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Pennsylvania Missionaries Hurt in Blast
WNEP2
Area Volunteers Hurt in Bomb Blast
By Kena Vernon
6:17 PM EDT, July 12, 2010
Members of a church group near Selinsgrove were doing missionary work when bombs exploded Sunday in Uganda and several were hurt.
American reporters were allowed into a hospital in Uganda Monday where victims are recovering after the blast.
Among them were two people from our area who were in the African nation with a church group from Snyder County.
“We were at a place to eat Ethiopian food and we were watching the World Cup and at the beginning of the second period there was this big explosion and the next thing I knew I was on the ground with a bunch of rubble,” said Thomas Kramer of Winfield.
“I had surgery this morning, he had surgery this morning. We’re just waiting for our next steps, you know?” said Kris Sledge, 18, of Snyder County. He was asked if he lost any friends. “Oh, actually, yes. I lost three Ugandans who were good friends that we were doing mission work here. Passed away.”
Christ Community United Methodist Church sent the group of 15 missionaries to Uganda to help out a sister church there. Sledge’s parents said he has some serious injuries.
Tim and Debbie Bingaman said their son was in Uganda with members of the Christ Community United Methodist Church near Selinsgrove. On Sunday the group was in a restaurant watching the World Cup soccer championship game when bombs exploded. Seventy-four people were killed and dozens, including six from the church group.
“Unbelievable. You don’t expect something like this to happen with a very happy go forth group. They were just so excited to go,” said Debbie Bingaman.
“You alway think something could happen but you don’t really expect it to. Just a shock,” said Tim Bingaman.
A total of six were in the mission trip at the time of the bombing. Three of them were from the congregation, including Sledge.
The missionaries were all part of a group of 15 who had traveled to Uganda to help a sister church. Some of the group left a week earlier.
“I was in shock, called other people and cried together. So it’s a big loss for the church there the school there and he (the pastor) was a close friend for us too,” said Susan Heintzelman about one of the Ugandans with whom the missionaries worked.
“I didn’t know what to say. It was a big pill to swallow and hard to comprehend and understand that it happened, just so weird,” said Megan Heintzelman.
The rest of the group was supposed to return today. Sledge was one of those who stayed behind.
He suffered serious injuries to his leg and eye but his parents are confident he will make a full recovery.
“We just know he is going to be fantastic. This is just going to be a testimony for him when he’s behind the pulpit. He’s seen the worst,” added Debbie Bingaman.
Sledge’s family said he will be taken to a hospital in South Africa where he will get treatment for his injuries.
“Our next step is to continue to do anything we can to be supportive for the families here at home, offer support for our team members who are still in Africa and to call our congregation and people of faith together to be praying for the situation and all of the persons who are involved,” said Reverend Kathleen Kind of Christ Community United Methodist Church. Post your comments on Talkback 16 Online
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