here's a first hand account i received from Paganini:
i'm not really sure where to begin. I don't know how many of you have heard about this weekend...but i wanted to let you all know some crazy events that went down this for me and a group of our friends.
ok, so 6 of us were hanging out on Saturday night in San Diego in a relatively nice neighborhood when we were approached by two men. they asked us a question to take us off guard, and proceeded to beat two of the guys in our group...going directly for the face and head with a metal plumbing pipe and cane. They had caught us completely off guard that Nathan and Jack didn't get a chance to run away or to avoid being attacked.
We backed up in complete shock as we watched our friends being beaten repeatedly. I didn't know what to do...but heard andrew yell "run!" and so I took off down the stairs (we were next to a footbridge that goes over a canyon in Hillcrest). I fell down the stairs but caught my footing and ran across the bridge alone...not knowing what was happening or whether or not my friends were ok. I ran across two streets and found a car i flagged down to ask for help. They picked me up and took me back to the bridge where we saw one of my friends, Jack, had made it to the side of the bridge that i had run to. He had been struck on the top of the head and was bleeding from both the head and nose. we got a phone call from the rest of the group...where we heard one of the other members of our group was also seriously injured. The police and paramedics eventually came and took statements from us and took the guys to the hospital (ps. don't call 911 when you actually have an emergency cause it's always busy). We went to where the incident occurred and found that none of our personal belongings had been taken - which lead us to believe it was gang related. The attack had been completely unprovoked...It was like a bad dream...and so inexplainable.
I wanted to tell you all this story as a testimony to show you that God does take care of his children. I truly believe that we were protected by Him....and that He was looking out for us that night. Nathan and Jack are recovering well - both are out of the hospital. Nathan broke his nose and several facial bones (including a fracture to his forehead)...he also received stiches to his brow and near the bridge of his nose. Jack was given 8 stiches to his head, a black eye, and got a concussion. Both are in good spirits despite their injuries (both were telling us jokes and giving the nurses a hard time just to be funny)...but can still definitely use prayer.
What a miracle that they survived such serious injuiries. God is amazing and I feel like we are truly blessed right now. I've gone through all the thinking of what else I could have done, and replaying the entire night in my head...and am left with a feeling of confusion and fear. Each of us cannot get the memory out of our heads. We have lost so much trust in people...and in the places we live in. And though I know there is nothing else we could have done to prevent this from happening...it doesn't take away the question of why this would even happen. We are each finding comfort in the fact that God is being glorified through this despite how Satan has tried to break us down. the Lord is working in and through us even through events like this one.
I have no idea why this would ever happen...or why we would ever have to experience this...But i wanted you all to know that God is good. he is protecting us every moment...and though we cannot explain why sin happens...he is always with us. So, i am writing to you to see If you can pray for us. I would appreciate that so much. If you need specific names the group consists of Corban, me, Katie, Nathan, Jack, and Andrew. Also try to pray that God would speak to the men that did this to our friends - that He would change their hearts. Though we are totally pissed off at them, we know that there is something bigger going on, and that they need Jesus more than ever. I wanted you all to know that I love you so much...so please, please be safe when you go out...no matter how safe of a place you are at...or who you are with.
anyways, that's what's going on...and I thought i should let you know in case i'm a little out of it. :)
4 Comments:
Brave man.
eyechiwawa.
here's a first hand account i received from Paganini:
i'm not really sure where to begin. I don't know how many of you have heard about this weekend...but i wanted to let you all know some crazy events that went down this for me and a group of our friends.
ok, so 6 of us were hanging out on Saturday night in San Diego in a relatively nice neighborhood when we were approached by two men. they asked us a question to take us off guard, and proceeded to beat two of the guys in our group...going directly for the face and head with a metal plumbing pipe and cane. They had caught us completely off guard that Nathan and Jack didn't get a chance to run away or to avoid being attacked.
We backed up in complete shock as we watched our friends being beaten repeatedly. I didn't know what to do...but heard andrew yell "run!" and so I took off down the stairs (we were next to a footbridge that goes over a canyon in Hillcrest). I fell down the stairs but caught my footing and ran across the bridge alone...not knowing what was happening or whether or not my friends were ok. I ran across two streets and found a car i flagged down to ask for help. They picked me up and took me back to the bridge where we saw one of my friends, Jack, had made it to the side of the bridge that i had run to. He had been struck on the top of the head and was bleeding from both the head and nose. we got a phone call from the rest of the group...where we heard one of the other members of our group was also seriously injured. The police and paramedics eventually came and took statements from us and took the guys to the hospital (ps. don't call 911 when you actually have an emergency cause it's always busy). We went to where the incident occurred and found that none of our personal belongings had been taken - which lead us to believe it was gang related. The attack had been completely unprovoked...It was like a bad dream...and so inexplainable.
I wanted to tell you all this story as a testimony to show you that God does take care of his children. I truly believe that we were protected by Him....and that He was looking out for us that night. Nathan and Jack are recovering well - both are out of the hospital. Nathan broke his nose and several facial bones (including a fracture to his forehead)...he also received stiches to his brow and near the bridge of his nose. Jack was given 8 stiches to his head, a black eye, and got a concussion. Both are in good spirits despite their injuries (both were telling us jokes and giving the nurses a hard time just to be funny)...but can still definitely use prayer.
What a miracle that they survived such serious injuiries. God is amazing and I feel like we are truly blessed right now. I've gone through all the thinking of what else I could have done, and replaying the entire night in my head...and am left with a feeling of confusion and fear. Each of us cannot get the memory out of our heads. We have lost so much trust in people...and in the places we live in. And though I know there is nothing else we could have done to prevent this from happening...it doesn't take away the question of why this would even happen. We are each finding comfort in the fact that God is being glorified through this despite how Satan has tried to break us down. the Lord is working in and through us even through events like this one.
I have no idea why this would ever happen...or why we would ever have to experience this...But i wanted you all to know that God is good. he is protecting us every moment...and though we cannot explain why sin happens...he is always with us. So, i am writing to you to see If you can pray for us. I would appreciate that so much. If you need specific names the group consists of Corban, me, Katie, Nathan, Jack, and Andrew. Also try to pray that God would speak to the men that did this to our friends - that He would change their hearts. Though we are totally pissed off at them, we know that there is something bigger going on, and that they need Jesus more than ever. I wanted you all to know that I love you so much...so please, please be safe when you go out...no matter how safe of a place you are at...or who you are with.
anyways, that's what's going on...and I thought i should let you know in case i'm a little out of it. :)
take care and God bless...
love,
Amanda
Thanks for posting the picture Matt. Considerng all that went on that night, both guys are in great shape.
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