Ahh...humor. Yes, most Christians have a well developed sense of humor. Some, like me, have an over-developed sense of humor.
As most of us war Vets know, courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is action in defiance of fear. When bullets are flying all about your head and explosions ripping your eardrums apart, it's a liar standing before you that proclaims he acted without fear. fear produces heroes, and heroes rarely look like Rambo.
Look at Jesus Christ, look at his disciples after his ressurection, look at David facing Goliath, look at Moses facing the Pharoah, look at Paul in prison, look at Stephen... look at yourself.
When I tell Jesus, "I'm bored."
He replies, "Come on! Let's go arm wrestle Satan!" He says that with a mischievous grin across his face.
Nothing about my Lord is boring or everyday.
CHAPTER 15
THEY GOT SAMUEL!
The encrypted call to Mossad HQ was met with an immediate "Repeat!"
The agent on the other end repeated in a calm but urgent voice, "Boko Haram - they got Samuel."
Hadar Gabbai, the Mossad Chief of Operations, sensing something in the "Repeat" order, motioned for the headset of the operator.
"Hadar here. Details, please."
The Operative gave only the needed and most precise details, "Sir, Ambush by Boko Haram in NW operational sector Nigeria. Prisoner taken, Samuel, no others. Several non-serious Team wounds, still effective operational. No escorting party wounded. Mabior in charge and gathering local info on terrorist heading and possible aim point. Request special assist ground track team while enroute. Have special Nigerian track team with us."
Hadar responded, "Track Team activated as we speak. Respond only as essential. Roger, out."
As Hadar handed the headset back to the operator, he was asked about Samuel's welfare.
Hadar turned and smiled, "I think this: I think Boko Haram has their hand's full. Put in a call to Leah. She may wish to be a part of the track team." He walked out of the room with a smile that had taken on a roguish shade. As he swung the door open, he turned back with a suggestion born of his experience concerning Samuel, "Tell you what. Don't look where Boko Haram might be taking Samuel. No - look where Samuel might be taking Boko Haram."
The room erupted in laughter. One of the men remarked, "Now, we're using intelligent thinking."
__________________________
Mabior and The Team were hot on Boko Haram's track.
Alek, beside Mabior, whispered almost to himself, "It's almost as if Samuel wanted to be captured."
Mabior, in an intense concentration, took time to comment on Alek's words, "I agree. It's a crazy tactic, but one that Samuel would come up with."
The Team's scouts, Alier and Kuol, the twins, came up to Mabior dragging a Boko Haram member by his legs with his hands twist tied behind his back wearing a look of horror on his face.
Kuol announced, "Mabior, I have the pleasure to present Mr. Boko Haram lookout for their main camp."
Alek set about kicking the prisoner, but was interrupted by Mabior's leg.
"Alek, calm, my brother. There will be time for that and much worse if he doesn't talk," then he turned and smiled at the man on the ground.
____________________________
A man rushed breathlessly into the Mossad Intelligence room shouting, "We've picked up his signal! He's wearing a tracker. We know exactly where Samuel is!"
In his office across the hall from the Intel room, Hadar heard the courier shouting his glad tidings. He rushed into the room, previously reserved, but now erupting into a maniacal scene. He took in the spectacle, saying, "I knew It! Oh, Samuel, you sweetheart of our Lord!"
The man wearing the headset that was still attached while jumping up and down, yelled atypically at Hadar, "You called it, Sir! You said, 'Boko Haram has their hands full.'"
________________________________
The Mossad operative made his way to Mabior and Alek with a deleted stoic expression that had changed to an ear to ear smile. "Mabior, Samuel's wearing a tracker!"
Mabior stopped like a semi-truck applying the air brakes. Alek ran into him from behind as he overheard the news. The rest of The Team, sensing the gravity of something huge, all abandoned military protocol in a combat situation, and rushed to surround Mabior and the Mossad Agent.
Info was dispensed as it came in from Israeli Intelligence. Two American Blackhawk helos landed in an pre-arranged cleared and safe area. It was the Sayeret Matkal Tracker-Recon Team. The Team had worked with them extensively in Iran recently. It was the additional personnel that surprised everyone.
The familiar Recon Team members exited slowly with gear. The Team helped the Recon deploy satellite equipment.
Amani stood up and began running to the second helo that had touched down. Mabior thought, "What is going on. Is there a Threat?"
Amani soon let the cat out of the bag, "Leah!" Leah and Samuel had semi-adopted Amani after their marriage. He was the Godfather of Aliza Winston, Leah's daughter. Then, Amani yelled, "Natalya!"
All The Team came running. The presence of Leah and Natalya Fedorov was special to these men. They might be female, but, like Mrs. Akech and Ruth Iverson, they were Team members, royalty.
After things settled a bit and equipment unloaded, Leah turned to Mabior and Alek, "We're bringing Samuel home. Mabior, you're his commanding officer, what got into his head that he could do something like this without approval?"
Alek jumped in to defend Mabior, "Leah, this is typical Samuel Nathanael Winston! He has done things just like this since day one on the team. Mabior had no clue what he was about to do, just like the Chief never had any idea what he was about to pull off!"
"Alek, Mabior, I'm so sorry. Before we were married, had a child, the dangers stayed hidden in the back of my mind. He tells me often that he is serving God, not man. If his life is ended, it is ended serving God, not a country, not a man, not an idol."
The unit spent time planning then proceeded to get some rest before engagement with the enemy not so far away the following day.
Next morning just before sunrise, The Team moved into position before the main hideout of the most notorious terrorist group in Africa, Boko Haram. Founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf in northeastern Nigeria, the organization was hell-bent on overthrowing the Nigerian government and establishing an Islamic State of terrorists.
Hosseini and Thon, the ambush specialists of The Team, were set up in an advantageous zone beside the trail into Samuel's indicated position. Thon, always the one to add a little lightheartedness to an intense situation, sent the signal by sat-phone that he and Hoss (as The Team nicknamed Hosseini) were ready to rescue Little Joe and retake the Ponderosa.
Mabior took in a deep breath as he typed the go signal on his sat-phone, a laughing face that fit into what Thon had in mind.
The Ambush Team pair stood up while near by in the pre-dawn darkness a group of men were scattered about in various forms of relieving oneself. they tossed four flash bang grenades that actually aided any of the men suffering from constipation. After that action, the pair let loose with their Scars weapons fully auto.
At those sounds, the entire force of The Team and Sayeret Matkal that had penetrated the camp from many directions opened up on the grass huts and anywhere men slept. The surprise and the fear from the action created total havoc and pandemonium among Boko Haram.
Samuel, chained and bound in a hut with two guards ordered to immediately kill him should this expected event take place. Well, that would have been the situation had not two women put a 9 mm bullet through each one's foot while two of the fastest men alive cut through the back of the hut to kill anyone attempting to harm Samuel, Garang and Chol. By the time the shooting started, the two had entered the hut and cut Samuel loose while placing a Scars rifle in his hands. They were not insulted that they only received a smile from Samuel for their efforts to free him. They loved one another, and they expected no pat on the back for doing their job during intense situations such as this.
The two ladies outside had counseled the two guards after shooting them that if one hair has been mussed upon the man insides head, they would make any future baby making impossible for the two men.
You may wonder, what was Natalya doing there? Natalya and Leah had become best friends through Alexi's association with The Team. She had been visiting when Leah got the call about Samuel's abduction. You see, before Natalya met Alexi and became a Christian through his influence, she was one of the most heartless and bloodthirsty liquidators in the KGB. She would tell people in her Christian speeches that Christ can soften the heart of even the most despicable of humans, like her, and turn them into kind and loving people. She personally gave aid to the two guards along with Leah. Shortly after, the two gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Today the two guards work in some of the most dangerous Jihadist areas of Africa bringing the life-giving message of the Good News.
Few of the Boko Haram encountered in the hideout had to be killed or wounded thanks to the total surprise of the attack. However, there is much work to still be done. Violent Jihadism fueled many times by an abundance of drugs and ignorance of the general population plague Africa in the wilderness or back country areas. The Lord's work can be dangerous for merely spreading the message of love. We must continue our Lord's work for it is our commission.
When people are confronted with a message of forgiveness by a loving and graceful God, they usually take time to contemplate upon this strange message. Give them the time they need, and reinforce it by being an example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This forgiveness and love by God, himself, is not offered in Islam nor any other religion. Spread this Good News with its special message that it alone offers. With simple faith you are forgiven of your sins and loved by the creator, himself, Lord of all. So, my brothers and sisters go and sin no more.
"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
You are kidding yourself...
If you think drugs are the direction of peace.
If you think money is the answer to your problems.
If you think material things bring comfort in difficult times.
If you think YOU can do it alone.
If you think Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life...
You're absolutely correct and on the way to peace and comfort against all things.
Come to where we do not hate, we love
Come to where there are no magical hoops to jump through, no monthly or yearly dues to pay...
To Jesus Christ our loving Lord and Savior who died for our sins, and because of this, he defeated death for us, the ones he loves.
CHAPTER 14
God is more eager to answer than we are to ask - Smith Wigglesworth
The jungle wrapped the captives and their captors, the Fulani militants, in its unbearable humidity and vegetation like a suffocating plastic bag. The Muslim militants were busy doing Allah's will, which is usually stealing, killing, and slaving. Bound only by the fear of being shot if they ran, the captives sat on their knees with heads bowed. Most chose this moment to silently ask for God's holy intervention. For two days, it seemed as though their Christian God had capitulated to the Fulani God, Allah.
The Fulani Ethnic Militia, aka Fulani Herders, aided by Al-Shabaab, aka Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, aka the Islamic Emirate of Somalia, focus was what is referred to as the Middle Belt of Nigeria. They are also active in the north and south of Nigeria, but not as their focal point. The Fulani modus operandi is stealing farm land from the poorly armed Christian farmers. This is done through extreme violence against Christians known for their non-violent resistance. It seems as though the Nigerian government is more intent on lining their pockets than protecting Nigerian farmers. The rural violence matters little to city dwellers nested in their cozy, secure homes. After all, the rurals are dirty, sweaty, and ignorant people of no worth to us important people of the cities. The life and death of those paltry and inferior - dirty people are of no significance to the City People.
Omar Elmi Dihoud, leader of this Fulani group, entered the area occupied by the captives surrounded by his inbred security unit, putting on a third-rate acting job like they were the most powerful and holiest of men. The comic retinue demanded respect by kicking the kneeling captives.
Omar shouted in a squeaky, close to feminine, voice that didn't seem to fit the man who thought of himself as the most feared and respected Muslim militant in African history.
There were 27 shabby-looking Fulani militants in total, with their 12 captives. Clothing was a big problem for the militants. Their clothing was so oversized or undersized that it made them look more like circus clowns than soldiers. At one point, a militant's pant leg was stepped on by another militant, bringing the man down flat on his face, causing his unsecured AK to discharge, hitting another militant in the posterior.
Don't mistake these men for something they are not by their buffoonery and antics. These Fulani men are merciless and cruel. They violently removed the heads of their captives more often than not without a second thought. Frequently, with a smile pasted across the face that contained the empty and godless eyes, these men would plunge a knife into the back of a child or put a gun to the head of a wife in front of their spouse to make them both beg Allah for mercy. If not, they both were executed in front of the other captives.
The day's light was giving way to the darkness of night. Captives were made to watch as the militants stuffed their mouths with Suya, seasoned goat meat, skewered over a fire. A crude circle was formed around the fire by the thugs. Roasting goat meat, talking, and laughing while they passed around the Captagon and amphetamine.
The captives were neither offered food nor drink. Remaining on the ground on their knees for hours at a time tended to cause cramping and joint stiffness. Captives held little value. Their land was the prize. Lives of captives ended when the Fulani had drained all the fun from their misery, and that time was quickly approaching.
After finishing supper in front of the starving captives, Omar stood. His words were, "Let the after-supper entertainment begin."
The men laughed and stood up while reaching for their AK47s and some reached for their knives in scabbards. The party was entering its final phase, the rampage killing phase. The captives knew what was coming. It was a common pattern of the Fulani butchers. They didn't kill for Allah. That was just an excuse. Any civilized society doesn't allow people to be butchered. Yet, their Muslim god demanded it.
One of Omar's bodyguards produced a folding chair from some obscured place for Omar, the king, to sit while observing his people dealing justice to these evil Christian farmers.
As Omar sat down surrounded by his royal bodyguards, his head exploded from the impact of some unknown weapon. That event seemed to be the signal for a hailstorm of bullets that began piercing the skulls of all 27 Fulani militiamen. As the bodies fell, they sometimes landed upon one of the captives, who screamed in terror, thinking they had been shot.
Slowly, out of the jungle emerged many men in camouflage with strange instruments on their faces. The men with their SCARs leveled and sweeping the area, saying over and over, "You're safe, we're Christians."
None of the captives moved until the men began touching them softly, asking, "Are you hurt? We have food and water with us."
A young man warily twisted his downturned head to look at the men invading the clearing and declaring themselves to be Christians. Maybe five seconds later, he shouted, "God answered our prayers! You're The Team, aren't you?"
A tall man standing near the young man who shouted, bent down, answering, "Yes, God has answered your prayers, and, yes, we are what is known as The Team. You are safe now. I am Mabior, and these are my brothers who have answered your cry to God."
All the captives sat upright at that announcement. Most began to sob uncontrollably. One captive touched The Team member nearest to her, whispering, "You are Samuel, the one who is short in height, but tall in courage."
Samuel bent down, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Can I pray for you?"
Sobbing, the woman grabbed his hand and that of her husband next to her, answering, "Yes, you must pray for all these brothers and sisters of ours. They have lost all their land, houses, and, most of all, their children."
Samuel smiled at them and stood up. He pointed to the edge of the clearing.
All the captives screamed and stood with arms extended. Their children came running to each set of parents. They were saved. It was time to celebrate God's grace.
Alek organized the food and water dispensing. It was difficult for Alek. He tries his best to be tough and aloof, but he was crying so hard that Armani told him to sit down and let him handle this duty.
Samuel went from family to family, praying with them and asking for any immediate needs. Later, after everyone was fed, Samuel gathered everyone to pray over the dead.
Dok whispered into Diemba's ear, "We - we Christians - we really are so different from the world."
Diemba just shook his head while staring at Dok with a look that expressed just how dramatic and powerful that simple declaration is.
Shortly after the prayer, Mabior walked through The Team with two fingers raised high while shouting, "Part two, part two, men. Akunna is here. Load the trucks with the rescued. Part two begins as soon as loaded."
Alek signalled Mar and Thon to activate the red landing flares for the helos coming in to transport The Team to part two of their piece of the mission. Alek grabbed Artie by his body armor, asking, "Are the American cruise missiles on the way and on time?"
Artie was in full serious mode, "Yeah, and we need to be at position two when those Yanks begin hitting the camps, and the Reaper drones start firing. As those Fulani, Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram boys get hit, they'll come running down that trail. Mate - it will get intense, fast," and he smiled a smile filled with memories of just such confrontations.
Mabior yelled, "Choppers incoming! Landing site - now!"
The Blackhawks had scarcely set down before they had their passengers loaded and were away into the moonless and clear night. The trucks commanded by the fearless servant of God, Akunna, were rumbling down the rutted trail toward safety with their precious cargo. Bodies of lifeless and previously dangerous militants lay in what looked like an arranged pattern on the ground. These bodies and a few worthless items of human trash were all that remained of the militant sanctuary turned cemetery. But the night still held work for the godly; savage work.
Akunna had instructed the other drivers to sing gospel hymns to soothe worried and weary souls on the journey to safety. On the helos, Samuel, on the number one helo, led the men in gospel hymns that seemed to drown out the noise of the motor. On helos two and three, Shermake and Mar led the gospel singing.
Alek looked at Giff, who was singing loudly and off-key, as usual, but had a couple of tears slowly rolling down his cheeks. Alek managed in the tightly packed compartment to get his arm around Giff's shoulder while smiling. Alek was tough and a man of few words except for ranging weapons and artillery, but he had a deeply compassionate side that could shock those who saw it for the first time.
Alek told Giff, "Never, ever, be afraid to ask God anything. For protection or anything, Giff. He is God the Father. He loves us more than we can ever imagine."
At that moment, the co-pilots on all three helos turned toward the passengers, giving a full five-finger signal that the men knew meant five minutes to touchdown. The men put their night vision goggles on and loaded rounds into weapons and pistols. It was go-time.
Ahh...humor. Yes, most Christians have a well developed sense of humor. Some, like me, have an over-developed sense of humor. Thank...
