God's Protection is Divine

On February 13, 2006 Air Mobile Ministries (AMM) received a devastating report. Here are the actual e-mails that my father, Joe Hurston, sent to us.

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:49:19 -0800 (PST)
From: "Joe Hurston"
Subject: Just attacked - we're ok
To: "Cindy Hurston"


Honey:

We were on the road to Mirabalais when we were attacked by a truck load of heavily armed bandits (12-14). We are fortunate to be alive. We lost much, including thousands of dollars, computer, camera, suitcase, Barb lost visas for kids coming out. The truck was stolen. We had to hide after the attack and then we were taken out by back paths on motorcycles because it was thought that they would return to kidnap us. The Lord truly protected us. About 45 minutes ago Barb's truck was found. We're now back at the village. I'm still planning to return on Wed. We have no cell phones. Will try to call when I can. All I can say is Praise God that we're alive.

With all of my love!!

Joe


Mon, 13 Feb 2006 11:33:50 -0800 (PST)
From: "Joe Hurston"
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: wow!!
To: cherie@airmobile.org

Cherie:

It was a very close call. There were between 12-14 heavily armed. They ambushed our truck. I was driving. There was no where to go. Suddenly, guns were in our faces and chests and there was yelling and grabbing and kicking. It all happened in seconds. They were very violent and cruel. I was yelling Jesus and finally Barbara and I just knelt down and called on Jesus. Suddenly they were gone. Within an hour, Johnny got the truck back. They keep calling wanting us to pay $30K+ for documents, computer, camera etc. We need a miracle to get those things back. They have the visas for 2 kids. They have 7 Vortex Voyagers TM. Please pray!!

Dad

Joe Hurston" View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Please send out to our list for immediate prayer!
To: "cheriehurston"

Dear Cherie:

Here's exactly what happened. Please put it into an urgent request to everyone on our list including your list. We need to really pray for the Lord to intervene as well as protect us while we're here.

We awoke early this morning and attempted to get into town. We went through more than 20+ road blocks. At each one, someone knew Barbara. It was miracle after miracle. When we reached the airport, we realized that things had disintegrated to the point that we had to turn back. We went through about 7 road blocks including fording a small river to get back to Ruuska. Our reports were that heading out of town would be ok as most of the activity was in P-A-P. We took a back road out of town and turned toward Mirabalais in the Central part of Haiti. We had 7 Vortex Voyagers TM for 2 missions and a hospital in that zone. We had only traveled about 3 kilometers on the road north when the ambush occurred.

A late model white Toyota Truck with 12-14 heavily armed "bandits" all wearing President Preval t-shirts swerved directly in front of me and forced me to stop. Suddenly, we were surrounded by the entire group all with weapons, pistols and automatic machine guns. We were forcefully pulled from our truck and grabbed, and all contents pulled and men were yelling "give me my money". I was kicked and probably hit several times. I'm in a fair amount of pain as I write, but nothing serious. I cried out clearly to Jesus in Creole and kept saying that we were here to help and had water purifiers for the poor. Finally, I fell to my knees, Barbara was in front of me forcefully arguing when I pulled her to her knees and we prayed. After they stripped us of all our contents in our pockets, they sped away in the truck. Barbara and I hid in house because we were told that they would come back and kidnap us. We actually saw the truck pass back by but they did not come searching for us. Johnny and Milan arranged for Barbara and I to escape on motorcycles through back, winding paths.

We arrived by the village and went on the police dept. As we were "filing" the report, Johnny showed up in the truck. Through a miracle, Johnny got the truck back. Apparently after Barbara and I left on the motorcycles, Johnny stayed around. About 10 minutes later the bandits returned, the truck was stripped and they threw the keys to Johnny. The bandits had Barbara's cell phone so we called her phone and they answered. Over the last few hours, we managed to "buy" back the 7 Vortex Voyagers TM for $700 U.S. dollars. Between Barbara and I, we lost thousands and thousands of U.S. dollars, computer, cells phones, camera, my suitcase and the precious documents.

The only physical injury was to my leg where one of the bandits kicked me very hard. My shoulder hurts a great deal, but I will be ok. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE ALIVE!!

We need a MIRACLE to get those documents back. Barbara has been working on those documents for well over a year!! The devil will not steal these children's adoptions! Plus the paper work has cost thousands and thousands of dollars. According to the Word, the Lord will return 7 times what the devil has stolen. We have been praying for our attackers all throughout the day. Please get this word out!

The battle is far from over. Tomorrow we plan to travel into P-A-P to file a report with the Embassy (if they're open). We don't have a camera at this time, but we may find one. Pray for that also, along with mine miraculously returning. If there's ever a time we've needed our supporters and prayer partners with us, it's now! I love you, baby and I'm so glad you were not with us.

Dad

As you can imagine, I am so grateful that my father and Barbara are alive! I am so grateful to have not been there. I am overwhelmed by God's protection. And my father is doing all he can to lead these men to Christ and truly demonstrate Christ's love. Please continue to keep them, as well as every soldier for Christ, in prayer.

God Bless,

Cherie Hurston

February 16, 2006 - Report submitted by Joe Hurston from Bon Repois, Haiti

Just as quickly as Haiti erupted into incredible turmoil and violence, it has subsided. Below are the actual e-mails that I sent to my wife immediately after our team was attacked, robbed and a kidnapping was thwarted by the hand of God. I'm blessed to say that we are safe and sound. We'll continue our mission here in Haiti and will be flying home in a couple of days. Tomorrow we fly to Les Cayes, a town about 110 miles west of Port-Au-Prince. We'll be deploying Vortex Voyager TM water purifiers. So many of you sent e-mails and called to check on how we were doing after the attack. I particularly want to thank my wife Cindy, my daughter Cherie and son Christian for setting up a "Prayer Command Center" and rallying the troops to prayer. Thanks you!!!

For those just tuning in, the following pretty well captures the drama and miracles of our Lord's deliverance from a very dangerous attack.

February 25, 2006 - Report Submitted by Joe Hurston from Titusville, FL

I landed in Miami on Sunday, February 19, 2006. Wow, was it good to back in the U.S. I rented a car and drove staight home (4 hour drive). Was it good to be back with my family!! THANK YOU all for your prayer and love and support during this very, very difficult time. That which was intended for bad, has truly turned out for the good. We completed our mission by God's strength and grace! This report is a bit late, as I came back to a mountain of work due to the delay with American Airlines. I'll pick up on the report and fill in the blanks of what happened for the rest of our mission.

The Air Mobile team boarded a Cessna Caravan operated by Caribintair (the local airline) and flew from Port-Au-Prince to Les Cayes, Haiti on Friday, February 17, 2006.

On this particular deployment, we had 5 Vortex Voyagers TM with us. These were the very Vortex Voyagers TM that had been stolen and "ransomed" back from our attackers (can't give the details). It was particularly rewarding to me because immediately after take-off, the pilot turned the controls of the airplane over to me and allowed me to fly the bird all the way to final approach at Cayes. That was cool.

We were met by my good friend and long-time mission associate, John Vrooman. We immediately went into a crucial meeting with Catholic Relief Service (CRS). We were able to demonstrate the amazing capabilities of the Vortex Voyager TM to more than 40 leaders. The interest was incredible. We then went to the Catholic Relief Service headquarters and agreed to donate a number of units into the deperate areas. We met with a doctor and a biologist of the the highest caliber. The immediate and most pressing need in Haiti is for CLEAN WATER!

There is no way that we are going to let the "enemy" use people (the attackers) to STOP us from this vital mission. We went on the have meetings well into the evening with community leaders demonstrating the Vortex Voyager TM. John did an excellent job of arranging and setting up these meetings. We met with community leaders including a well driller and medical personnel. One of the doctors we met was able to examine my injuries. Thank God, nothing more than some bruises and muscle strains.

On Saturday morning, we were up early and heading to a 7th Day Adventist Church. We demonstrated the Vortex Voyager TM to the congregation in the first service, then donated one of the Vortex Voyagers TM to them. When it was explained that this very same Vortex Voyager TM had been stolen and we had gotten it back by a series of miracles, the church burst into joyous applause. That which the enemy had stolen was returned and put into hands that truly need it!

After 2 more critical meetings and strategic deployments, we bid our hosts, John and Diane farewell and boarded another Caribintair Cessna Caravan. Again, the pilot allowed me to fly her all the way back to Port-Au-Prince.

We really need another airplane for just such circumstances. Please believe God with us for a suitable aircraft for this vital ministry.

Upon returning back to our village, bags were packed and we waited and prayed for American Airlines to actually fly!

On Sunday morning, we departed for the airport. I failed to mention earlier that we did get to the American Embassy on Thursday. We filed a full report of the attack with the Consulate. The Consulate personnel did an excellent job of helping us to re-create the stolen documents for Saulane (pronounced "So-lon"). Barbara brought her to the U.S. on Sunday afternoon! The adoption is now completed. Barbara is still recreating the documents for the other little boy, Maki. You may recall from the earlier reports below that all of the adoption documents were stolen during the February 13th attack on us. We are confident that little Maki will get all of the documents in order and have his adoption completed like Saulane's.

We will return to Haiti in the near future, however, we will not be publishing our travel dates for security purposes. We'll send a report upon our return.

Well, better close this report out. It's so good to be home with my family safe and sound. Thanks again for your prayers and love!!

Sincerely:

Joe Hurston
President - Air Mobile