gang was yelling. The horns were blowing. I was safe.

I don’t take for granted my personal security when I travel. But I certainly lift it up to God.

During my first trip to Addis Ababa a few years ago, six terrorist car bombs were detonated in shopping areas on the day we left. Had we been in those markets? I don’t know. I was in India when the trains were bombed in Mumbai, killing hundreds in an instant. I was in Thailand during the recent military coup, albeit a quiet one. And I’ve been in too many high-tension situations to count, where Westerners are public enemy #1.

(QUIET COUP. Fortunately, this one didn't go badly in Thailand)

My wife and I were mugged in the Caribbean a number of years ago. Youths surrounded us, pressing fish knives to our bellies. I felt immobilized as I saw the blade on my wife. As they started to run with their new-found riches, I started to chase them. Yep, not exactly the smartest thing to do, but I knew my wife was safe at that point. The sight of a white guy chasing a bunch of black youths across a beach was probably quite a spectacle. They threw my camera to the ground to divert me from the chase.

As a creative-type with a passion for photography, I counted that as quite the victory.

Kids, don’t try that at home, though. Probably not good to jump into oncoming traffic either.

Comments

[Carl Holmes]

I was in Bali when the night club bombing happened, and I was in London when they blew up the tube. I know what you are feeling...not fun at all. None of us wants to feel vulnerable.

Thanks be to God that he came to the earth 2000 years ago and was vulnerable as well. But he triumphed and we can take our sleep knowing that he is the provider of all things.

[Libby Hellinger]

That just gives me the shivers, Paul. It is so comforting to know the Lord is with you. May He continue to protect you and direct your every step-especially those that take you into oncoming traffic!
(Is Lisa reading these posts while you are away? Yikes!)

[Scott]

Praise God for His protection. May we never take what he has given us for granted. Welcome home brother.

[Michael Vinson]

Glad your home my friend.
mv