I know many have stopped by my blog to read the details of my son, Ben's, kidnapping. I am in awe of how many thousands of people around the world were standing with us in prayer, begging God to allow Ben to return safely to our family.
I am delighted to announce, to anyone who hasn't already heard the wonderful news, that Ben is sleeping soundly in his own bed right now! He is well and unharmed and in good spirits, joking about his big adventure. God has been so very, very good to us!
I hope to be able to sit down and write out a coherent account of these amazing past few days . . . very soon. Some of you may know that Ben's 21 year old sister was married this past Friday. Our family had just completed that exhausting and emotional event and were feeling like we could relax and regroup for a bit when the kidnapping happened. We were, in fact, driving home after saying our "good byes" to family members who had flown in for the wedding when Ben and I were taken. As you can imagine, the emotional highs and lows of the past week have left us all feeling drained and worn down.
But I owe such a debt of gratitude to thousands of people I have never met, who had never heard of our family before Ben's situation went "viral." I want to thank every one of you, the way that I hugged and thanked every local policeman and woman I saw yesterday evening. I had the pleasure of being the one to inform the officers at the police roadblock nearest my home that Ben was free, as I drove in to Gracias to see him at the police station. At that point they were still stopping cars and searching for him. I've never cried tears of joy, and offered up praises to God with police at a roadblock before!
Please stay tuned, as my family has a chance to sit and quietly enjoy the fact that we are all still together and happy and blessed beyond belief. I will come back and tell Ben's story, because it is really too good, too amazing, not to share.
May God richly bless you all for your love and concern and prayers.
35 comments:
Praise and prayers for your family. Our hearts were broken for you and now we join you in rejoicing. God is so good!
Rejoicing with your family today, and giving heartfelt thanks to the One who saw, heard, and answered.
Rejoicing rejoicing!
So thankful your family is complete once again! Continuing to pray for your family.
Still get teary eyed every time I think of your family and the joy you have with the return of YOUR SON.
Rejoicing with you and loving on my own children a little more today.
Praising our LORD for bringing YOUR (pl) SON home to you safely.
Hugging my kids a little more today and rejoicing with you.
I don't know about you, Trish, but I slept GREAT last night! ;)
Crying tears of joy for your family! My son, Noah, wants me to tell you that God has used this trial to increase his faith by "THIS MUCH!" He'd also like to say "Hi" to Ben. Thanking the Father for his amazing work in and for you all.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever." Psalm 30:11-12
Praising God with you for the BucketBoy's safe return! Can't wait for you to post the rest of the details so I can share the story with friends and church family who are anxiously waiting to hear how God worked it all out. (((Hugs)))
Happy tears on your behalf! So, so, so happy that he's home!
rejoicing with your family today as i read the news that Ben was back within your loving arms, safe and free from harm. praising God for being faithful to hear the prayers of His saints and for answering those prayers so quickly. God is able and He is so good!
So thankful with y'all! Such an incredible time of answered prayer!
I have been praying for you. Friends in Honduras and the US were praying. Praise God.
Rejoicing with you all! So happy that it has ended in such an amazing way.
I felt absolutely HORRIBLE to get on a plane and come back to the States with things still so uncertain there. We told the flight attendants and people sitting around us what was happening, and there were a lot of concerned and praying people. When I was finally able to access the internet (WiFi on a plane is such a FABULOUS thing!), the first thing I saw was the FB posting from just 15 minutes earlier that Ben was free! The flight attendants and the seats around me erupted with joy!! That little boy was certainly covered by a LOT of prayer. I think God must have some mighty big plans for that kid!
P.S. -- just a side note -- I LOVE your "tag" for this post! Wonderful that you can keep a sense of humor in spite of all this!
Reading this brought tears of happiness and relief all over again. So thankful.
Joining with tears of joy from Michigan.
THANKS BE TO GOD!!!!
Oh Trish and Allen - tears of joy here in Northern Minnesota for your family as well. My brother Tim (Siguat.) was kidnapped as a 14yo in Nicaragua during the revolution. Thankfully, he was able to escape unharmed after several hours.
Continuing to pray as I know there is lots more of things to consider going forward. Praying for peace for your family and that of others who serve throughout the country. Asking Him for His wisdom as you share Him with those precious people!
Little side note:, the harp is still here, looking beautiful in our living room. Not in the way at all, but know that whenever you want it - it's here. ;-)
Thanks be to God from the Dominican Republic!
Tears of joy... as a missionary and a mom... rejoicing with you!
People ask me why I ask for prayers, and why I believe they work. This is why. Thank you, Gracious Lord, for bringing Ben home to his familia propia.
God is so good! I've thought and prayed for you so often in the short time, which I am sure seemed an eternity to you, that Ben was apart from your family. Know that you are greatly loved even though we have not met. I am so beyond happy and relieved for you and your family!! Praises to Him!!
God is so good!! I prayed and thought of your family so much in the short time, but what I'm sure was an eternity to you all, that Ben was gone. I am so happy and relieved for you and your family!! Praises to Him!
with joy and warm healing energy from Waco, TX
Prayers from Gainesville, Florida, and praising God for Ben's release!
My heart sunk when I heard the news. What sweet relief! Praising God with you!
So happy that this has a happy ending, and will be checking for the story of what all happened, as you feel ready to post it.
I imagine a lot of Hallejuah singing mentally and out loud when on at the happy ending of this.
AngieM2
Hi, my name is Kristin and I know Mindy Brouse. I live in Hunt, TX about 1 1/2 hours west of San Antonio. Kerrville, TX is where our church is and shopping and all of that sort of thing. We were praying for Ben. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story. :)
Trish,
This is Shilling from the Sonlight forums. A lady in our circle of people who were praying for you all wanted me to pass this on to you. I'm hoping this is a good way to do it.
Dear Shari,
Oh, Praise God from Whom All blessings flow!!!
He continually shows Himself to be faithful!
Now that Ben is back home with his parents, they still have the fear to deal with. Long ago in a situation that bred dear in me, the verse that changed that for me was 2 Tim 1:7. And so I have sent to those who we know who prayed:
" Please continue to pray for Ben and family that they will experience the Lord's hand of comfort and His peace as they are brought to mind. Pray that their FAITH will be immeasurably strengthened!
Thank you for being those who have upheld them during this time of great trial.
HE is trustworthy!
Sue
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Tim 1:7"
I learned that I needed to replace my fearful, anxious thoughts with specific requests to the Lord for His protection and "being in charge" then GO out in faith rather than fear. I don't know if that would speak to Allen, Trish and Ben or not. I pray so if you share that with them.
Thanks Shari.
Sue
I prayed for Ben in Ellicott City, MD.
Rejoicing with you. We prayed for Ben in Columbia, MD, and cried tears of joy upon the amazing news.
We also had many friends in Kenya praying for him, who were also praising God for his safe return. Bwana Asifiwe! Hakuna Mungu kama wewe!
We prayed from Mexico City, Mexico.
Praise the Lord.
Me and my family prayed for your whole family. We are delighted to hear that Ben is free and we rejoice with you!! Praise the Lord! Many Blessing.
I don't know you, but I've been to Honduras on a mission trip many years ago. Thankfully I have enough of a connection with you to hear about what was going on and to be able to pray. We're SO thankful for the way God was in control of this whole situation, and we're so thankful that you're all back together again.
God bless,
Mattie Somers
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