The story of Avi

Camp

I remember my first trip. It was to Mexico. I didn't know anyone and was terrified but felt like being a missionary is what I was called to do. It was so different than this one I'm going on now though. That one the plane actually landed on ground and then we drove to a church. We were building and painting a church and then leading worship sessions there and getting people to join. I fell off the ladder while painting though and Savannah helped me up. We started talking after that and she introduced me to Jay. I feel bad now for her, she's more of a third wheel now.

Jay, Savannah, and I were headed to the camp. It didn't take long to get there. But when we got there we weren't sure that we were in the right place. It looked deserted. There were few tents remaining and we didn't see anyone. I wasn't sure if we should check the tents for people or not. We decided the military should check out the tents and we would stay behind and watch, after all we weren't supposed to be the ones in danger. It didn't work out so well though. Isis had taken over and somehow found out we were coming. They had men in the tents with loaded guns. They started firing at the military. Jay suddenly grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear "this is our chance to get away. Maybe our only chance. We need to run, the military will catch up later but we need to put our safety before theirs." I grabbed Savannah and together the three of us went off down the make shift road. We were running and could hear feet running behind us. They're following us. I looked to the left and saw woods. I grabbed Savannah and Jay then ran towards the woods and into the trees. I hid behind a tree and aimed my gun. This is why they trained us. I was ready. I needed to act fast before they shot at Jay or Savannah. I aimed at one of the Isis men and pulled the trigger. Instantly blood started gushing out from his chest. He collapsed on his side and the others rushed towards him. This was our chance to get away. The three of us ran through the trees not looking back. There wasn't a second to waste. Any minute now they could fire at us and we could be lying on our side like the Isis man I shot. I still can't believe I did it. I didn't think I would be able to. Surprisingly it came easy and I don't feel guilty, this scares me even more. Killing has always been something I'm against. Im a missionary, I'm supposed to save lives not take them away. I've never thought I would ever kill anyone not even in self defense. But when it comes down to it I guess I'm willing to kill to save myself and my friends. This makes me wonder, would I really die for my beliefs if I already went against one of them to save myself. With all of this going through my mind I loose focus on what's in front of me and I run into a tree. Jay quickly picks me up and continues running with me in his arms. There wasn't time to stop or ask questions. There wasn't time to look back and see if they were still following us. They're faster and stronger if we look back and they're still behind us we would lose the one advantage we have, time. We don't grab my backpack after I fall. We just continue through the trees until we find ourselves in an open field. We finally look back, they must have stopped when they realized we're armed. I take Savannah's water and drink some, mine was in my backpack that we left in the woods. I then wonder how I'll survive now, I lost all of my supply's and we lost the military men. Who knows if they'll find us, we're on our own now. We aren't as trained as them. I'm as good as dead now. I take that back. I'm not dead, not yet. I've got God on my side and that's all I need. God is stronger than those Isis men. I have my faith and all they have is guns. I can survive, I just have to fight. Like I said earlier, I'm ready. I'm ready to fight. I'm ready to live. I'm ready to worship. I'm ready to love. No one and nothing can make me change my mind now. I'm ready to give my all to God and protect those believers that need protection. I'm ready to face the journey that lies ahead. I. Am. Ready.