Kabul 24

What a powerful book! This book should bolster your faith that God is alive and still at work in the world, achieving His purposes.

Kabul 24 is a book about the kidnapping and "detaining" of eight multinational humanitarian aid workers from Shelter Now International and 16 of their Afghan workers. I remember hearing about this story in the news when it happened, as there were two Americans among those held hostage.

The ordeal began innocently enough with an Afghan family requesting the showing of the "Jesus" film. While this was an unusual request, Heather Mercer complied. As she was returning to her home, her taxi was overtaken by a Talib gunman. She found out later that the family, whom she had visited numerous times without incident, had betrayed her to the Taliban. The Taliban took the opportunity to round up the other foreign workers as well as their Afghan helpers, accusing the Shelter Now International (SNI) workers of trying to convert muslims. They accused the Afghan workers of illegal conversion to Christianity. Thus began their 100 plus day nightmare of wretched living conditions. From pest infested mattresses to ancient latrines overflowing with waste and little food, not to mention the many exhausting interrogations of the two men Georg, the leader of the SNI group and Peter an assistant.

Through it all they find hope and a deeper faith. God had not abandoned them. He was working to orchestrate situations where they could be a witness to the Afghans around them, such as the time Diana (one of the women workers) was being interrogated and the interpreter started asking questions, then stated that Christians believed in three Gods. Diana countered by asking if the man had a brother, was married, and had children. With the affirmative response, Diana stated that he was the same man but with different roles. It was simply the same with God, He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This, the man understood.

God strategically placed people in their path who would help them along the way, getting them news from the outside world, taking correspondence, and like their "Afghan Angel" communicating with the outside world about them.

There were many miraculous "coincidences" up to and including their remarkable rescue by American Special Forces.

It is a worthwhile read. Slow at times, would have liked more information on the Afghan detainees and what God was doing in their lives.