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By Barry Buzza
[other pieces by By Barry Buzza]
 A couple of years ago, Sandy and Theresa boarded TWA flight #265 in New York to fly to Orlando, to see Disneyworld. Theresa was seven months pregnant and doing well, but thirty minutes into the flight, she doubled over in pain and began bleeding. When the flight attendant announced she needed a doctor, thankfully an internist from Long Island stepped forward.
Theresa soon gave birth to a baby boy, but the baby was in trouble. The umbilical cord had been wrapped around his neck-he wasn't breathing and his little face was blue.
Two paramedics stepped forward to help. One was a specialist in infant respiratory procedures. He asked if anyone had a straw, with which he could suction fluid from the baby's lungs. The plane didn't stock straws, but a passenger remembered having a straw from a juice box in her purse. The paramedic skillfully inserted the straw in the infant's lungs as the internist administered CPR.
The internist asked for something with which he could tie the umbilical cord. Another passenger offered his shoelace.
Four minutes of terror passed, but soon the tiny child whimpered sounds of hope. The crew announced that the baby was a boy and the whole place erupted in cheers and applause.
Sandy and Theresa gave the little boy the name Matthew. Matthew means God-sent-"Everyone on the plane was a god-send", the father announced.
I just arrived home from a visit to Ethiopia. I was there to do some teaching and also to see the work we contribute to in helping street kids, AIDS victims and impoverished families. The trip was a fulfillment of a life-long dream-and even more than I'd hoped it would be.
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I loved Ethiopia! Not only are the people there considered to be the most physically attractive on earth, but their souls were also beautiful. I was received with grace and generosity.
In the days I was there, I got to tour the countryside and small villages with their mud-plastered, grass-roofed homes, eat their delicious food (except for the raw lamb), and enjoy meeting hundreds of new friends. I spent most of my time in Addis Ababa, working with churches, pastors (who live on as little as $100 a year) and observing our work with the poor. I was amazed at the integrity and efficiency of the feeding, clothing and care programs. I witnessed the expressions of gratitude on the faces of families we are helping.
After one of my visits to the poorest of the poor, I went to the humble home of a pastor and celebrated the graduation from university of a young man who'd been rescued from the streets as a boy. He's going to be a doctor and is as bright and handsome a man as I've seen.
Among the many ways we are connected to Ethiopia, we've just arranged for a container of dried food to go to Addis which will provide a million and a half meals. And while I was there, I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Because of his gratitude to us Canadians, he's talking about their government partnering with us in our work with the destitute. Everyone is doing their part!
I and those from our church, and others who give to support their work there, feel like the passengers in that TWA flight #265 and are cheering wildly because we're so honoured to be a part of the healing and care of those who are helpless. In turn, when little Matthew and my Ethiopian friends are well and strong, they will continue the giving cycle.
Barry Buzza, a veteran pastor, is also the president of the The Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada. www.foursquare.ca
August 21/2008
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