Colorado and M2M

Enjoying a roadside picnic. We also bought some sweet corn.

Somewhere in Iowa!

With permission from Roy: We listened with interest to Roy L tell of when he and Dick G were kidnapped by the M19 gorilla in Colombia. They were released 68 days later. Roy and Dick were attending a church association conference in early January 1989 when some gunmen approached him and said “Take the guy with the beard and the other guy with no hair on his head”.

Roy spoke with ease as he answered our questions and gave chilling facts of moving 20 times, getting 3 meals a day (except 1 day), never being handcuffed, never being blind folded and never being separated from his missionary co-worker, Dick.

I asked, “How did you know what day it was?” His reply, “We read a proverbs a day”. He also added, we read through the New Testament (6 or 8 times) and through Psalms and Proverbs several times. They were given the small blue NT Gideon Spanish NT + Psa/Prov by their captors. Roy said, he read the scripture out loud. Out loud in Spanish. When he wrote down on the small notebook, he would always write in Spanish, so the M19 would know what he was writing. Another reason for reading out loud in Spanish, the guards would be able to hear, listen and maybe understand the Gospel.

Roy and Dick were in the mountainous area in Colombia where neither the police nor military would dare to venture in because of the control of the M19. The elevation was 6-10,000 feet. Their sleeping conditions were beds, double bed, twin beds and cement floors which can become pretty cold at night. They heard over the local radio station about the 2 American missionaries that were held captive. So, they could get some outside news. They never wrote a letter to their wives nor received any notes either. There was no demands for ransom.

68 days later the 2 men were released by a letter - saying they could be set free. And yes, they had to walk out on their own.

It was interesting after the Sound of Freedom movie, Glenn asked Roy if he had any “flash backs” especially seeing in the movie where the girls were stomping on the coca leaves or when they were trudging through the jungle area. Roy mentioned with great interest some of the towns that were being mentioned in the movie - he was quite familiar with.

Roy said they read the scripture out loud. Yes, in Spanish. And yes, everyone could hear him. At one point, Roy was able to explain the devotional that he wrote - of course all in Spanish.

When I asked if I could write about his journey of being held hostage, he said “why of course! Everyone has a story. This is my story and the Lord delivered me and Dick from the hands of the M19 people, just like he can deliver you!” How powerful!

Tonight we are staying with Roy and Karla Libby, retired Avant missionaries who lived and served in Colombia, South America.

As soon as we arrived, we headed to the local theatre for the 4pm showing of “Sounds of Freedom”. Yes, you must go see it. About sex trafficking and how it is a very real thing in the US and all over the world.

Afterwards, we drove to a near-by town to take Roy and Karla out to dinner. Our treat. We also gave them a gift bag of “appreciation gifts” for their years of service. We are so thankful for the ministry the Libbys have had here in the US and also in Colombia! Thank you!Lue lisää