Update:
Thursday evening, April 28th, my roommate and I left school around 6:30pm, just a little after sunset. We never leave school at the same time because of the different after school activities that we teach or lessons that we take.
This night, as usual, the cars were lined up on Jacaranda Ave. After walking past the park, and continuing on Jacaranda there is a small side street to cross. There were three men walking on the opposite sidewalk. We always try to take note of who is around us, especially when it is later and a lot of men are getting off of work. They did not end up not being the problem.
As we took a step off the curb a car pulled up. Normally cars pull up and then quickly pull out into the street, so we walk behind them to avoid getting hit. Therefore we kept walking and when we got behind the car, three men got out of the right side and then two got out of the left side. They quickly and quietly surrounded us. They definitely knew what they were doing. I do not remember everything, but at some point Kari and I got separated and we both started screaming. I remember thinking that we needed to run away, but when I spun around the men were taking Kari’s bag. My first reaction was to try and get it back, but then I saw that they had two guns, one pointed at her face. I knew that attempting to fight agains theses 5 men with 2 guns would be pointless. I remember wondering, Are they going to take us and what might happen to us, LORD help us! They touched my backpack, and I thought they were going to take it next, but the next second they were gone, I think because we were screaming so loudly and causing a commotion. In Kari’s bag she had her Mac laptop, camera, cell phone, USB, Bible curriculum book, Lesson plans, and various papers from school.
We watched the car pull away still screaming. I looked around and saw the three men on the sidewalk were still there. They just stared at us and kept walking. No one did anything. This is something that is very difficult to accept, I kept waiting for someone to ask if were okay or say anything. We pass 3, 4, sometimes five men who are security guards on our way to and from school. I was in shock from what happened and then even more stunned that no one came to help us. We kept walking home and passed the door to Casuarinas school. We had been screaming so loudly they came to the window of their side door and asked what happened. We both started talking at once, Kari in English and me in Spanish. I was trying to think of the words in my Spanish as quickly as I could to explain what had happened. The two women quickly realized I was having trouble and that Kari was speaking in English and they said, "Speak in English we understand." They had us come to their main door and let us in. Kari and I were both so thankful to be able to express ourselves in English. The people there were wonderful, comforting and helpful. They had their guards walk us home.
Once we got home, we hugged each other and prayed. Then we called the school principal, Nancy, and Katy, a friend and fellow teacher. Katy was able to come over and she took us to the police station. It was good to go out and do it on the same night.
Kari and I have been processing this whole situation. We were reminded that what we experienced, while it was traumatic, was nothing compared to what believers faced in Bible times and what Christians go through all over the world. We were not even physically harmed. We are praising God for his protection!
People have asked us, “Are you going to leave and go back to the USA?” Right now, God is giving us peace that He has called us here for a reason and that He is protecting us. God does not call us to live easy lives, He calls us to be obedient to Him because He knows the big picture and is working out His purpose in our lives.
Before I came to Peru, many people asked me about safety concerns or why I would want to go to another country where it might not be as safe as I would be living back home in Iowa. I often replied with a quote that I heard 4 years ago.
“The safest place for a me to be is in the center of God’s will.”
-Marilyn Laszlo, missionary to Papua New Guinea
I still believe this quote and now is the time to live out the faith that have proclaimed so many times before.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:2
God is bring us peace, but there are still many things that we need to work through, and I’m sure more questions, feelings, and emotions will come up as we go on.
Please pray for:
-Our emotions, and sense of security. We want to be wise and take as many precautions as we can, but we also do not want to live in a spirit fear.
-That God would erase the memory, and the images from our minds, I think God has already been allowing the memory to fade for me. We are so blessed to serve a God who is all powerful!
-The school (MCS) and the missions agency (ABWE) that Kari is through are taking setting up extra precautions for us that will come into place this week. Although we are very glad the people are concerned and care for us, please pray that we adjust because it can be feel overwhelming to have to leave school at a certain time or always have an escort.
-Above all, pray that God would use this circumstance to bring Him glory, to draw me closer to Him, and allow me to be a testimony to those around me!
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I love hearing from my friends and family back home! Every message and comment brightens my day and reminds me the God has blessed me with an amazing support base who are lifting me up in prayer! Thank YOU!
by His grace,
natalie
