Brave because I didn’t know

This happened around 18 years ago. I didn’t watch TV, didn’t listen to the radio and those time we didn’t have either google and WhatsApp.
I told to go to this small island in a country to inaugurate a new church, they said this is the right time and it’s safe because they already signed the peace agreement between two religious politic groups to end the killing. Yes I did hear about the conflict and the war and the killing a bit.

Three of us were going, two of them were men, I was the only woman and the youngest. At that time Rose and El Prince were 15 and 8 years old. They should be fined if I left for ten days mission.

We flew to the main island, landed safety. The country has many islands big and small. I can see from the plane window beautiful beaches, coconut trees but I also see this part of the country not developed yet.

Two men met us at the airport. We were very hungry after a long flight. We’ve been told seafood is fresh and delicious in this place, we look forward to taste it. They put our bags in the car and drove. We thought they were going to take us for a meal. They drove and drove by the way of the sea, I enjoyed the beautiful island but why so quiet? Where are all the people? The longer we drove the more remote and no traffics not even I see people around. 
Not one of us asked a question. My friend finally asking, “Is it possible we stop somewhere and buy food?” One of the men said, “Yes we know you’re all hungry but it’s not safe to stop and eat in this part of the island. We have to cross the “border” between two religious  politic area then we can stop and safe. “What do you mean?” Made me more curious. “This part of the island is belong to the other religion we have to be at Christian area before sundown.” He explained. “I thought they already signed peace agreement, cease fire, cease killing! That’s I heard from the news,” one of us said. “Yes they did but still isn’t safe, there isn’t open war now but still things happen,” he smiled. In my heart I said, ooo Olive….what’s trouble you’re into now. ( I didn’t know number one)

We crossed a small river. “We are on safe ground”, they were saying it happy. The car stopped at very humble food stall, I didn’t remember what I ate and how was the taste….because I was too hungry. And also the two men kept telling us to eat quickly, “We are going to take a boat to reach another island before the sky become dark.”

We drove again, the road was bumpy and many holes. We stop at a small river went down with our bags and sat at a small speedboat.We sailed by the river, nice weather all good. Then the boat went to the open sea….suddenly the roller coaster started. The wave was so high like a mountain, the boat going up following the wave it was thrilled I didn’t mind but…but after that the boat is going down as the wave going down that’s very scary. Seems like the boat jump from a very stiff cliff….down…down…and touch the bottom. I didn’t like it…I want to run…I want to get out of the boat. ( I didn’t know number two)

I prayed hard and thinking what shall I do if the boat sink? I’m not a good swimmer. Should I take out my booth now so it won’t be to heavy in the water? This is an open sea, anything could happened. After one and a half hour up and down the roller coaster wave we reached the island. Thank God we all safe and no one experienced seasick. 
They took us to our place to stay for the next three days. It was a resort. They said the owner is kind enough to let us stay there for free.
When I walked around I see no one….I see rooms were empty no body stayed. The glass windows were broken, some doors were not there anymore. This is an abandoned resort. Looks like during the conflict they left and since then never been opened. 

They gave us three keys, I took one. Open the door, the key went in but the door didn’t want to open….I tried again and again at the same time push the door….I took a breath when it’s open, praise the Lord. Inside one simple wooden bed, a table , a chair, I could smell dusty air in the room. I looked at the bathroom, very dirty and rusty. 

They took us around the compound. Our rooms were facing the sea…so near so beautiful. I can sit in front of my room look directly to the open sea. I heard that one of the beautiful sea in the world is in this place, people from all the world came snorkeling, diving in this part of the world. They point a place not very far, it’s a fortress build during First World War, a famous fortress in the history. Tomorrow I will go there I said in my heart. They said this island is a small island, very small so they don’t have a bank in the island. It’s surprise me, “What???!! You mean everyone keep their cash at home?” “Yes.” He smiled. “On the way to the resort I saw market by the road side, small stalls, small restaurants, you mean everyone brought their money at home every day?” He explained, the bank is in the bigger island, people took a speedboat and keep their money there.Wow it’s an easy target for a robber. Hmmmm…..

They gave us a broom, a mop…to clean it all. I like cleaning so I have no complaint. I closed my door and changing ready to clean. One girl came to help me. After we finished, I wanted to go out at sit by the beach and drink my coconut. I tried to open the door, not moved at all. I pulled and pulled not even moved. I called my friends from the other room to help pushed from outside still can’t. I open the small window and jumped out. Thank God I small so I can squeeze through. For three days I come in through the door and come out through the window. Hahahahhah.

 
The girl who helped me seems didn’t want to go, I saw she brought a bag. I asked her are you going to stay. Yes she said to company me because at night sometime bad people came even though we already have peace agreement. Why is surprised come after another? ( I didn’t know number three) I told her nicely, you can go home, don’t worry I will be alright. First she insisted but I kept assuring her, I’m okay. She left me with big smile, she was happy to go home, nice bed at home with her family instead in this room, I guess. 
I have reason why I tell her to go home. Because if anything bad happened let’s say there is an attack or ambush, I have to take responsibility to safe her too. If I’m alone I just run and safe myself. In the past I have gone through an emergency situation where my mission partner got scared and can’t run, stuck in her place and cried frantically. Make the situation more difficult for both of us. Olive I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, she said it in tears. In that situation I have to overcome my own fear, keep hope a life, strengthen my self, brain work fast what to do, I can’t carry burden of two persons in fear, that’s too much for that particular situation. I didn’t want that happen again while the girl is with me.

The night passed I slept fast and sound. I woke up early doing my morning prayer and walked to the fortress. No one there, it’s a pity they abandoned this historical fortress. I walked to every rooms including the prisons. I can felt the horror in the atmosphere. Not as horror as when I visited Auschwitz Camp.
I walked back to my room by the beach I saw kids from the village playing with the sand, swimming at the open sea, they swam far, they just little kids. They didn’t scared of drowning or shark,

Three great days in the island, we visited families and prayed for them. One day before we move to a bigger island I talked to the local people who are with us, please rent the biggest boat possible. I want a big boat not like last time. I will pay. He said he already booked the biggest speedboat. We were happy.

We left the resort by 5 am. We walk through a footpath, high grass on both sides, we used flashlights. Why? I didn’t understand. Finally I saw the boat by the river, I was shocked, the boat is small…yes is slightly bigger than the last boat but still small. I tap the man, “ I want a big boat”.  “This is the biggest boat, look at the engines, this boat have four engines.” He pointed to the engines with his flashlight. I see…what I meant was the size but for them in here big means how many engines. ( I didn’t know number four)

I have no choice, besides three of us, the musician team from the local church also joined, six of them. They brought their music instruments as well, guitar, keyboard, speakers. Ooo the boat is small and so many things they brought. I didn’t like it. It think it’s too much load, over weight. 
They started the engines we sailed, slowly by the shore. The leader showed us the islands we passed….we can’t sail too close to those islands, they have snipers, they can shoot us from a far. So…why you sailed so close…can’t you go further? I only said that in my heart. They still asleep that’s why we left early morning, he calmed us like he knew our heart. ( I didn’t know number five) 

I sent here to inaugurate a church but I got many unexpected bonuses.
The same like before, the wave so high…higher and higher. The musicians said this is just normal wave, certain season even higher and we can’t sailed. Praise the Lord for a safety journey.
We arrived at the bigger island, I can see many cars, big road. Children are walking to the school, farmers are going to their field. Daily life just begin. 
They took us to the pastor house where we’re going to stay for fours days. We stopped by the main road. I see grass field bigger than a soccer field and in the middle of it a small house. The pastor and his wife was kind to give their bedroom for me. 

That night before we slept. The pastor told us what happened during the conflict/war. He said behind the tress at the back of his house is an open sea. Those times at night many hired soldiers from Afghanistan and Kazakstan came boat by boat. They killed people in the island, the political issue said they want annihilated the whole tribe. I can take you to see the proof that they landed in here and the remnant they left behind, also the skulls and the bones. Thank God it’s over both sides signed the peace agreement, I said. The pastor continue, yes it was true but still they are people who didn’t follow the agreement and attack civilians. We sleep every night surrender our life to God and His protection. ( I didn’t know know number six) 

Ooo another scary night hahhahahhah. I went to bed and honestly I did think. If there is an attack tonight what shall I do? Where to run?  Outside  the house is grass field, where to hide? Is there any hidden place in this small house? I don’t think so. Lord Jesus as you protected me before, you will protect me again. Thank you Jesus. Amen. I slept in peace no bad dreams, woke up very fresh. 
The next day was the inauguration, all went well. I shovel the ground and plant a tree. We prayed give thanks to God. 

The pastor said, we are going have delicious dinner, fish and all kind of seafood by one a family house in the church. I excited. It’s quite far at the other side of the island. We reached there after sunset. 
I enjoyed the food, fresh seafood, great cook. After that they served local desserts, we all sat at the veranda of the house, it’s dark very dark. The house was by the main road but no street light. Across the road was mountain, jungle.

 We sat and sharing testimony, we laughed too. They shared during the conflict people tried their best to defend themselves and their families. Young kid from the age of seven or eight when they heard a sound of a gun they knew what type of rifle was that. Boys started at the age of eleven, twelve they were very good in shooting. They can shoot in the dark without people knowing they were there. You see the mountain in front of us, snipers can shoot from there to this place. And still there are snipers hide in the mountain. He said it very lightly. Hi….now I sat exactly facing the dark mountain and you said there are snipers there? In my heart only. I wanted to move inside but my butt can’t move, glue to the chair.  ( I didn’t know number seven )

The time to go back to the main island before we take a flight home.This time I was quite happy, the boat was big. Around twenty five passengers. Not very big boat actually, this was the biggest I saw though. 
I climbed the boat and saw two long rifles on the left another two on the right. Why is passenger boat have rifles on board? The pastor who was with me explained. We are going to pass by conflict islands, if they attack us we can protect ourselves. And sometimes they were pirate too. ( I didn’t know number eight) He said it with no worries tones. I guess they used to it, life goes on.

Why people want to rob others joy? Can’t we live in peace and love? 
Once again the trip was okay, the wave still the same, very high, up…up and going down very stiff…what a roller coaster! I began to adjust I think. 
We flew home glad to able to kiss and hugs my children again.
Would I took the trip if I knew???? If I knew all will be alright, I might take it. But I didn’t know at all. In this life there are many things I don’t know, I will face a situation that I don’t know. BUT my Abba Father is omniscient, all knowing. 

His words is my hope and strength; Lord you know everything there is to know about me. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm.