INTRODUCTION

MINUTES BEFORE THE MILITARY ATTACK

THE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE RELEASE

SAYING GOODBYE TO CALLIE

CELEBRATING CALLIE'S RELEASE

MADIBA AND THE STRYDOM FAMILY

It has been three weeks since we were violently ripped away from our paradise holiday to the unforgiving jungles of the Southern Philippines and the conditions have deteriorated beyond our worst fears. During these weeks we were subject to little food and water, very few hours of sleep, continuous propaganda and the constant fear of loosing our lives. We have experienced the lows of feeling forgotten by the world and God and the highs when we got a plate of rice (which we had to share between the 21 of us) or seeing a reporter who could be the bearer of good news. We also came face to face with death when the two supposed “rescue attacks” by Philippine military made us running for our lives.

The sound of bullets screaming past our running bodies, cutting through the jungle foliage in front of us and the harrowing experience of trying to escape the incoming mortars, left deep emotional scars and fears. But it was also an experience that altered the way we thought and that brought many new realisations. In these moments we could only hold on to God for strength and courage and guidance. In these moments we realised that a human life is worth nothing to another, that life is cheap, that life can be over in an instant, that we are all destined to die one day and that no one of us had the power to change this. We also realised that there is a God who cares, who hears and who is in charge.

During the last attack, hostages and rebels alike became the hunted. We all had to face death. Whilst flattening myself into the jungle mud to get away from the incoming mortars, I looked up into the eyes of the 18year old rebel who was lying face to face with me. All I could see was a great fear. In that moment I realised that we were all human, that we all feared death. But for me there was grace. I closed my eyes and shared my terrifying fear with God, told Him that I did not want to die, that I still wanted a baby. But also realising that I cannot escape death, I placed my life and destiny in His hands. I was filled with a great peace. The peace of knowing that I do not fear death anymore and the expectation of knowing that I will be with Him soon. I opened my eyes and once again looked into the eyes of the young rebel, stretched wide open with terror and I felt a deep sorrow. How sad it must be to fight for a cause and belief and then not to have any certainty when your time is there….

These attacks were only the beginning of a race between life and death. The Philippine military pursued us like you would hunt down wild animals. They would track us during day time, when we would be hiding out in trenches and battered huts. We would use the cover of night to get away from them as far as possible. The ten to twelve hours hikes up steep hills, down muddy slopes and through dark rivers, left us emotionally and physically exhausted.

This finally stopped a few days ago, when we ended up in rebel camp, high up in a mountain, which location made it impossible for the military to get close to us without losing many men. We are now desperate, it has been nearly a week since we had our last bath in a river. The food is scares and the only source of water is a dripping rock, where you have to stand for hours to collect the water drops on a leaf…

A few days ago the two of us started a prayer group. It is only Aida and Marie who have joined. It is amazing on how similar our prayer requests were. “Please God, set us free”. “God, please help with our release”. “Please God, I want to go home”. Getting more and more urgent by the day. Until Callie stopped us one day, “We are praying for the wrong things. We should stop praying for ourselves and start praying for the poor children in Basilan. They need our prayers much more. They saw their friends being killed, at least we are all still alive”. The reporters who got to our camp in the first week told us about these kids (between the ages of 10 and 14) who were kidnapped the Abu Sayyaf. During an unsuccessful “rescue” operation by the Philippine military, some of the children were killed. We also heard rumours that their teachers were beheaded. Callie was right, they needed our prayers much more than we needed it….

So for the last two days, we have been praying for them. We have set our own needs, our own fears and our own requests aside to pray for their protection, for their safekeeping, for God to step in and secure their freedom. We have suddenly found a mission, a goal and in doing that we have forgotten about our own pain and suffering. We have realised that the challenges we had to face, was not half as bad as what they had to face. We realised that in trusting their fate to God, who are also handing ours over to Him. If He could do a miracle for them, then He would surely not forget us and that He would make things better for us!

It happened today. Just after noon a French reporter, with the help of some rebels, managed to get to our camp. She told us that the Abu Sayyaf will be starting with the release of some of the Basilan hostages. We all silently shouted of joy. Our prayers where heard!

Her next sentence made us realise that not only our prayers where heard, but also our unspoken wishes – the military has been instructed to back away from us and the negotiations for our freedom was about to start…