LDS Spaniards mourn loss of bombing victims
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An LDS physician who was injured in a terrorist bombing while traveling via commuter train into Madrid believes he is fortunate to simply be alive. Meanwhile, devastated Church members througout Spain are leaning on faith and spiritual friendship for support following the series of deadly Madrid train explosions.
The March 11 explosions blew apart four trains packed with morning commuters, claiming 201 lives and injuring more than 1,400. There were no Church members reported dead, although several members are believed to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
No full-time missionaries serving in Spain were harmed.
While few of Spain's 34,000 members suffered physical injuries, the bombings have left deep scars.
"The members are very sad and depressed," said Angel Gomez, bishop of the Azuqueca Ward, Madrid Spain East Stake.
Bitin Uema seems an unlikely survivor of the attack. A doctor and convert to the Church, Brother Uema was making his daily, 40-minute commute into Madrid when the train car he was traveling in exploded. The blast shot him up in the air. He was lucky not to have hit his head on the train's ceiling, said his wife, Eleni.
Brother Uema, 44, apparently lost consciousness, then came to a moment later. "Everybody around him was dead. . . it was a shocking thing," Sister Uema told the Church News via telephone. "Then he found he could not move."
When rescue workers arrived they initially began counting Brother Uema among the dead until he lifted his head. He was nearly deaf, unable to walk and his chest hurt. Brother Uema was rushed to a Madrid hospital where he soon regained his composure and much of his strength. The chest pain was apparently triggered by the shock of the bombing and has since subsided.
Brother Uema's ears were damaged and it is uncertain if his hearing will ever be fully restored. Still, "he feels very fortunate and blessed," to be alive, Sister Uema said.
Brother Uema — who has experience treating trauma patients — is saddened that he was unable to enlist his medical training to help fellow victims.
When Bishop Gomez learned of the bombings he began calling his ward members who frequently use the commuter trains into the capital. He was relieved each time one answered the phone.
One of the bombs exploded at the Santa Eugenia train station, located just a kilometer or two away from the Madrid Spain Temple. The blast did not affect general operations at the temple, although some evening sessions were canceled the day after the bombings so temple workers and patrons could participate in a large rally against terrorism, Bishop Gomez said.
Now the Spanish members are stepping forward to comfort one another. During an emotional March 14 sacrament meeting, Madrid Spain East Stake President Jose Leopoldo Reina reminded the Azuqueca Ward members that their stewardship of service and fellowship extends beyond those who belong to the Church.
"I have witnessed love and unity among the members," Bishop Gomez said. "Our ward is big, and the members don't see each other much. Sometimes there have been contentions and disagreements. But the members are now showing love for each other."
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
