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VOM Report: Indonesia
It's hard for Veronica to forget the events of 19 June 2000 when heavily armed jihad warriors attacked the Christian Village where she lived. This rural village of 1500 was regarded as the birthplace of protestant Christianity in Halmahera, North Malaku.
We met Veronika and spoke with her after she had undergone surgery, performed by our VOMedical team, to remove the shrapnel that had remained in her body since the 2000 attack. Veronika told us the story of her miraculous escape when together with her three children and over 1000 men, women and young children; they hid in the church as it came under attack. The attack came from all directions and it was impossible for the villagers to defensively hold them back. It wasn't long before the warriors opened fire and started throwing bombs into the church. Veronika said to us, "When the building started to burn I knew that if we remained in the church we risked being burnt alive. I took my children and we jumped out of the window and ran into the yard, heading towards the tents that had been set up for refugees. The jihad warriors had anticipated our actions and were waiting for us outside the church gate. We managed to reach a tent but another grenade was thrown toward us. The explosion threw us to the ground and my seven-year-old son suffered massive injuries to his head from the fragments of the grenade. Regaining my strength I ran with my children, looking for safety in the jungle. All around me I could hear the bombs going off and the screams of many victims crying out, 'Jesus help us, Jesus help us'. My other son, nine years of age, was leading the way, but just a few metres from where we had left the tent, another jihad warrior threw a grenade from behind us. The explosion injured me and my three children. My one-year-old baby was concussed and passed out and it was there that my seven-year- old son died because of the severe head wounds he had received earlier. I was so weak I was unable to stand up again. I gave my baby to my son and yelled at him to run from this killing field. Then I passed out. A little while later I regained consciousness and asked for help. Unfortunately two jihad warriors approached me, grabbed my hands on each side and said they would be taking me to Soasio village, a Muslim village, where Christian hostages were systematically tortured. By God's grace, there was an Indonesian soldier who saw me being dragged to the jihad's van and he immediately intervened and took me away, bringing me to a military post.
"Later that evening, when the attack had subsided, I awoke to discover that my husband together with our children and relatives had found me. Our hearts were broken and our grief was so painful. That evening we were able to make arrangements and held an emergency funeral service for my seven year old son and the 200 Christians, mainly women and children, who had been massacred that day. They were all buried together in a mass grave. Because of my wounds and severe bleeding, I was unable to attend the funeral. It was as though I had been dealt a second blow and it is difficult for me to explain the deep sorrow I felt." Two days later, Veronika was transferred to Bethesda Hospital for treatment. From the wounds Veronika received on that fateful day, as well as not receiving the correct surgery, her road to recovery has been slow. As soon as VOMedical was informed of her case, Veronika immediately received the surgical treatment she needed.
Today, Veronika's two sons who survived the massacre are both healthy. Sadly her husband passed away two years ago. Veronika has had to carry a heavy cross but she says that she is ever joyful for her sufferings and gives thanks to God because He has enabled her to endure. Please pray for Veronika and her sons that they will remain strong in the Lord. She has also asked us to pray for her as she takes on the responsibility of being a Deaconess in her local church.
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YEMEN: 9 Detained for Converting to Christianity
26 August 2008
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Yemeni police have detained at least nine people this year for converting from Islam to Christianity, a security official said Tuesday.
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