It seemed to go on for an eternity.  I then saw two teenage girls, Megan and Michelle walking in, oblivious to what was happening, and felt cold fear for the first time.  I shouted at them to get down, which they did.  I asked the ringleader again if I could get the children.  My husband could see the fear in me and gently told me not to panic.  The ringleader told me to shut up.  

He then got angry and said that he was going to search us one by one.  He kicked the chairs, swearing continually.  We prayed on.

And then they were gone!  We were confused, wary, and unsure.  Bev and Jeanette were crying out for their children who were missing.  Panic was rising.  Bruce and some of the men went out with them to search for the kids while the rest of us grouped together in front of the church and prayed and sung hymns.

The 3 kids were found!  They had run up to the babies’ home and phoned the police.  Then they huddled together in prayer.

We gathered the children and youth in the middle of us and prayed for them.  There was an amazing sense of solidarity – unity, bonding, and above it all, an atmosphere of peace.  Care and concern for one another knit us together.

It was an experience I would not be too eager to repeat, yet I feel somehow privileged to have been a part of it.  I learnt of the awesome sense of responsibility of leadership and discovered a deep love for people inside of me.  I learnt that I am not afraid of death and truly it has lost its sting!  I learnt that God’s grace is abundantly available in the times we need it and that it truly is sufficient for us.  I learnt that the peace of God which passes all understanding is more real than we ever thought possible.  I learnt that when one part of the body hurts, the whole body does hurt.  I learnt that material possessions mean absolutely nothing in the light of eternity, even things of sentimental value.  I learnt that the mind and emotions may feel fine, but the body reacts in strange ways to trauma.  I learnt that God gives us an inner strength, which is like reinforced steel.  I learnt that I can truly trust God.  I learnt what thankfulness is.

I don’t know why God allowed this event to take place, but I do know that God is sovereign.  I sense his presence more strongly, but in a different way.  I just KNOW that He is here.  I have a deeper need of Him now.  I have had a few signs of post trauma stress, but He is with me in a real way through it.  God IS good!