Some Say It Takes A Village-This Time It Took A World

Have you had a chance to watch the rescue story of 12 Thai soccer players and their coach?

I realized, after writing a few posts on my Facebook page that not everyone has had a chance to follow this story. I wanted to dedicate this post to those boys and their coach. Also the volunteers and the many experts who sacrificed time, money, comfort, and for some, their vacation to come to the team's aid.

I waited to publish this post to hear the last piece of news. So some of you will be reading this post on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. This evening BBC news announced: the doctor who examined, treated, and stayed with the team during the rescue process and the last of the Thai divers have left the cave. The mission is complete, at least this portion. Talk about exciting.

My post today is not going to rehash all the details. Here is a link to the article that will give you all the details including links to more information.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44761821

Instead, I'd like to talk with you about the global effort in the rescue.

1. The Thai people are to be commended for requesting help from other nations. This is difficult to do, even in a time of tragedy. While they had many of their own experts, the problem proved exponential, requiring the best from around the world. Thai men and women warmly welcomed the experts who dropped everything and hopped on the first available plane to Thailand, even to the point of cooking special food for those eating certain diets.

2. Australian doctor, Richard Harris, was also experienced with cave diving and rescue missions. After the long flight, he made the underwater dive to be with the boys. He stayed in the cave and provided medical treatment, conversation, and other aid over the days required to rescue the entire team.

3. Three Thai Navy Seal divers and the doctor were the last to leave the cave.

4. Technical divers came from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Canada.

These are only the ones featured in BBC articles. However, other countries have been credited for their assistance. Prayers, watchful eyes, concerned hearts from all around the world have joined in the effort. Donated funds have helped defray costs.

5. Of course, we cannot forget the one Thai Navy Seal diver who lost his life transporting oxygen tanks in and out. Retired Petty Officer, Saman Gunan, 38, was a Navy Seal Diver. His tank ran out of oxygen while on his way out of the cave. What a sacrifice. May he rest in peace.

The videos available on the link above and related BBC pages are heartwarming. I also liked seeing the illustrations designed to help us understand the complexity of the dive.

I wondered, how did those British divers find the boys? The soccer team was 2 miles back in the cave on a small ledge. The boys had climbed down a steep area, crawled through narrow passages while outrunning the rising flood waters.

I wondered how did the Thai people know to look in that cave?

I wondered how the boys survived nine days without food or water. The water in the cave was muddy and not drinkable.

I wondered what the boys did to occupy themselves and encourage one another to hope for a rescue sitting in pitch dark.

What I do know is not one person who went to help thought twice about the commitment and hardship.

It's moments like this one in Thailand, and the mine collapse in Chile, and other tragedies that prove we need each other and God. This time it took a world to rescue twelve boys and their coach to bring peace and a Never Give Up Story.

This post has been brought to you by the one word: Rescue

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