Monica
Dra and her husband heard the marchers outside their small home in Nigeria on
July 26, 2009. They heard the chants of "Allahu Akbar" and wondered what the
night would hold for them and other Christians in their village.
"We had heard rumors all night that there were going to be problems," Monica
told VOM, "and now I could hear them walking and slaughtering people as they
went." Monica's husband, Daniel James, grabbed her, and they ran outside to
escape the radical Muslim mob. But the radicals grabbed Daniel and hacked him to
death with a machete.
Monica
began to run, with her Bible and hymn book tucked under her arm. But members of
the chanting mob grabbed her and began striking her with machetes. Seeing a
cross on a chain around Monica's neck, a militant began to chop at her neck,
nearly decapitating her. By the time Monica got to the hospital, she could only
breathe through the gaping wound left by the lethal blade.
"I
thought, 'I am a Christian,'" she said. "I am dying today."
But
Monica didn't die. After six surgeries to repair her throat and close the wound
in her neck, doctors were able to save her voice. Through VOMedical, Monica, a
poor widow with a 5-year-old child, received excellent medical care and post-op
follow-up. Thanks to generous donations from VOM supporters, Monica is among the
more than 600 Christians who have received medical care after being injured
because of their Christian faith.
Monica
now needs only one more surgery to regain her normal speaking voice. "Now that I
have my strength back, I have forgiven my attackers," Monica said. "Now I have
more courage to serve the Lord much more."
We
don't know where the next attack will occur. Nigeria? Indonesia? China? But
VOMedical is committed to serving those who are injured by acts of persecution.
Your generous support enables us to act immediately, providing care and healing
to our persecuted family members.
Please click on the V.O.M. link to the right and consider giving.
A Voice of the Martyrs Volunteer
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