In some of the countries where I served, It is so common to see Arab boys (12 and older) and men wearing short swords around their waists and carrying guns that such a sight lost all significance to shock me. I was more concerned about the freshness of this fruit than anything else! However, at certain checkpoints the guns and swords became quite ominous.

Below is a testimony of a faithbuilding experience which occurred while serving for three months this summer in the Arab World. It will be presented in five parts. I pray each part will keep you wanting to know what happened next, and in the end increase your faith and have you PRAISING the Most High for His faithful protection of those He sends into spiritually dark regions and strongholds. My faith was forever changed and strengthened following this experience. I am blessed to know first hand that not only does God equipp who He calls, but who He sends He will ultimately protect.  

The names of my teammates, the countries, and nationalities were deleted, as they would jeopardize future short term trips and those who are now serving long term.

 

My teammates and I had been traveling for nearly five hours on a bus en route from (an Arab country)  into its neighboring country. Although we were on a comfortable and very modern bus equipped with a television and an air conditioner, it was unbearably hot. Because we traveled without male companions, we had been seated at the front of the bus, directly behind the driver, giving him the ability to keep a protective eye on us. Our seating location placed us directly in front of the air conditioner which, in light of the outdoor temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit, initially appeared to be a blessing. Unfortunately, the air conditioner was not properly working and continuously blew hot air directly unto us for the length of this cross country trip!

I remember staring up at the television to view a distinguished looking Arab gentleman on the screen who seemed very passionate about the subject on which he spoke. I struggled to comprehend bits and pieces of his monologue, but found his Arabic much too rapid. I did, however, comprehend his passion and intuitively understood that he was speaking of obedience and devotion to God. It was my own passionate devotion and obedience to Jesus which had brought me halfway around the world and onto this scorching bus. I began to reflect on how ironic it was that both this gentleman and I worshipped and were devoted to the God of Abraham, but how our concept of Who God fully is so greatly differed. Yet we did share a common passion, if not the same understanding. We both also desired the same thing: that others come to accept and know the Most High God. "You worship Whom you do not know" I recalled Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well. This statement is so true of both Muslims and Jews. For to not know Jesus as fully God is not to fully know God. And to not fully know God leaves one open to the deceptions of satan. I pondered about how sad it was for millions of people to identify and worship the one, true God without ever partaking of His salvation or coming into right relationship with Him. I asked myself, "How can one love someone they do not know?" I knew the answer. They can't. That was why every Muslim I had witnessed to had no concept of what it is like to be in a loving relationship with God - as Father, friend, or lover; they only understood what it is to be obedient and respectfully devoted to Him.

Instinctively, I began praying for revelation knowledge for the gentleman who spoke on the television and asked that his passion would be used to inspire and help bring many others to redemption, relationship, and a full understanding of God through His Son, Jesus. After approximately 10 minutes of focused prayer, my concentration began to diminish and give way to the familiar heat induced lethargy which make midday siestas routine in the Middle East. Unable to find relief from the penetrating heat coming through my window, the hot air blowing directly onto me, or the multiple layers of long-sleeved, dark clothing and head covering which I wore, I yielded to the lethargy and slowly drifted away into an uncomfortably deep sleep...

The sudden commotion, harried voices, and tapping on my arm didn't fit into the subject of my dream, but following several seconds of mental confusion I realized that this was an intrusion coming from the real world. The commotion and harried voices came from several soldiers who had boarded the bus. They were barking instructions at the driver. The tapping was from my teammate.

"We're at the border," she whispered. "and they're gonna want our passports and maybe to search our carry-ons."

"Uh huh." I answered, placing my bag onto my lap. "You have
our passports, right?"

I was still groggy and slightly annoyed at being jolted from my dream state. One of the soldiers began moving down the aisles collecting passports from the passengers. As I regained my alertness, I noticed with amazement that the distinguished Arab gentlemen I had prayed for several hours earlier continued his passionate monologue on the television screen.

"That must be some heavy duty Islamic teaching" I mused.

My attention then diverted to teammate #2, who was fidgeting with her scarf, then back onto teammate #1, who looked worried. Teammate #1 was definitely the most cautious and biggest worrier of us three, but on this occasion I read more into her expression. I intuitively knew what she was thinking.

"I doubt they'll go through the trouble of searching all of those bags in the compartments under the bus. Besides, everything's well hidden." I whispered into Teammate #1's ear.   

My confident words did not truly reflect my inner feelings. At that instance I began to seriously worry. Why wouldn't they look in all of the bags? Did I really hide everything well enough? How would we explain those materials if they were found? More soldiers boarded the bus and began methodically searching each carry-on bag. Although I had seen many machine guns on many previous occasions during our trip, they had never before frightened me. Suddenly the guns worn by these soldiers became an ominous sight. Frantically, I began formulating a possible explanation for the contraband materials in our stored luggage. I had determined that if we were to finesse our way out of a sticky situation it would most likely be up to me. Teammate #2 tended not to handle very stressful situations well and Teammate #1  was so overly cautious that she often appeared suspicious even when telling the truth!

My heart sank then began feverishly pounding as I realized that this time I didn't have the quick answer. I knew how to answer if asked whether I was a missionary. I didn't know how to explain why each of us carried contraband materials in our stored luggage. There was no acceptable answer. The materials were clearly to be used for proselytizing (teaching about a religion other than Islam).

And proselytizing in the countries we were traveling in was a serious crime...

 

END OF PART 1

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