The Day God Worked His Miracles, to Prevent a Family Tragedy.

We call these our Banana Miracles…

Turbulent Economic Times.

In Zimbabwe, we live in turbulent economic times. Organised crime is nothing new, but it seems to be growing daily. This is a country where people are poor, hungry and desperate, -always looking to make a quick buck. 

Our only defence against this situation is to be ever vigilant and to remain in constant prayer. – One can never underestimate the power of prayer…

I am sharing with you our day of miracles, as I love sharing how God’s hand is always at work, when we pray and have Him on our minds and in our hearts.

Anxiety Turns to Prayer.

For the week before our frightening ordeal, I had a worrying and constant anxious feeling. Anxiety is something I don’t suffer from, so I was very confused… I kept praying and asking God to reveal to me where this anxiety was coming from?  

I felt led to pray without ceasing, so spent every spare moment of the day in prayer, proclamation and praise.  

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.”  – Psalm 34:7

Birthday Fun and a Visit from the Police!

On Monday the 12th of July we celebrated my husband Douglas’ birthday.  

The children (who are homeschooled) had the day off school, as a special treat, so as to spend time with their father on his special day. After the celebration, we all went to bed at our usual time. .

In the middle of the night, at one o’clock in the morning, we were loudly awoken by one of our security guards knocking on our front door. He was calling for Douglas, who staggered out, to be told that the police CID (Central Intelligence Department) from Harare were there to see him.

This immediately had us all alarmed as, in this country, one never knows whether it is actually the police, – or someone pretending to be the police, which could be a lethal trap!

Douglas went outside to the farm office. He immediately asked the police to show him their identification badges, to verify that they were in fact actually members of the Zimbabwe CID police unit. –

– Quietly nervous, the children and I stayed hidden in our garden, listening and praying…   I managed to phone Alan, our assistant farm manager, and asked him to come to the office, as a support for Douglas. Alan immediately radioed the other managers and our head of security. Within minutes many motorbikes arrived in the farm yard!

Late Night Shoot Out.

The police informed Douglas that they had just had a shootout, with a gang of armed robbers! One wounded robber was still lying bleeding in the police vehicle!

The CID told Douglas that the armed gang were apprehended, as they were on their way to our home! Their intention was to confront us, force us to open up the farm safe and help themselves to the cash earned from the sale of our farm bananas. Our family had actually been the targets for these armed criminals!

-As we gathered information, we began to see how God had  protected us throughout the day.  

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” – Psalm 91:11

God’s Protective Hand over Us.

The armed gang had driven from Harare, some 120 kilometers away.  They were an organised crime gang, who had stolen two 9 mm pistols, from a security firm, just the previous week.

This explained the police CID involvement. The CID then explained that they had been actively tracking the gang for a week.

Farm Banana Cash Sales.

Monday is banana sales day on the farm. Due to Covid19 restrictions, many vendors come to the farm and purchase bulk bananas, to sell in  neighbouring towns. We often  have up to a 100 people and vehicles, on banana sale days.

The CID informed us of the fact that the gang had an informer on the farm, who happened to be a member of our professional security guards! The gang had been informed about the banana cash sales and also about where the cash was stored overnight.

That particular day the armed gang had arrived at the banana pack shed, to purchase bananas and scout the area. Their original goal was to apprehend the banana sales clerk, at the end of the day, and steal all the cash!

There is always a professional armed guard at the pack shed, who protects the banana sales clerk, but one never knows how he would cope with an actual armed robbery, as these events can never be rehearsed…

– Imagine our dismay when we discovered later, that the armed guard actually did not have any ammunition in his gun that day!

Being Watched by Armed Evil Men.

That particular Monday, Douglas decided to collect the banana sales cash earlier than usual, to bring it back to the farm office safe. With it being his birthday, he wanted to finish work early, so that he could spend more time with the family.  

Our son, Murray John, went with Douglas to collect the cash. Their early arrival probably surprised the armed gang. Perhaps there were too many people around for them to attack at that time? They backed off… but the armed guard, without ammunition, could not have done anything to protect Douglas and Murray John, had the gang decided to strike!

This unusual situation was the first miracle of our day.

Cash – an Incentive for the Labour.

You are probably wondering why on earth we keep cash on the farm?  

With the Zimbabwe economic situation as it is, the farm labour enjoy receiving cash, which enables them to trade locally. Weekly cash is a great work incentive, which keeps the farm labour motivated, whilst improving work attendance.

Armed Gangs Next Move.

After the cash was removed by Douglas from the banana pack shed, the gang were then forced into making a plan B. An untarred council road passes through the farm, so the gang were able to stop along the road, whilst scouting the area, without actually being on the farm.  The gang then waited for night fall, when they then drove off, waiting further down the council road.

As the gang’s vehicle had no number plates, a member of our staff recalled seeing their vehicle near the farm store, that afternoon. (A lack of number plates is not unusual these days, as Covid restrictions severely hamper government traffic departments).  

Meanwhile, we continued with Douglas’ birthday fun, totally oblivious as to what was happening around us…

We always have to remember that God is omnipresent and knows and sees everything.

Police Intervention.

In the meantime, CID Harare had received information to the effect that the armed gang were in our area. A pickup truck of undercover police was dispatched from Harare, to find and apprehend the gang.

As the police in Zimbabwe have limited support from government, it’s often up to individuals to help them with transport.

It was actually a miracle as to how the police managed to secure transport that evening.

Police Shoot Out.

The police had a rough idea as to where the gang were and thankfully they turned down the correct road. They apprehending the gang late on Monday night, just a few kilometers up the road from our house.  

The gang were certainly not going to surrender! They stopped their car, jumped out and started shooting at the police, using the stolen pistols. Once fired upon, -the police were quick to react and fired back! This resulted in one of the gang members being shot in the leg, whilst the others fled into the bush.    

Upon inspection of the gang’s car, the police found cell phones and quickly began to view their messages. This is how the police came to know of the informer, as well as the plan to target us and rob the farm of the banana sales cash.    

God the Miracle Worker.

This is the story behind how the CID ended up outside our home, at one o’clock that early Tuesday morning. Our family were therefore spared a very traumatic ordeal, which could have had very tragic consequences.

It is only after the event that we were able to see how the hand of God worked to protect us… I am still rather shaken by the event, but will forever remember God’s grace.

Looking back, I can see how God was watching over us that day. I continually thank Him for orchestrating a number of miracles, in order to keep our family safe that day.   

I proclaim the blood of Christ over my family, each and every day, as I listen to the Holy Spirit, prompting me to pray.  

It is something everyone can learn to do, but it requires action, practice and patience.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  – James 5:16.

God is good and He protects those who come to him in prayer.  

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that You give Your angels charge over our family. You keep us safe and lift us up, whenever we stumble. We are truly thankful… In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Remember to keep praying and you will notice God’s miracles!

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