Colombian Christian Mission

COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
In the jungle and prairie of Southeastern Colombia
Volume 12, Issue 6 June, 1984

GOD'S SPECIAL PROTECTION

Generally I try to focus our newsletter on the work. Its purpose is to inform you of the progress and obstacles in the missionary effort here in Colombia. But, every now and then, an event occurs that merits special mention. An event, or rather a pair of events occurred during the latter part of last year.
Our busy schedule rarely allows time off. So one day when I had an evangelist cancel a flight, we found ourselves with a day that was unexpectedly free. It was sunny so we decided to take the kids to a nearby creek for a picnic. We dressed in our swimsuits, threw some sandwiches in the car and took off. In about twenty minutes we had arrived at the creek and the kids piled out. I stayed near the car to keep an eye on it and the kids as they played in the edge of the water. Jeanie walked up the river bank to do a little beachcombing. Soon she was out of sight around a bend in the river. When she did not return in a few minutes, I began to feel some concern. In Colombia you dare not take anything for granted.
I called the kids out of the water and headed up the creek. In a couple of minutes we met Jeanie as she came down. It turned out that my fears had been well founded. As she rounded the river bend on her way up the river, she had passes a lone man washing his clothes at the river's edge. When he began to follow her she became alarmed and tried to make a rapid retreat. He cut her off and jumped her. They struggled there on the beach as Jeanie screamed for help. But the river drowned out her call and we remained unaware only a few hundred yards downstream. Jeanie's height when compared to that of an average Colombian, gave her more ability to resist than what the attacker had counted on. Rather than risk someone coming to Jeanie's aid, he jerked off her wrist watch and ran. God had protected her in a very dangerous situation and we are thankful that she was not harmed.
The incident did ruin our picnic and we decided to head home. We saw the attacker, sitting calmly by the road, a couple of days later. I reported it to a police friend of mine. His only comment was that we shouldn't go back to that creek and swim. "After all" he said "all people around here are thieves." That's Colombia.
The second incident came about a month later. We were with a couple from Ashland, Ohio with an adoption. Paul and Regina had come down to pick up their kids. I was showing them some of the sights of Bogota. We were returning from visiting the large cathedral that sits on top of a mountain overlooking the center of Colombia's capitol, I was impressed by the seeming tranquility. Perhaps because of that, I lowered my guard and by doing that, I left us open for the attack that followed. I was surprised by a shout. I turned around to see someone jump on Paul's back. At the same instant we were surrounded by a gang of knife brandished thugs. They kept shouting "Give us everything you've got or we'll cut you to pieces. People appeared in doorways and windows as if watching a parade. Regina screamed as one guy jumped her, Paul wrestled with three or four of them, and I danced a jig as I tried to avoid the thrusts of one of long butcher knife.
I kept wanting to aid my two guests, but was unable to take my eyes off the mugger who kept trying to cut a hole in my new suit. I was struck by the fact that one of the attackers was wearing a uniform from the restaurant where we had eaten lunch. I kept praying for help, but our only help was to come from the Lord. Then as quickly as it all began, the thieves withdrew. They trotted away, laughing as they went. They had obviously enjoyed themselves, but they had left us badly shaken. We walked on rubbery knees as fast as we could to get out of the area. A couple of blocks away, we began to take inventory of the event. Paul had lost his camera, Regina had lost her watch, and I had a small cut on the back of my hand.
Truly God had protected us. We had lost nothing of significant value and no one had anything but minor injuries. After such an event it is hard to sleep. The tendency is to lay awake and think about what could have happened. During one such troubled moment, God spoke to me through his word. "Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. They band together against the righteous. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge."


WORK CREW PROJECTS

A few months ago, we wrote about the big project that the work crew built for us here in Villavicencio. At the time they left, everything was roughed in and under roof. For the rest of February and March, we used every free moment to finish up the project. Today at the end of April, I finished putting the final touches on the entire project. We can breathe a sigh of relief as it is all finished. It is so nice that we can hardly thank the work crew enough. The big (12' by 14') bedroom will make a very good storage room. Since it is separate from the main part of the house, we should be able to rent out the house while we are in the States. That will provide some money for the work here while we are gone. Jeanie really appreciates having a bathtub. The kids think it is a swimming pool. There is one final advantage, it will make the house much nicer to come back to after a year in the States.
Again we say thank you to those who participated in the '84 Work Crew project. We will remember you sacrifice and hard work on a daily basis as we use the rooms that you have provided for us. Thanks also to the churches that sent you. It provided us with a meaningful communion with you, through you members of the work crew. May God bless you as richly as you have blessed us!