While doing ministry in Davao Oriental, I stopped to meet with my pastor friend who is 76 years old at his family farm on the main highway. Just after we met with each other, one of his family members came running towards us, gripped in terror screaming unintelligible words at us. We finally deciphered that she was saying the NPA (communist rebels) were coming over the ridge and she wanted us to run! Rebels here are known for kidnapping foreigners for ransom. I quickly turned my SUV around and lined it up to go in the opposite direction. Then we hurriedly got my pastor friend into the back of my vehicle as his two daughters tumbled inside after him with their shoes flying everywhere. I waited for a few seconds for his son and son’s wife (the women who was screaming) to get inside, but they weren’t coming. I then felt a strong urgency that I couldn’t delay another second, so I left. We raced for their home town about two hours away.

On the way there, I was low on gas and made a bad decision to buy some unleaded gasoline for my old Ford. Unfortunately, the gas attendant put diesel in my tank in the confusion. Unlike America, you are not allowed to touch the gas pump at gas stations. I normally watch the attendants closely, but felt it was wise to stay behind my tinted windows this time. After I delivered the pastor and his family home safely, I started on another route home. My vehicle started running terribly after that, and I had no idea why. About three hours after the close call with the rebels, I received a call from the pastor’s family saying just a few seconds after we fled, five men with guns took their brother hostage, robbed him of everything (including his clothes).

They also set up a false checkpoint (ambush) on the highway and shot and wounded a policeman. The policeman and his partner drove off a cliff to escape! The Army finally came and ran off the estimated 300 rebels, and our friend was released safely. Thank God I was protected, and the pastor and his daughters were spared too! After that, It took me two days to limp my diesel-infested SUV home. It overheated and blew the radiator hose off twice, and I fixed it myself with my tools and water from the jungle river. Unfortunately, my SUV still needs a lot more expensive repairs now and it really is quite disrupting to my traveling ministry. However, I am most thankful to be alive. Praise God!