THE DAY: A Novel of America in the Last Days (The End of America Series) (25 page)

Carrasco
Community Church

Carrasco,
Uruguay

              
The
Church had a problem. It now had more people attending the Sunday service than
it had folding chairs to hold them. In just over a year attendance had grown to
a hundred and thirty. To commemorate the Church’s first year anniversary
Pastor Jack Madison asked members to bring to the Sunday service stories of how
they had seen God at work in their new home country.

              
After
several spirited worship songs Pastor Jack Madison stood to lead the
congregation in prayer. "Father, we
do
worship
You
….in spirit and in truth. Thank you
for all that you are,
a great and
magnificent God
. Thank you for bringing us here today to worship. Thank you
for bringing us to Uruguay for Your good purposes. We don’t take lightly
Your
guiding hand in bringing each one of us out of our home
country. Use us here for
Your
good purposes. Open our
eyes and ears as we see and hear the
many
ways
in which
You
have been working through us in
this pleasant land. In Jesus name we pray, amen."

              
Pastor
Jack began their time by covering the Biblical imperative to share His Word
with the world. He then opened up the service by asking those present to share
their ministry experiences. A perky, smiling lady seated on the front row in
the Church’s storefront location quickly shot up her hand. "Yes,
Sally, I thought you might be the first to share."

              
"Oh,
Pastor, I’ve told this story to
many
here, but not everybody has heard how God worked….right here….in
Uruguay. Several us here are involved in our Saturday morning kids club over in
the park, two blocks from la
Rambla
. At first we just
had four or five kids, but the word spread and now we play games, share Bible
stories and give free rice and beans to nearly a hundred children….each
Saturday. The first miracle I would like to share is that several of the
Uruguayan kids have prayed to receive Christ. They’ll be in the
kingdom….They will…."

              
The
congregation broke into applause interrupting Sally’s narrative. Smiling
back, she waited,
then
went on, "The second
miracle that we’ve seen happened two weeks ago. We encourage the parents
of the kids to bring them to the park where we play games and share the gospel.
I noticed a shy young woman who had been there only once before, with her son,
Juan, a cute ten year old. I could tell that she wanted to talk. My
Española is
un
poco
,
but we were able to communicate, between us, in
Spanglish
.

              
"She
had
quite a story
to tell. Her son
had taken home the weekly small bags of rice and bean that we pass out each
week. She had been out of work and had exhausted their supply of food. She told
me that she had started to despair, in Spanish,
desesperacion
. Then she
remembered that her son had brought the rice and beans home, which he had in
his room. She cooked the rice and beans. They ate from the bowl each day.
And the next day.
And the next.
And the next and the next.
And the next,
for the whole week
.
Get this. She
asked me what we put in the rice and beans so that they
never get used up
?....
Sorry….whenever
I tell this I tear up….at
God’s
goodness
. Her story reminded me of
Corrie
Ten
Boom’s World War II concentration camp miracle when God kept
Corrie
and her sister’s small vitamin bottle from
ever going empty.
What a God we
have!"

              
After
the chorus of
amens
, praise and applause finally died
down, Pastor Jack said, "Allie and I know that most of you in this room
have become involved in ministries of various types. We’ve see great
things happen in the Helpful Hope ministry to reach out to young girls in
Montevideo who have been caught up into prostitution, to rescue them before
they are swept up into sexual trafficking. Our Church has three Bible studies.
One for men, another for women and a third for couples, which my Mom hosts and
my Dad teaches. The men have a monthly prayer breakfast and the women, being
better at organizing, have
a whole range
of luncheons and teas, and I don’t know what else….too much for a
mere man to understand," Pastor Jack said with a big grin. Allison was
widely respected in the Church for her ability to organize.

              
"Our
children’s ministry teaches a whole roomful of our children and some from
Uruguay each Sunday morning. I could go and on. We have actively sought
God’s will in what He would have us to do, and we’re doing our best
to obey and do what we are shown. Before we sing a concluding worship psalm,
I’ve held off on asking Brad to share with us
his family’s miracle
from last month. Many have heard, but
even if you have, we can all hear it
again,
and again
be blessed. Brad."

              
Brad, stood, all six foot two inches, with his surfer haircut and
tats from his life before Christ.
He started to speak, but realized that
he had to get control of his emotions first. He opened his mouth, but
couldn’t talk. He knew if he did he would weep. The Pastor sensed the
problem, walked over and put his arm up and around Brad’s broad shoulders.
"Let’s pray for Brad. Lord, you did
a great miracle
in Brad’s family. We ask that you allow Brad
to gain control of his understandably strong emotions so that he can share with
us what
You
did in his son’s life. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen."

              
Brad
wiped his face, gripped his hands together and softly said, "God saved my
son…..You all know our little boy, Joshua….he’s now about two
and a half. Not long ago….about a month now I
think……………..Little Josh was….Well, let me
start at the beginning. My wife, Sarah….you all know Sarah I think. She
had to run to the store to pick up some things for the women’s luncheon
here at the Church. She told me to watch the boys. You know….we have
three young boys. Well, the ten year old and the six year old were playing with
Josh, out by the pool. I heard the phone ring in the kitchen, and I told the
two oldest boys to watch Josh….that I would be
right back
.

              
"Well….the
call took
longer
than I expected. A
friend had a problem and needed some advice….Well….while I was talking………….After
a few minutes……I noticed that the two oldest boys were wrestling in
the family room, but I didn’t see Josh. I told my friend that I had to
go, I hung up and I ran out to the pool……..And there was
Josh……….
Floating
face
down in the water
……

              
"I
jumped in and grabbed Josh. I pulled him out of the pool and immediately
noticed that he was….blue….his face and arms and legs were
just….blue….almost grayish in color…..I knew that
Josh was dead
…………..He
must have been without oxygen for…..I don’t know how
long……I carried him out into the front yard….some of you know
our neighborhood….and I started screaming for help…..for somebody
to
please help us
. The neighbors on
both sides and across the
street were
all
home….They heard me and ran over….One said ‘Brad you know
CPR….have you tried to….’ As soon as he said that I instantly
remembered that I used to teach CPR at the Y back home. I had just blanked it
from my mind in my
panic
over seeing
my dead son.

              
"I
went right to work on Josh. I worked on him for I don’t know how long,
but he just got more blue…..not a breath….
nothing
.
Josh was dead
.
No pulse. No Breath.
Dead
.
My neighbor across the street is a nurse and a great prayer warrior.
She’s here so I won’t embarrass her…. she asked me not to,
but what she did was get down on her knees in my yard next to Joshua. She put
her hands on his little cold body and she prayed….
Oh
, how she prayed….I’ve never heard such
fervent praying
. She approached the
throne of God in a gentle, loving way just asking Him to glorify Himself by
restoring life into Joshua’s dead body….I don’t know how long
she prayed….joined by everyone standing in our yard.

              
"I
prayed, but I
knew
that Josh was
dead, that my negligence….had….killed Josh, so my faith that God
would save Josh was
not
at a high
level….just to be honest with you….If the miracle depended on my
faith….which it didn’t….it would have
never happened
.
 
But……….God is good…….all the
time……as Pastor Jack frequently reminds us. If Josh had gone on to
heaven, God would still be good. I understand that….but in this case He
saw fit to answer my sweet neighbor’s fervent, effective prayers which
availeth
much. Josh coughed. HE COUGHED. Praise the
Lord,
he coughed
….Then
he breathed….. His color came back within just a short time and he looked
at us and….
he….smiled
.
 

              
"The
nurse insisted that we take Josh to the hospital. She was very worried that
oxygen deprivation would result in serious brain damage and mental or physical
disability. We rushed him to the hospital where they tested Joshua for
almost two hours
. When we took him in
and they heard how long he had been….well, they all had that real
concerned look that’s hard to hide. My faith
again
hit bottom….Josh was alive….But would he be a
vegetable….Would he be permanently disabled because I
couldn’t do my job
and watch him?

              
"The
doctor came out to us. As he walked up I expected the worst news, but I was
wrong. He said that he couldn’t explain it, but Joshua had no evidence of
any
mental or physical damage, at
all.
None.
He said Josh was a normal healthy,
precocious little boy….and that we should take our precious gift from God
home and
just love on him
….And
also buy him some chocolate ice cream which he had begging
for………..Well, Church….
that’s my Uruguay miracle. Praise the Lord
."

              
Brad
was quickly surrounded by the tearful congregation as they patted his back,
shook his hand and praised the Lord with him. Pastor Jack wiped the tears from
his face and dismissed the service in thankful prayer for His mighty works
using Americans He had transplanted overseas.

Bluemont
Gardens

Mountain
Brook, Alabama

              
Death
took his time. Along with Snake Head, Death watched building six for three more
days and nights. Though they never did see any of the adult women, for obvious
security reasons, they did spot two of the teen-aged girls who carried in
buckets of water from a nearby stream early each morning. Apparently fetching
water was considered to be women’s work.
Young
women’s work.
Death liked what he saw. Snake Head told Death that
the pony-tailed blonde was his. Death smiled.

              
At
10 AM, a time during which none of the inhabitants of building six had
previously been seen outside of the building, Death sent in a two man team with
a large two inch auger and hand drill found in a barn they had previously
rifled. The team also carried a two and a half gallon red plastic gasoline
container, with rare combustible petroleum sloshing inside. The team walked
slowly and carefully into the first apartment they came to on the first floor.
The hole was slowly and quietly drilled through. So far so good they thought,
as no discernible noise of discovery was heard from below or from the hall
leading to the basement stairs. They screwed the yellow spout on the end of the
gasoline container and undid the air escape hole on the other end. Lifting the
container gingerly, they stuck the spout into the newly-drilled hole. They
pushed in on the sides of the container to make it flow rapidly down into the
basement below. After about half of the gasoline had been poured into the
basement a long wooden match was struck and dropped down into the hole. With a
loud WHOOSH a lick of flame shot up through the hole, confirming that the
gasoline and the match had met.

              
The
two men ran from the apartment building out onto the adjoining parking lot,
waving their thumbs up signal of success to Death and the men who were
stationed just outside the door of building six. Immediately after, the first
fleeing inhabitant ran from the building, followed by three more, then a steady
stream of men, women, teens and smaller children. Though most did not appear to
be hurt by the explosion and fire, a few were aflame, and rolled on the ground
to extinguish their burning clothing. All were coughing and wheezing at the
effects of the gasoline and ensuing fire. As each man or male teen holding
firearms emerged from the building, Death and Snake Head’s men, standing
hidden next to the exit door, slammed them to the ground, seizing their
weapons. Within less than a minute all seventy one people were out of their
hiding place, coughing and trying to clear their lungs. Each looked haggard and
emaciated, as if they could not lose another pound without expiring. Knowing
the approximate number of people he would be dealing with, Death had brought
all but five of his men for the operation, with those remaining guarding their
school hideaway.

              
Snake
Head’s job was to separate the captives into manageable groups. Using
their rifles as prods, Snake Head and his tattooed, armed marauders waded into
the collected and now un-armed crowd, most standing, but some sitting or lying
on the pavement. Snake quickly pulled the younger women and female teens to the
side. He then separated the male teens into a second group, a few feet away. He
forced both groups to sit on the parking lot pavement. He nodded to ten of his
armed men who herded the older women and the younger children into a group and
out of the parking lot. Darrell Wright, wiping blackened soot from his face,
shouted at the men, "
Hey
,
where are you taking them? You
can’t…."

              
Death
was ready for the outburst. He used the butt of his AR-15 to smash Darrell in
the back of the head and neck, splaying him unconscious onto the ground. The
group of younger women and female teens broke into tears, sobbing and pleading
for him not to hurt Darrell any further. Death snarled back, "If I had
wanted to kill him I
woulda
just shot him. So shut
up.
Shut up!
We
just
trying
to help
ya
out here. Look at
ya
selves,
ya’re
starving.
Look at us, we
ain’t
fat, but we eat at least
one good meal a day, sometimes more. Y’all look like
ya
haven’t eaten in days. We here to have
ya
join
up with us. We’ll be sure that
ya
eat a lot
better than
ya
have been, by the way y’all
look. But,
ya
gotta
shut
up. We got work to do."

              
By
now the older women and children were gone from the parking lot. Snake nodded
at another ten of their men who circled the men into a group. There was some
mild pushing and shoving back, but no one wanted to be rifle butted in the back
of the head, so for the most part they stayed quiet, waiting to see what would
happen next. They were prepared, each of them to fight, if the opportunity
presented itself. The nineteen men, absent Darrell who was still splayed on the
pavement, were marched at rifle point out of the area. Death’s plan was
to take them to building twelve, which was on the other side of the apartment
complex.

              
With
the men gone, along with the older women and
children, that
left two groups now sitting in the parking lot. The younger women and the
female teens were quietly sobbing. The male teens, seated a few feet away were
not visibly crying, but were obviously shaken by what was happening. Death
waited a few minutes to let it all sink in, as he had earlier told his men, for
better crowd control. Death rolled a cigarette, lit it and walked over to Snake
Head, who was studying the group of twenty three young women. "Snake,
whatcha
think?"

              
Snake
Head couldn’t take his eyes off of the women, replying to Death from the
side of his mouth, but not loud enough that they could hear, "
Yummy
. Pony-tail is mine. You pick
yours, then we’d best get out here so the boys can….
clean….up
. Know what I
mean?"

              
Death
leered at the thirtyish redhead sitting with her arm around a teen whose hair
matched hers. Death whispered to Snake Head, "I’ll take the two
carrot tops. Both of ‘
em
….Now,
let’s scat. We got a long walk back to the school. The boys won’t
shoot the men in building twelve until we’re out of earshot.
Don’t
wanta
start no
rebellion
from the teen boys. They be
our only shooter recruits, so we
gotta
convince
‘
em
later that we sent their dads and the older
moms, and the kids a course, to another camp. Better food and treatment at the
other camp,
dont'cha
know? Over time, we can convince
some of the teen
guys
 
to
join us….
or die
.
Simple choice."

              
"That’s
good, Death. Another camp….
kinda
true I
guess….an underground camp. Get it?
An
underground camp
…."

              
"Yeah,
Snake. I
get
it. Six foot
underground…
.‘
cept
,
we don’t bury anybody anymore. Too much trouble," said Death,
leering at his choices from the assembled women. "Two Teeth and the boys
know what to do with the old women and the kids, once we
be
outta here, right?"

              
"Covered, Death.
They’ll herd ‘
em
all back into the basement of building six. Shove them
in the room with the hole in the ceiling. Nail the doors shut. Empty the gas
container through the hole from above.
Whoosh
.
No more useless eaters."

              
Death
smiled. Then Death laughed.