Aug. 14, 2008 - They Came to Steal, Kill and Destroy
I promised to write about an event that occurred six years ago which was very significant for our family. Each year since, we have remembered that day in a special way, giving thanks to God for protecting us and for all He did that day.
We were living in Pakistan in 2002 at a school for missionary children (MKs) serving as boarding parents for a group of eleven elementary kids from varying countries (England, Finland, Canada, Korea, Pakistan). Their parents were working all around the country and some in neighboring Afghanistan.
It was Monday morning of the second week back at school in August. Our children (then only Hayley & Jacob, 8 & 6) were down in their respective classrooms and Greg & I were upstairs in our apartment with our language teachers. We had just come back from morning tea and were getting back into work when we heard loud cracks, which some thought might be fire crackers. We rushed to the window and to our horror saw a man standing in the middle of the courtyard firing a machine gun! He was standing only metres away from our children's classrooms. You can imagine our terror as it dawned on us what was happening. We knew that we had been in danger for quite some time. Only recently security at the school had been increased, including new high fencing built around the school and more security guards in place. But they (four men) had infiltrated and were now shooting everywhere, anywhere, smashing windows downstairs, looking for people to kill. We were horrified for our children and scared for ourselves. We retreated into our bedroom - all four of us (Greg & I, & the two language teachers). I hid under the bed and sobbed for our kids, asking God to please have mercy and send His angels.
The shooting lasted for fifteen minutes, along with shouts and the sound of smashing glass. Apart from that there was an evil silence and the moans of people who had been hit.
We are so thankful that God mercifully protected us and our children that day, along with approx. 100 other staff and students on site. Sadly, six people did lose their lives, they were all nationals, guards, bystanders and staff of the school.
In the following days, stories came out about how God had miraculously protected so many. It could have been so much worse.
These men, who attacked us thinking that they were doing a favour for God, also lost their lives. When they were confronted by police they reportedly blew themselves up (one was wired).
In the following days, I read in God's word from John 10:10:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
That is why we choose to make August 5 a day of thanksgiving in our family.
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