Waco welcomes duo home
___WACO--Thousands of Baylor University students and Waco residents welcomed Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry back to Waco in a two-hour celebration Dec. 8 on the university campus.
___The service, which included praise songs, an interpretive dance about life in Afghanistan and speeches by Baylor President Robert Sloan and the women's pastor, Jimmy Seibert of Antioch Community Church, celebrated the return of the two women from three months of imprisonment in Afghanistan.
___Curry, 30, and Mercer, 24, were arrested Aug. 3 with six other Shelter Now International aid workers and 16 Afghan nationals in connection with cha
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HEATHER MERCER, right, and Dayna Curry, U.S. aid workers imprisoned by Afghanistan's former ruling Taliban government, speak at a news conference in Waco before attending a welcome-home rally at Baylor University where the two went to school. (RNS Photo by Marcia Davis)
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rges of preaching Christianity in the country then ruled by the hard-line Taliban government. The imprisoned aid workers were dramatically rescued Nov. 14 by U.S. Special Forces.
___Mercer confessed to showing part of the "Jesus" video to an Afghan family and giving them books that included stories about Jesus, but she said the aid workers did not do anything wrong, as she believes everyone should have the right to choose their religion.
___Both women expressed great joy in their return to Waco and thanked the community and the world for their prayers, which they believe set them free.
___"I'm overwhelmed by the prayer and the support by the people who gave their lives that we could be free," Mercer said. "You guys who prayed, you are the heroes of this ordeal. You did the hardest work.
___"We know there are churches across the nation that prayed for us. Every time we got down, we remembered all the people praying for us."
___The women retold the story of the last days of their captivity, as they were moved from jail to jail as the Taliban troops fled from attacking forces, eventually only to be left alone in their cell in the city of Ghazni when it was attacked. Curry said a "wild west man," with messed up hair and ammunition around his neck, freed them and they were able to experience the "incredible" freedom the Afghans had found as they shaved their beards and danced in the streets. The former detainees said military forces then escorted them to a field near the city, where they burned sticks and their head coverings to help the U.S. helicopter locate them. The helicopter then took them to Pakistan, where they were reunited with family members who had watched the ordeal from Islamabad.
___Although they were enveloped by constant uncertainty and danger in the war-torn nation, Curry credited God with reassuring them that they would indeed survive their predicament to accomplish his goal.
___"He just gave us supernatural peace," she said. "I didn't know how he was going to get us out or when, but I knew he was going to get us out. Even when it was at the worst, we would look to see God telling us we will survive and tell his story.'
___And tell the story they have. The women have traveled across America sharing their tale as they have answered questions from many media outlets, including broadcast news reporters, newspaper journalists and numerous talk shows. They even told U.S. President George W. Bush about their situation when they visited the White House.
___"This is really a story about Jesus--for who he is, what he has done and continues doing," Mercer said. "We are just simple people who went to help the poor of Afghanistan and ended up in the world's craziest situation. God has used this story to show his love to the world."
___The women, who admitted they are still slightly uncomfortable dealing with the media, said they are amazed their story has had such an impact on people around the globe, bringing many back to God and generally increasing conversation on religious topics. They said they hope to take advantage of this platform to share their story of faith in a book and possibly a compact disc.
___They also would like to encourage American participation in rebuilding Afghanistan. Although she expects some initial resistance from her parents, Mercer said she would like to return to the nation in which she was imprisoned.
___"I want to go back to Afghanistan," she said. "My heart is there. My home is there. In so many ways, those people are my people."
___But for now, the Baylor graduates plan on taking a vacation to relax and reflect upon what they believe to be a miracle. This miracle has made the holiday season all the more special to one of the women.
___"It's going to be a great Christmas," Mercer said. "My family and I have so much to be thankful for. I think I will be able to truly celebrate the gift of Jesus because it has become so much more real to me."
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