I’ve been wanting to send out prayer requests on several subjects, but I was waiting for some glitches on the website to be cleared up. Thanks, Stephen! The requests have to do with the youth ministry, with future plans, with health, and with personal security. Due to recent events, this note will focus on the latter request.
History: One night several months ago, about 9:30, I was walking home from downtown. When I was within two blocks of home a man approached. I’m sure he was going to rob me, but I asked him to continue on his path because I was going somewhere else. Fortunately, he disappeared.
Just before I left on the trip to Canada in December, thieves tried to break into the door beside my building at 3 am. They were scared off when lights came on. That night there was a break-in several houses down the street.
Last Saturday I was on my way home from the youth ministry just before 11 pm and encountered police on the street a few houses up from my place. Apparently about 10:30 thieves tried to steal a truck and shots were fired.
Tuesday night: Last night I was on my way home from a meeting using a reputable taxi line just before midnight. The taxi stopped where I get out, but before getting out, a motorcycle with two young men passed and parked in front of the taxi. The guy on the back got off and pulled a gun on us. Before the taxi driver could react, he had the gun in his side and was being relieved of the car keys, his cell phone and the money in his shirt pocket. I tried to get my cell phone out to hide it, but only got the backpack open before he reached the car. The guy with the gun wanted to know what I was hiding and what was in my hand. I told him I wasn’t hiding anything and that it was my keys in my hand. He wanted the keys, but I asked if I could keep them (trying to keep the situation calm). He asked again and by this time his accomplice was opening my door. He was looking for something hidden and I repeated that I hadn’t hidden anything, ignoring the gun guy who was still asking for the keys. The accomplice went back on the driver’s side. When the gun guy asked again for my keys (all the while he was distracted robbing the taxi driver and I was imploring him to leave my keys with me), the accomplice opened the back door on that side (supposedly to get the keys), but saw my backpack and thought he had struck gold. He grabbed the backpack and they took off.
I’m very grateful to God for His protection. I know the keys weren’t worth my life and I would have given up the keys if the tension had risen, but since they were trying to keep things quiet and he was asking instead of demanding and they weren’t being violent, I didn’t want to hand them over and I’m glad I didn’t. I was able to go home and feel safe, even though I didn’t sleep all night.
The only thing of value lost was the pre-paid cell phone. Fortunately most of the numbers are written somewhere else, but not all of them. I had about $10 in change for paying taxis and the materials we were going to use for the youth ministry this weekend and some odds and ends. I was concerned about them having copies of my ID, but was relieved to find them in the purse I had used in the afternoon when I got money from the bank. (Catch the reference to the fact that I didn’t have all that money on my person either!) So I’m also grateful to God that I didn’t have to take further actions like block bank cards and could wait until morning to have the phone blocked.
Minutes later, a neighbour I hadn’t met yet, pulled up. He asked what had happened and when he found out that the car keys had been stolen, he went to his car. He came back with a couple of keys to try in the ignition. Would you belief the car started on the first try! They were the keys to his car of the same make, so he let the taxi driver take the keys so he could get home and take care of his car this morning, returning the keys by noon. Thank God for good neighbours.
I’m sure you’ve figured out that my request here is for the Lord’s protection. Apart from incidents like this that could happen anywhere at any time, my apartment is on the sidewalk at the end of a park. The office below is closed at night and the two houses on either side open onto the streets, so I always feel vulnerable when I return home at night. The park is lit and I love having it there, but it’s still lonely at night, so please do continue to pray for safety.
I also wanted to let you know that I posted a ton of photo links. Go to the website at brendamatthews.missynew.ws and click on the title under Photos. All the new ones begin with Piura and one with Ecuador. Enjoy!
Grateful for your prayer support!
Brenda
