By Sue Sprenkle International Mission Board

KABONG, Uganda (BP) - It was an average day for the Witte family - AK47s firing off in the distance while children played in the yard. In northern Uganda, gunfire is a way of life if you live among the warring Karamajong people.

Suddenly, a loud boom followed by scattered fireworks echoed across the desolate valley.

"It sounded like rocket fire and it was getting close," Linda Witte, International Mission Board missionary said about a September standoff between the Karamajong and the Ugandan army which took place in their front yard.

The missionaries, John and Linda Witte and their four children, said they never feel in danger from the everyday fighting. But on this day - the fighting tactics changed as government troops rolled in four tanks and a personnel carrier.

The Witte's house was caught in the middle. Government troops shot at the warriors on the hill behind the missionary compound.

"Bullets whizzed by," Linda Witte said. "The kids were crawling on the ground army style to stay away from the gunfire. We could hear big blasts and booms off in the distance."

John grabbed the radio and tried to make contact with other missionaries. He was surprised when the message went out clear. Normally, in this remote area, the radio never worked.

After hours of bullets whizzing by, a break finally came in the fighting. John sent Linda, their four kids and two house guests visiting from the States out the back. The group fled the compound on foot. All roads were closed.

"When we got to the clearing by the big rocks and sat under the tree, we met up with some of our people from the villages," Linda said. "When we saw each other, we all rejoiced. The women and I started singing Bible songs right there under the tree."

Meanwhile, John stayed behind to keep radio contact with the plane coming to evacuate them. The kids stood on the big rock watching through binoculars for their father. Teenage daughter, Jordan, caught a glimpse of him running from the house with three Ugandans. Then, she saw an explosion and heard a big boom. A rocket hit the ground just 200 meters from the fleeing men.

"I thought my Dad was hit," she said. "I kept watching and then there he was. He came running out of the dust. He and the other men were okay."

The family reunited and had to find a way to get to the airstrip six miles away. The roads were closed and even the walking paths were too dangerous to take. Their friends from the village pitched in to help get the missionaries to safety. They led them through the brush and to the safety of a circling plane waiting to land.

"In that one experience, we bonded with our friends like never before," Linda said. "Since we were on foot, just like them, we were hiding in the bushes from the bullets. In fact, we were completely dependent on them to help us stay safe."

This new bond is something the Witte's hope will open the door to sharing the Gospel. The Karamojong have been resistant in the past. These people deal with drought and famine on a daily basis. Linda said they are so busy trying to survive that they don't have much time for anything else. But in the last year, God opened doors. A missionary team comprised of the Wittes and Mark and Elaine Pierce began Chronological Bible Storying.

"We had no chance of getting the Gospel to them in our own efforts, it's only through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. There is such a darkness there. The Holy spirit is the only thing that can penetrate," Linda said. "But these people are beginning to understand. Storying the Bible is really breaking through the darkness as they learn God's Word and hide it in their hearts."

Pray that the Bible storying groups will continue to gather and retell stories despite the recent unrest and fighting. The Witte children specifically ask Southern Baptists to pray for their friends and playmates left behind dodging bullets.

"We left on the plane and went somewhere safe with food and water," Jordan said. "Our friends had to stay. They could not escape. They left their homes and all of their food behind to find safety. We don't know if they are okay or not."

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