Special Weekend

Last week we had visitors from Liberia - Jethro & Rebecca Barclay. He is the District Overseer for the entire country. This was their first vacation ever. Their experiences were amazing, as you can imagine. Once again makes you realize how much we take for granted in the US.

One time they left for a convention and found out there was nothing to go back for - their area was under attack. So they literally only had the clothes on their back. Of course, the friends took them in and gave them clothes. About a week later, they decided to try to go back and see if there was anything left. It was a 5 hour walk. On the way, bombs started going off in front of them with people getting killed by them. They tried to turn around, but bombs starting going off behind them too. Bro. Barclay said that he stopped to help a woman who had fallen, and by the time he picked her up, his wife was gone. He said, "I never knew my wife could run so fast."

But my favorite experience was when they were walking home from a theocratic event with other brothers and sisters. The rebel forces captured them (along with non-Witnesses) to use them as human shields to attack their enemies. Bro. Barclay and two other brothers kept asking to speak with the commander, who finally granted them an audience after several pleas. The brothers explained that they were JW's. The commander said he knows JW's - they are good people - and told them to go back and write down all the names of the Witnesses and he would let them go. The non-Witnesses overheard what was going on, so immediately came over and said they were Witnesses too. The commander realized what was happening so said to forget the list. He told all Witnesses to stand on one side and all non-Witnesses to stand on another side. But everyone stood with the Witnesses. The commander finally let them all go, but said they would capture the next group of people and no one would be released. But by the time all this happened, all the other brothers & sisters who were behind them had already passed that area and were safely on their way home!

We had the privilege of meeting them in San Antonio for an afternoon (where the above picture was taken) and hosting them for brunch on Sunday with everyone on our property coming. Even though we'll probably never see them again in this old world, they certainly left an impression on us that we'll never forget, and renewed our efforts to pray for our brothers and sisters in Liberia!