Do I or do I not share? I've asked myself this many times since last Thursday night. Like many of our missionary colleagues, we often choose not to share events which may alarm others, lead to worry about us, or cause new personnel/ volunteers to fear coming to our part of the world. But after lots of prayer and internal ‘debates’, I WILL share as I believe it will strengthen your prayers for us and others.
A little before midnight last Thursday night, Jack and I were awoken by the barking of our two dogs (mixed Jack Russell/ Dachshunds). We live in a valley and can hear sounds from miles away at night, so that was not unusual.
After several turns of getting up to yell at Angel and Gypsy, we heard our night guards (we have two for the three mission homes on our compound) talking loudly, so Jack went to the door to check. A young Asian couple, who had been hijacked a kilometre or so away and left at the end of our lane, had come to our gate needing a cell phone to call for help. Their families arrived with armed policemen soon after we went outside to be with the traumatized young couple. (Added note: When help is needed in our part of the world, you must provide transport for the police – which is a bit awkward when you are being robbed!)
The next morning, Jack and I questioned our delay in responding, but we knew that trickery is often used in our part of the world to gain access into homes/compounds. We had debated before going out if this was a ‘con’ job and the thieves were using the couple to gain entry into our homes. We realized again that you can plan/ prepare for things such as this, but when it happens, you truly must trust God to know what to do.
We learned more of what the couple had experienced when the families of the young man and woman visited to offer thanks on Sunday. The couple had returned to one of their homes from a date and discovered it was being burglarized. When the woman screamed, alerting the neighbours in their apartment complex, the thieves forced their way into their car and drove to our lane where the couple was robbed and beaten. The family and young couple wanted to thank us for helping them – which once again led to questions on our part of how much more we could have helped them IF we had not taken time to debate the safety of offering assistance!
Jack and I are praying that this will open doors to building a strong relationship with these families of another faith, especially as the young man’s family owns a shop in the shopping area where I already have two friends of other faiths who often share their prayer needs with me. Pray for us as we choose what to do and what not to do as we seek opportunities to be our Father’s heart, hands and voice.
Lots more happened last week, including bits from the women’s prayer retreat I attended, but I will stop now as I think I've shared enough to keep you praying for us and others this week – a comforting assurance that we will know how to discern and act upon God’s will and direction! BERT
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Additional photos were taken during last weekend's prayer retreat for IMB missionary women of East Africa at Lake Naivasha.
A little before midnight last Thursday night, Jack and I were awoken by the barking of our two dogs (mixed Jack Russell/ Dachshunds). We live in a valley and can hear sounds from miles away at night, so that was not unusual. 
The next morning, Jack and I questioned our delay in responding, but we knew that trickery is often used in our part of the world to gain access into homes/compounds. We had debated before going out if this was a ‘con’ job and the thieves were using the couple to gain entry into our homes. We realized again that you can plan/ prepare for things such as this, but when it happens, you truly must trust God to know what to do. 
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