Will you go with me ?

Here I am outside of an airport,  waiting for Emily to pick me up as we planned. The waiting place only a bamboo roof, no wall. I’ve never been in this place, not speak the language, there were local people waiting for their family or friends pick them up. Some local taxi drivers offers me to take a taxi, the car didn’t have a taxi sign at all, I keep saying no thank you. I only see dusty ground, open field with grass, small wooden stall selling drinks. No matter what I have to wait, there was no message of change planned. But things has changed since 2 days ago. Should I keep waiting ?

This is what have happened. Two days before I got a message from Emily’s husband. She and Mary one of my friend were on the run hiding from soldiers who looked for them. Emily made her last called to say goodbye to her husband , she said probably she can’t see him and their kids anymore. I suppose to fly in 2 days from that day, I said do you want me to fly in today and look for her? He said no, let’s do according to what Emily has been arranged. Where is Emily now ? He said he didn’t know. Emily said, that evening she was in the place she stayed and Mary was outside the house. Mary saw 2 suspicious men with guns and they spoke about killing them, she knew their language. She quickly called Emily to leave the house right away, she told her to hide in the “specific” mountain and wait until someone will come and rescue her, while Mary herself run in different way and hide too.I prayed, God protects , send angels to rescue them.

And now I’m at this place of know where  waiting for Emily. One by one people were leaving, their faces were happy to meet their family. How long will I wait? I will wait as long as it took. Why? Because me and Emily has been in many dangerous trip together and we trust each other. 

Years and years ago in my many trips to “close” country, I helped people who were under persecution, brought them what they need the most the Word of God, gave them courage and love. In one of those trip I met Emily, actually she approached me first and started the conversation. Since then we took trips together, she became my big sister that I never have. 

Many amazing things we experienced. How God protected us. One time we waited at the lobby hotel, we didn’t know who we were waiting, we told someone with a blue hat. This was winter many people wearing blue hat. One young man came wearing a blue hat, he directly came to us ( he must be got the information how we look like ). He said he will walk ahead, one of us follow from a distance and the other one followed behind in a distance. So I walked the last. Where and how long I have no idea. This wasn’t an easy walk, I carried almost 40 pounds on my shoulder. We crossed big road, small streets, went inside a building came out on the other side, went another place, so many ….. till we reached a big closed hall and people gather there, when they see us they are very happy, I can feel the atmosphere of the room full of joy. They thank us many times for bringing the good news, the Word of God. 

Another time, me and Emily were at the back of a car, our two local friends were at the front. Suddenly the car was stopped by soldiers.  My friend who drove said to us do not speak English. One Soldier open the door at Emily side. He looked at us, he asked question which we didn’t understand, my friend answered. Then the soldier said passport. Emily gave hers, he told her to get out of the car. Different soldier asked my passport and told me to get down too. He walked to his leader I guest, what ever they spoke I didn’t have a clue but wherever the soldier who have my passport walked I follow him closely. After sometime they returned my passport and Emily too. They lets us go and smile. Praise the Lord! Since the car was stopped we been praying in our heart. Thank you Jesus for answering our prayer. My local friends asked me why I keep following the soldier. I said if he wanted hold my passport, I will grab it and run. I need my passport to get out of the country. They laughed of my bravery, Emily knows me, I will do it and she too.

Maybe in different story I will tell you my “scary and dangerous” trip to help people. 

Back to Emily….After sometime she and her husband moved to a new country and started helping refugees especially children who lost their parents and families cause by war. And I came and help too. 

What happened was 2 days ago they were moving children orphan refugees who were under their care from the refugees camp. Many were born there and will live there for the rest of their life if there isn’t a third country accept them or they go back to their origin country. I know a woman , her name is Tuesday she was born in the camp and now she is 32 years old. Btw the camp is not like you think. I stayed in this camp before when I visited the children. It’s in the mountain, jungle, bamboo house, no electricity, no proper toilet, I slept with my sleeping bag. They only have vegetables when we brought in. 

We think this children will have better future if they can go back to their own country and live in a safe town so they can go to school and pursue their dream. They left the camp walked through the jungle to a river and took a boat. All are children, the family of the care takers  and few women. The opposition authority didn’t like it they tried to stop the children half way with soldiers. Then praise the Lord, the other authority came and rescue the children and local people help with housing and food temporary. We still didn’t know where the children are because we told them to go to certain city but they cannot reach there now. That night when they sent soldiers to kill Emily and Mary, they were in different place far from the children.

I see a car stop near the waiting place and one face I know came out. She was looking, I pulled my bag and called her. I didn’t know she is in the country, she must be flying in when she heard the news, I guest. She speak in low voice, in the car don’t say anything about what happened. I nodded. We arrived at a big, nice hotel. Hmmmm this isn’t the name of the hotel I wrote in my arrival card and when the immigration asked me I gave the name of the hotel I’ve been told. Usually we stayed in a cheap hotel. We went in to a room….I saw Emily and Mary there. We hugged and burst into joy. They are saved, glory to God.

We talked about the situation of the children. By then we knew where they are. We have to see them, find out about their well being, what’s our next step for them, so many things. Emily looked at me, “Olive will you go with me to see the children? I can’t go alone. If you go I will go. You know the risk. We both might not came back.” I answered without thinking twice, “Yes, let’s go Emily! We can do this together.” All of us in the room we spent time pray and thanking God.

One of our local friend said, “Get ready the car is coming, they will take you to the village where the children are. Do not give any money to the driver.” Emily and I went inside the car with 2 young man who didn’t speak English, whom we didn’t know at all. We been told it’s about 16 to 18 hours drive. So here we are in the car with total strangers in the country we don’t speak the language, going to a place we don’t know. We stopped for a meal, we followed these 2 young man, they ordered the food we ate whatever on the table, didn’t say anything and didn’t pay either. They make stop every 3 hours I guest, every time Emily asked, what is this place? Anyway we didn’t have a clue where was it. They drove very fast through the whole night. We prayed Lord Jesus keep them awake and drive safe.

Around 5 am they stopped at a small guest house. They signed us to get down. Then left us. We never seen them again until now. We check in, the receptionist knew we are coming, he handed us the key. We prayed, showered and sleep. We woke up for breakfast. Then we wait…we don’t know where to go or what’s next. By ten someone came, we didn’t know him. He told us to ride in the car. He drove to a beautiful villages, really beautiful place, there are rocks mountain in between. He stopped at a nice wooden big house, we came down and the children running out of the house hugging us one after another. They all in good condition. We were ecstatic with joy. 

They are really strong children, they are young in age but in certain responsibility they are like an adult. They take care of each other. They are strong and brave children, some saw when the soldiers back then killed their parents, some saw how their parent and neighbors stepped on a mine that the soldiers spread in their fields. Some saw how the soldiers kidnap the young boys in their village and use them as mine sweepers. They gone through situation which other children at their age in others countries playing happily with their parents and siblings and go freely to school. They have to run for their life , hide in the jungle eat anything to keep survive.  I knew one young boy, he was so sad loose his own sister he cried and cried, his heart so broken, then he lost his sound mind. 

After hugging them I ran to the wooden house, looked from room to room I was looking for one girl. At the camp two girls became very closed to me, since the first time I was visiting the camp these two girls were always following me every where. I could not find Timna. I went outside and ask Wantin. She said Timna decided not to left the camp, she feared of unknown future outside the camp. Broke my hearts. 

In the afternoon we took the children to small stall selling drinks and ice cream. They ate anything, they laughed and laughed. This was the first time they are out in free place. 
Now they are all in school, local authority gave them ID card. They can pursue their dream and live as normal kid in freedom. I did asked Emily can we go back to the camp and find Timna. She said is hard and very dangerous after what happened. I never heard news about her again. 

When Emily asked me, “Will you go with me?” We were willing to risk our life because we think of the children, we want them to have a better future, we want them live in freedom of fear. We want them to be happy. But it’s still a free choice if they want to hold our hands or let go. Like Timna.

Will I do it again? Yes definitely thousand times. My Jesus came a long away willingly to rescue me when I was a teenager going to fell from a high cliff. He willingly be me on that cross. Loves conquered. I was confused of my uncertainty future. He gave me hope and purpose.

Dear friends, you can do too. Open your eyes and heart to people around you. You can safe abandon children, abuse women and children, and others. Will you go? Please go. Start with one. When you see the joy in their face you will do it again and again. Challenges and obstacles won’t matter anymore. Loves conquer.

Will you go? Will you go? I know you will go. Thank you my friend.