wounded

I saw a familiar face in the UN medical clinic as I tried to see how I could help out. Someone had asked for anyone with first aid experience to chip in to help the wounded Police men and women that had been brought into the UN compound. At first, i didn't recognise me but later I realise that this was the police friend that a fellow Singaporean trusted a lot. He was laying wounded on the bed, in agony, wishing he could die and be spared the pain. I held his hand tightly - nothing else i could do. His wounds were dressed, just awaiting surgery.

In the clinic, there was no time to feel fear or sadness. We just tried to see how we could help, with instructions from the (thankfully) many doctors working in the UN system. I put on gloves and tried to clean some wounds, bandage some, and comfort others - holding their hands and talking to them, trying to reassure them. I don't think I was 'feeling' anything at that moment. NONE of us did, we just did what was necessary.

One guy was going into shock, thankfully a good Timorese doctor started a second IV drop that pulled him back from the brink of death. He had a big gash on his hip, his legs, his arms. He was floating in between consciousness. I held his arm, and tried talking to him, kept asking him to pray and be brave. I was relieved when he finally grabbed my fingers in response. I hope he's doing alright now in hospital.

Earlier when the first wounded policeman was carried in with four bullet wounds on his chest, (this was just outside where everyone had gathered), it really was an emotional scene. my tears just kept rolling down, and i kept saying 'Hail Marys' and 'Our Fathers' to calm myself down. My heart bled for the women and children who would lose their fathers today. I cried out to the Lord to put sense back into these men's minds. Today is the DAY OF OBLIGATION for the Ascension of the Lord! This is all so wrong.

The police man died.

NO ONE should die this way.

i'm not bothering to say what actually happened today cos even if i do, it doesn't make sense. war fare makes no sense. We should simply ban guns around the world.

Pray for peace my friends, if you're reading