I awoke to the shrill screams of the girls next to me. What time was it? 2am? 3am? It was so dark in our room. The layout? Beds lined up to fit all thirteen of us girls snuggly with about an inch of space in between. I sat up quickly attempting to assess the situation. Why wouldn’t my eyes adjust. Was there an animal in the room? No…the screams sounded too frightened. I noticed way too many shadows at the window and then a voice of desperation confirmed my fears. “Everyone wake up, THERE’S A MAN IN HERE!”
Sounds pretty close to a nightmare. But no, this was real life for thirteen of us girls a few nights ago. These are things we never imagine happening to us personally. We live in a safe neighborhood. We lock our doors at night. But this happens all the time.
I couldn’t help but flashback to childhood fears. The want to be safe. The want to throw the covers over my head and call out for my mom.
Here is the account told by my squad mate.
” We stayed up talking for a while and were all asleep by about midnight. I suddenly woke from a dead sleep and really felt the lords presence telling me “wake up wake up…think. What’s going on.” I immediately became wide awake. As I was laying there my eyes began to adjust to the dark and I noticed someone crouched down at the end of my squadmates bed , but she was still sleeping. I stared for a minute convinced it was one of us. I became aware very Quickly that this person was aware that I was awake and watching them. They were very still and stared at me the whole time…but I couldn’t make out a face. Suddenly I again felt The Lord urgently saying “THINK.” I bolted upright and said “what are you doing?” At this point it clicked: there was a black man crouched in our room staring at me. At this point I was the only one awake. He came at me so fast I didn’t have time to move. He stood over top of me an then half straddled me/sat on me…attempting to make me be quiet. In that moment it was too much and I let out a blood curdling scream as I struggled to push him off of me. In that moment everyone woke up and started screaming as I ran across the room yelling “GET up there is a man in here!” He attempted to grab my purse but Kara grabbed it back from him thankfully. he did however get ahold of my wallet which only had 50 rand in it and my credit cards which have been canceled. The room was utter chaos as he sprinted towards the window. another squadmate jumped up and tried to grab him to see if he had taken anything but his sweatshirt ripped and he got away. The police came and took a statement and AIM people have been notified. It really was the most terrifying thing of my life. Everyone is extremely shaken up and jumpy.”
Jesus protected us. Our first reaction is yes, fear. Even that night. Sitting around the room staring at the police officer asking us questions we realized that God was faithful. The man only made it away with 50 Rand. That’s five US dollars. Probably not worth it after all. But fear is what Satan would want us to let take hold of us. He would want us to dwell on how scared we are and not on how awesome God is.
I can continue to speculate all the things that might have happened while I was asleep or all the things that could have happened if my squad mate had not woken up. But what a miracle it was that Jesus stepped in and protected us all. Pray for my team, Team Aiga and the other team we are with Team Aliza as we continue to process all that has happened.
I am amazed at how strong the community I live in is. These girls trust in the fact that Jesus works all things together for good and that he is looking after us. I am blessed to be living with people who wont let something like this get them down.
Pray that our thoughts , that we would dwell on what is true and that we would find peace in the faithfulness of Jesus.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
