Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4)
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One of our roses in bloom
the night of the attack |
For the testimony of Christ and because of His great love for this nation of Mozambique, many of us suffered, and some were wounded on Tuesday, September 25. At 10 p.m. at least 9 men armed with axes, machetes, and iron tools came onto our center’s property. Several of them broke open our front door with my wife, children, and two female missionaries (who had just returned from village evangelism) inside. They ransacked our house, stole every precious thing in their sight and threatened everyone inside. While outside, others, including myself, suffered wounds as we were violently attacked with iron rods, axes and machetes. We are all well. We did not deny faith in Christ; and therefore, we remain victorious. As a center, we have chosen to continue to put our faith in Christ. We are holy to the Lord. Below is my testimony of what Jesus Christ did for us during the attack. I, Tyren, who was outside with attempted murderers am typing with my own hands- something I could not do without much pain two days after the attack. To God be all the glory – forever.
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Axe used to hack a lock on our door. The robbers left it
by mistake as they fled. |
I am writing this testimony, that you might see Jesus as I saw Him with me during this time of darkness. Immediately after seeing the thieves, a guard ran down the hill to get help from the young students who were here for a 4 week Bible school session. I called to the two female missionaries who were still in our yard, telling them to get into the house and tell my wife to call another missionary down the road so that he could call the police – robbers are here! The other guard who was attacked by the approaching group hid close by watching everything. I didn’t want to run away or run back into my house because my family was there. I was left alone with at least 9 men armed with axes, machetes and other iron tools. When the attackers saw me they did not speak. Immediately weapons were thrown at me to kill me. Instead of hitting me, the weapons hit small twigs on the tree before me, and fell straight down to the ground as though dropped from a man’s hand. They should have spun or something. I knew the Lord had done that. In my heart, I knew I had just seen the Lord do something great. Immediately, the Holy Spirit filled me with courage. Everything that happened next was only because of His power within me.
Great courage entered me. I walked right into the midst of the attackers and said, “In the name of Jesus, what are you doing here?” One of them said I was the guard, and they raised their weapons to strike me. Again I said, “In the name of Jesus, what are doing here? What do you want?” No one could strike me. Suddenly, I don’t know why, but I ran.
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After axing off two lower
locks the robbers entered |
Meanwhile, my wife ran out the side door to call for help on her cell phone. The phone didn’t seem to have good reception inside. A robber ran to demand her phone. She threw it on the ground away from herself, and of course, he ran after it. She ran back inside of the house and locked the door behind her so he couldn’t get inside that door. But just minutes later, they axed their way through the front door. My wife stayed in the house because our children were still inside. The two missionaries, one 19 years old, instinctively stayed because they knew our children were still in the house. At one point while one of the robbers were shaking my daughter’s bed, my wife ran into the bedroom and pulled her out of the bed. This 19 year old, who had run into the bedroom after my wife, grabbed the man by his collar (she said it must have been the Holy Spirit who moved her), pulled him back away from my daughter’s bed, yelling in Portuguese, “She’s only a child! She has no money!” The man looked at her and left them alone. The Lord moved on our behalf yet again. (I was told later, that those 2 missionaries and my family just sat in the corner and worshipped the Lord while the house was being ransacked by at least 5 men. My wife told me that it was the only thing that came to her mind to do.)
Meanwhile outside, the robbers stopped chasing me, and when I turned around I saw that they had entered my house! I ran back and two thieves were guarding the front of my house. I prayed and asked the Lord to let me enter the house. They looked at me and I walked right by them. Again, I “saw” the Lord.
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Cost of discipleship: my blood stained
clothes after I was attacked |
I entered my house and only saw two robbers. Without thinking I attacked one, planning to take his machete, and go after the one I saw inside my kid’s room. But, quickly I was surrounded by the whole group holding a huge axe, machetes and other things. I didn’t know that there were at least 5 of them in my house. The Lord must have blinded them because they didn’t attack me after I had attacked their friend. Again, I saw the Lord protect my life. They asked, “Where’s the money?”
I told them to go with me to the other side of my center and we’ll look for the money. I thought that if I could lead them out of my house my family and the others could escape. I didn’t know that some robbers would remain in my house. I was gripped with fear as I walked with my attempted murderers to the other side of the center because I knew there was no money. I prayed and told the Lord that I trusted Him. Immediately, all the fear left. Once we got to the other side, one robber said, “He lied!” I tried to move as an axe, a machete and an iron rod were being swung at me. The Lord kept them from surrounding me. The machete (with a thick ~ 16 inch blade) came straight toward my face. I called to the Lord in English. Immediately the man froze in motion. Again, I saw the Lord. The man with the iron rod (pole) hit me in my ribs. I couldn’t stop, but kept moving and dogging. Again, the machete came down toward my face. In my thoughts, I cried to the Lord. Again, the man froze in mid-air. I was amazed. I moved too late, and the man with the iron rod struck me in the legs. The man with the axe kept swinging. As he held up the axe, I knew I could not move. I thought, “No!” as I cried to the Lord in my heart (I didn’t have time to open my mouth). He swung the axe right at my chest. I tried to move.
As my attempted murderer swung the axe, suddenly, I saw the glory of the Lord like a bright light around the axe head. I watched the sharp axe head pivot around so the blunt end faced me. I moved, but the blunt end crashed against my wrist and forearm. The Lord had done a miracle. Blood splattered all over my face, my pants and my side. Knowing I was hit, the man with the axe asked, “Where is the money?” The Lord strengthened me and I kept moving while these 3 men kept swinging at me. For the third time, the man with the machete raised his hand right in front of me and swung. I thought, “Lord, not with the machete!” Right afterwards, I saw the man freeze in mid-air and he could not strike me. Suddenly, I felt a hard blow on my leg from the metal rod.
I tried to run, but couldn’t. Knowing I was about to be surrounded, I cried out to the Lord for help. Immediately, one of the robbers off in the distance exclaimed. He had broken into another house that no one was in. The 3 attempted murderers looked at me and immediately left. I knew the Lord caused them to leave immediately after I cried for help. Again, I saw the Lord.
There was so much commotion going on, but I thought about my family. I ran with socks on (I had lost my shoes during the battle) over rocks and through the field to get around the commotion. I climbed over my wall and tapped the side door. My wife opened the door. I tried to find the car keys so that the two missionaries could escape with my family in our car. I could not find the keys because the robbers had thrown everything they could onto the floor searching for money. I didn’t know that while I was running back to my house, the commotion I heard was the bible school students and our Mozambican missionaries. They risked their lives. Using shovels, brush knives (very long knives curved and sharpened at the end used to cut grass) and whatever else they could grab they met the attackers. One of our Mozambican missionaries was slashed on the side. Another was hit on the hands. But, they are doing well. The attackers fled, but one of them was wounded and is now in police custody. The police came shortly after our attackers fled. We forgive our enemies, and pray that the Lord will save them. That’s why we are in Mozambique, and for Christ and the gospel we will remain.
The Lord is helping all of us choose faith in Christ, and each day the children and missionaries are being strengthened through the love and peace Christ is raining upon us. But, we are choosing to trust in Him. This morning (Saturday), some of us gathered for communion and worship. We didn’t gather to try to comfort ourselves; for the Holy Spirit is faithful to comfort us. We gathered to invite the presence of the Lord to cleanse our land for His glory. We gathered to recommit ourselves and this center into His hands, accepting His call for us to be holy a people who will live for His presence alone. Prophetically and symbolically, we poured out the communion juice upon the ground as a sign of our lives. We wholly surrender our lives to welcome His presence and purpose at our center, and vow to stand with Christ at all cost to see Him glorified and His salvation taken to the nations. Before Tuesday, Sept 25, we were victorious and we are victorious still.
For my family and I, there is nothing to compare. For Christ we live, and if necessary, for His namesake we will die. But be assured, the Lord has protected us, and did miracles and awesome wonders that night. He has great plans for us. We will rejoice and see the harvest that is yet to come. The world must come to know our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ – the world has no other hope.
Our oldest daughter chose to worship after the ordeal was over. She simply said, “Jesus I love you.” She testified that, immediately, the peace of God swept her soul, and her fear went away.
After all was over that night, I tried to cry. I felt that I just had to release it all. Instead, the Holy Spirit said, “No, I give you joy.” My stomach started shaking and immediately I burst out in joy and laughter (Acts 5:41). Again, I saw the Lord.
Two days later, the police of Lichinga responded in compassion. They have set up a police post at our center and will work at nights with our Christian guards. The police carry rifles. Before starting to guard, our guards and I pray and invite the Lord and His presence to be among us. Our focus is to be a people of His presence. Guards will help keep order as we contend for His presence and to be a holy people in His sight.
Please pray:
• The captured robber would live and be healed of his wounds, and that he would come to know Christ.
• If this robber is imprisoned in Lichinga, I’d love to tell him how we are sorry for his wounds, and how he needs Jesus.
• The other 8 or more would be captured, or at least come to repentance to Christ.
• Our center would have permanent armed guards, as the Lord wills. (We know not to trust in man or their power).
• Our missionaries (both Mozambicans and others), orphan girls, my family would have true peace and be free from all fear or other effects from that night.
• We’ll be able to have better protection at our center (even if that means having armed guards). We'll continue to have the means to provide food and transport costs to have the police patrol at our center. We don’t pay for their services, but we offer transport and meals because we live outside of the city and their normal patrol zone. As of now, they have agreed to keep coming.
• Somehow the Lord would restore all that was stolen. The police said that they are working on it. Among many other things (since some people have asked), these things are counted lost for Christ (Philippians 3:7-11): 2 newer laptops, Tiffany’s new phone (I gave it to her as a gift), 2 Ipod classics, a Kindle Fire (was given to my kids as a graduation gift), our new Sony DVD player, most of our DVDs and computer software CDS, my identification and bank cards, Chayah's identification and of course other things.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel …[and in our case to the love and glory of Jesus Christ]. Acts 20:24 [we included the words in brackets]
For Christ alone. Love, Tyren and Tiffany Haynes
Updated 2014:
Link to story entitled, "
Personal Meeting with our Incarcerated Attacker"
Link to store entitled, "
Trial and Sentencing"
