Burnhams: Waiting for Final Reunion

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A little more than a year after Martin and Gracia Burnham were captured by Muslim rebels in the Philippines, their long ordeal is over.

The agony of waiting by family and friends, the fervent prayers offered for their safe return, the hopes raised and dashed by reports of their possible release have also come to an end.

In a pre-dawn rescue attempt Friday by a Philippine army team, Martin was killed and Gracia was wounded. She's recovering in a Philippine hospital.

"I cry with my voice to the Lord, with my voice I make supplication to the Lord,

What began for Martin and Gracia in May 2001 as an anniversary celebration at a resort in the Philippines became a frightening year of survival in the jungle and of uncertainty whether they would ever see their family in Rose Hill again.

The two missionaries were part of an initial group of 20 people who were spirited from the resort and held for ransom by Muslim rebels. Despite the terror of their ordeal, Martin and Gracia kept hope alive for those being held with them.

In taped interviews, Martin and Gracia at times appeared frail and frightened, but reports from other hostages who escaped described the couple as rock-solid in their faith.

Francis Ganzon, a Filipino who was released by the guerrillas two weeks after she was captured with the Burnhams, said that when other hostages were praying to be released, Martin was praying, "Thank you, Lord."

"Martin knows God doesn't let anything happen to you that he doesn't want to have happen to you," Tim Wiesner, a friend of the Burnham family, said at the time. "That's why he's strong and why his family is strong. That's the kind of family they have always been."

"I look to the right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me, no man cares for me."

Back in Kansas, family and friends kept vigil. Prayers that began in Rose Hill expanded like ripples on a pond. Christian radio stations and magazines, Web sites, church prayer chains -- every means of lifting up their plight to the heavens and to those who cared was employed.

Did those pleas sustain the Burnhams in their darker moments? Did they sense the presence of distant love?

"I cry to thee, O Lord; I say, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.

How do you live day to day when death is as close as the armed guard next to you? How do you keep moving when insects attack, heat oppresses, rain soaks to the bone? Yet, they persevered. Prayers never ceased. Rescue always seemed imminent.

In the end, the desires of those who waited and the hopes of the Burnhams themselves fell short. Martin was killed; Gracia was wounded.

Gracia will return to her family in Kansas and hold them in her arms. It will be joyful and sad.

The family of faith -- their congregation and the untold number of friends and prayer supporters who took up their cause -- will embrace them with love. But a void will be there, as it always is this side of eternity.

Martin is with family, too, surrounded by a heavenly host that has welcomed him home where every tear is wiped away and death is no more.

Their paths part for now. But for Gracia and her family, and for those who live by faith, a joyous reunion awaits.

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Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Acts 5:40-42 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Hebrews 11:32-38 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

How lovely to intersperse Scripture with a news article.

How do you live day to day when death is as close as the armed guard next to you?

Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

God rest Martin and Mrs. Yap, and pour out a blessing of peace and comfort on Gracia and the rest of the Burnham family.

Thanks, RAT Patrol, for posting this.

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