OREM, UTAH — A missionary serving in Utah Orem Mission was hit by a car while crossing a busy city street in his bicycle. It was reported that the accident occurred on the night of May 31, 2020, in American Fork, Utah.
Miraculously, the missionary came out of the hospital with minor injuries, bruises, scrapes, and cuts. A detailed story of what happened was posted on Facebook:
Last night in American Fork, Utah, a full-time missionary named Raymond Troyer of Danville, Ohio was biking his way home after a long day of service. While crossing a busy city street in the crosswalk, he was struck by a speeding driver who had not seen he and his missionary companion crossing the street. Raymond flew over the hood of the car, slamming into the pavement, shattering his helmet.
Miraculously, Raymond hobbled away with minor injuries, bruises, scrapes and cuts. His helmet had saved him from what would have assuredly been a more serious injury. X-rays were negative, and a couple of hours later he shuffled out of the Emergency Room with a smile on his face and laughter on his lips.
But what was the memory I’ll take from that night in the emergency room? It was of Raymond Troyer, laying on a gurney with nurses and physicians cleaning, stitching and probing his injured body, but asking me at least three different times if there was some way we could get in touch with the distraught driver of that speeding Civic to let her know that he was just fine and not to feel bad. In between the winces and the needles and the stitches, his biggest concern was for a woman who he was sure was hurting even more than he was.
It was in that moment that I saw true Christ-like peace in the eyes of a 19 year old young man clothed in a thin, drafty, powder blue hospital gown. Truly, Raymond Troyer personifies the scripture in 1 John 3:18: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
