By Gunther Friedrichs
International Mission Board, S.B.C.

Sept. 13, 2002

The country of Afghanistan has a long history of war, suffering and many refugees. The refugee flight of two Afghanis took them to a totally unexpected place. For security reasons, all names in this story have been changed.

For more than 20 years, Afghans have lived in fear, in the shadow of death and destruction, through the Soviet-Afghan War, from 1979 to 1989, the Mujahadin Faction—the Taliban—War from 1989 –2001. As result of the September 11th attack, the USA began the War on Terror in 2001, still being fought in Afghanistan.

Among the millions of refugees who fled Afghanistan’s hellish grip, two boys have fared better than most.

Smuggled out of Kabul, they lived in constant fear as they made their way West on their long, torturous and dangerous journey. At one point, they hurriedly made their way through the forest, surviving solely on grass and muddy water, until they were picked up by the police and brought to a local hospital.

They eventually ended up in a small village, in an undisclosed European country, to begin a new life with a divinely appointed new family: the Martins (not their real name) who are Christian mission workers in Western Europe.

Annette Martin said, "I was having a quiet time, one afternoon, and really, I could sense the Holy Spirit telling me ‘Get up and go out outside’."

In faith, Annette obeyed and began walking in her neighborhood, which was unusually deserted that day, except for the presence of a young man she had met months before, an Afghani who had a brother.

Annette said, "As we talked, I had another whisper, I felt like the Lord was saying, ‘You need to adopt these boys.’

Mike, Annette’s husband said, "When I came home from one of my trips, my wife and I did the conversation things we always do, and she real quickly throws in, ‘How would you like to adopt some kids?’ God said to me immediately, ‘Mike, it’s true, you can’t reach the whole world, but you can touch one or two lives.’"

Now as legal guardians of the Afghan boys, Luke and John, the Martins have touched the boys’ lives with God’s unconditional love. Like newborn babes, the two have soaked up every minute of it, with the desire for more, despite their fears, struggles and devout Islamic upbringing.

Jesus Himself appeared to both boys in dreams since arriving in the West. Eventually the two gave their hearts to the Lord and were baptized on December 9, 2001.

As Luke and John grow in Christ and forge ahead with their lives, their concern remains not only with sharing their faith with others but with the spiritual and physical well-being of their biological family who fled to Pakistan. The boys know their family’s future could literally hang in the balance if a church in Canada decides not to sponsor them.

What the future holds for Luke and John remains uncertain, but one thing is sure--the two are no longer driven by fear, but by faith, to walk with Christ, even if the path takes them back to Afghanistan.

Annette said, "Both of the boys had talked about and given their testimonies: how they would be willing to die for Christ, if need be. And I remember that, because it’s such a reality…" She tried valiantly to keep the tears back, then said, "They might really have to die for Christ, if they share Him with their country."

The boys said, "I’m not afraid, no I’m not."

Scripture says, in Matthew 28:20, "And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

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