Anderson Godoy arrived by bus at 5 a.m. in Tumbes, Peru. Groggy from an all-night trip, Godoy was on his way home to Colombia. He had planned to visit his friends and family one last time before spending the next several years studying for a master's degree at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in the Philippines.

Godoy saved his finances for months to make the trip and start his first year's studies.

An avid photographer, he reluctantly sold his camera, along with his laptop, to raise enough money for the airline ticket and other necessities. With a conviction that God had called him to mission service in Asia, he was willing to make every sacrifice.

"I planned to stop at the Nazarene Bible Institute of the Peruvian jungle and several churches in Quito (Ecuador), as well as having workshops and training with the students of the South American Nazarene Theological Seminary," he said.

But all that changed in a moment.

Godoy needed a taxi to cross the border into Ecuador to continue his journey. Several motorcycle taxis were parked at the bus station.

Another traveler suggested that he avoid the motorcycles and wait about an hour for an automobile taxi. Without being asked, one of the motorcycle drivers picked up Godoy's suitcase and put it on his motorcycle, so Godoy agreed to ride with him. 

Soon Godoy realized they were going in the wrong direction. He mentioned this to the driver, who told him not to be nervous. He felt uneasy, however.

Not long after, a second motorcycle caught up with them and Godoy realized it was a set up. He jumped off the motorcycle and began running. The men caught up with him, beat him, and pinned him to the ground.

Godoy hurt his ankle in the jump, but still he tried to chase them after they let him up from the ground and drove away.

His mind raced through a checklist of everything in his luggage: The thieves had taken his suitcase, all of his money, his passport and government documents, his computer hard drive, and even his watch. He was heartbroken at the loss of his more than 20,000 original photos he'd stored on the hard drive. 

The thieves left him with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Seeing Godoy by the side of the road, another passing cyclist gave him a ride to the nearest police station. As he explained to the officers the details of his ordeal, he realized that now he had only God. The police allowed him to use their computer for a few minutes to contact some friends for prayer and help. 

"I honestly felt sad and stressed at the moment," he said later. "But once I was at the police station I had the time to think, and I remember that God is always in control.

Nazarenes to the rescue

Godoy didn't know anyone in the Peruvian border town.

As his girlfriend in the Philippines spread word of Godoy's crisis through email and social media, someone contacted Milder Montenegro, a Nazarene pastor in Tumbes. Only a few hours after the incident, he found Godoy at the police station and took him to breakfast. 

"He felt alone, worried, and tired, very anxious to arrive to Colombia," Montenegro said.

Support continued to pour out from Chiclayo in Peru, Paraguay, and Ecuador. At 3 p.m. that afternoon, Godoy was able to continue his journey. 

Montenegro would not leave him alone until he saw him on the bus. The police had given Godoy a document that they said would help him cross the border into Ecuador. The pastor had given him encouragement, food, and transportation funds to the border.

"My Peruvian friends acted immediately and they asked someone to raise funds that they sent later that day," he said. "The church also cared about me. From Argentina, our regional director contacted the Peru field strategy coordinator and they helped me with prayers and advice. Once I was in Quito, the regional office and the North Andean Field helped me with clothes, a suitcase, and some money. The students of the seminary gave me clothes, even underwear. New, of course. My former pastor in Ecuador brought me clothes and toiletries. And the seminary provided a place to sleep and free food."

In Ecuador, he knew he might have difficulties.

At one police stopping point, all passengers had to show proper documents for travel. They removed Godoy from the bus and questioned him for two hours about having improper papers. The police asked for bribe money, but when they discovered he used a missionary visa in past years, they let him go.

A slight change of plans

As a former teacher at Nazarene Theological Seminary of the Southern Cone, as well as former coordinator of the Nazarene Virtual Seminary for Latin America, Godoy had arranged preaching and teaching assignments in several countries to support his studies in the Philippines.

He would now need to spend his remaining time re-applying for his passport, identification card, military card, and yellow fever card. He would also need to request new copies of his seminary degrees and transcripts. 

But God opened other doors. Although his documents and passport are being processed, he will start his master's degree in the Philippines on time.

And his unexpectedly longer visit with his Colombian family has been enriched. 

God does not prevent every disaster and trouble, but He does provide a way to praise His Name in all circumstances.

Raymond Gould is a member and missions president at New Life Community Church of the Nazarene, Wolcott, New York.