ROM THE HEART OF BAGHDAD TO THE open plains of south Sudan and in dozens of other hot spots around the globe, employees of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) regularly put their personal safety on the line to help others and show the love of Christ in action.

Although they live and work in some of the most dangerous places in the world, their weapons are different from the guns, mines, and bombs that inundate the conflict zones they call home. They fight against poor health with clean water and reliable sources of food. They combat poverty through education and vocational training. They are the front line of a daily war ADRA fights on behalf of "the least of these."

Tragically, not all battles are won. Such was the case last year when four ADRA employees were killed in conflict zones while serving others. For their colleagues who carry on in place of the fallen, many ask why they put themselves in harm's way. Here are their answers in their own words.

AFGHANISTAN
Karla Leitzke and her husband, Fabiano Franz, worked with ADRA/Uzbekistan implementing projects across the border in northern Afghanistan. Rebuilding schools, providing wells, and other projects were only a part of their work. They both now work for ADRA/Afghanistan and live in Kabul. We spoke to Karla.

What experiences did you have traveling between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan?
It was very tough, but God always protected us. To get to our project site, we passed through Mazare Sharif, which was a conflict area.

One day we drove through a fight. A man told us not to continue on the road because the fighting was heavier ahead. He told us to turn to Mazare Sharif. It was God's providence, because otherwise I would have been in serious trouble. I learned later that a nongovernmental organization (NGO) worker was shot during that fighting.

Another experience occurred late last year during fighting between the leadership of Jowzjan province and Balkh province. One day, while in our office in Sheberghan, we heard about a possible fight on the only road between Sheberghan and Mazar-e Sharif. As night approached, we could see many armored cars around the palace. I was alone, since Fabiano was in Uzbekistan. During the night I could hear many vehicles moving along the road, and I just asked God to keep me safe. It was a difficult night to sleep, but I enjoyed the sunrise the next day and the assurance that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.

The safety I experienced during six months alone, driving everywhere, attending meetings, sleeping by myself, with my husband coming and going sporadically to the Uzbekistan country office, was a big demonstration of God's protection.

What risks does ADRA/Afghanistan face in its effort to help others?
Employees risk their lives; this is an unstable country, and we need to travel to do our work. Of course, we have security procedures, but life doesn't work in a predictable way, especially in a country where some see NGO workers as the enemy. Basically we do our work taking precautions to avoid risks, but also trusting that God will protect us. Every morning we pray that God will help us to do the work He gave us and will protect us from any harm. If God brought us here, He'll take care of us.

What sort of impact have you seen from ADRA's work on the lives of the Afghan people?
I always think about a song from Faith First. We've been "reaching the once unreachable," providing water for their basic needs and survival, or blankets, clothes, and heating stoves for very poor families; "teaching the once unteachable," providing schools for kids who believe if they go to school, they can be whatever they want. They love having the freedom and opportunity to go to a school. "Healing the once unhealable," improving the health of women and children who live in remote, mountainous areas that can be reached only by donkey or horse.

Besides ADRA's projects that enable people to have a better life and hope of a better future, ADRA workers have been impacting people's lives by acting in love, smiling, taking the time to have tea with them, listening to their problems, and showing a willingness to help them help themselves. We're impacting this country not just with what we do, but by how we do it.

What motivates you to do this kind of work?
I see my work as an opportunity to show love in action and to experience God's power in my life to help others. It's amazing how fulfilling this job is. God enables me for every new task. I'm working with ADRA because it shares the principles I have for myself. We may not be able to talk about Jesus in Afghanistan, but we're trying to follow His example by feeding and clothing the poor.

SOUTH SUDAN
The largest country in Africa has suffered from ongoing fighting for decades between south Sudan rebel groups and the Government of Sudan (GOS). Amid this turmoil ADRA/South Sudan country director, Chris Smoot, implements projects throughout the region. The agency works with Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), a United Nations (UN) operation based in Lokichokio, northern Kenya. Although Chris is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with his wife and four children at ADRA/South Sudan's main office, he frequently travels into southern Sudan to monitor, evaluate, and visit ADRA's projects.

What is the greatest need in south Sudan?
The greatest need in Sudan is peace. It's an area that has been in conflict for many years. The Bible says, "Blessed are the peacemakers," and that's what ADRA tries to function as to a lot of warring factions.

What are the challenges of working in a conflict zone such as southern Sudan?
The main challenge is the way ADRA/South Sudan must operate. We're a cross-border operation because there is no country, it's just an area controlled by rebel groups. So we work under a UN-mandated consortium of NGOs to help the Sudanese people.

Trying to work in a war zone can be difficult. In the past we've had our staff taken hostage. So there's always caution and concern when you go in. You have to understand the insecurity and potential threats.

How does your staff deal with working under those circumstances?
Our success comes from the dedication of our staff. They go into areas knowing there's conflict; knowing that potentially they could lose their lives. But they still go; they still serve. They still fulfill what Christ has told us to do: to heal, teach, and help.

One man I have a lot of respect for is Peter Lujana. He's worked in our office for many years. Peter had an accident when he was coming back on a project assessment visit a few months ago. He cracked his neck and has been in the hospital since. He's gradually regaining feeling and movement. Peter was also one of our employees who was taken hostage.

He also told me the story of his car hitting a land mine. He was blown from the vehicle and landed in a river. But even after all this, Peter keeps going back. He could say, "I'm not going to do it, why should I do it anymore?" But he continues.

Have you ever felt at risk for your personal safety?
I've never felt unsafe entering into southern Sudan. It's not something that really worries me much. I ask for God's protection and safety during my visit, and after that I don't worry about it.

Do I take precautions and prepare for my visits? Yes; before each trip into southern Sudan we are required to attend a security briefing about the current situation and evacuation procedures. We are given a map of air pickups in the event of a security relocation. We are also required by Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) to attend a three-day security workshop every two years.

Depending on the security level of a project site, two or three daily radio checks are required. If we travel from the project site, we are required to check in on an hourly basis. We are required to take "quick run" kits with us wherever we go. Those bags consist of medical supplies, a compass, water, and other necessary items important for our survival in case we have a security incident that requires us to "run" from our project site. On our compounds, we have specific things that we are required to do such as have multiple exits out of the compound, bomb shelters, and daily security meetings to discuss issues.

In the past, as I said, we have had staff held hostage, and also staff under air bombardment, staff evacuations in the middle of the night, and staff under automatic weapon fire. These are a way of life for ADRA staff working in southern Sudan. But we can't let fear paralyze us or we will not be fulfilling our mission. Understanding our security risks and preparing for them as best we can and then putting our trust in God's protection is the best we can do.

LIBERIA
Cooper Mykers, acting country director for ADRA/Liberia, survived two weeks of fighting in Monrovia and subsequent food shortages, but carried on ADRA's work to help internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by recent conflict throughout the country.

What challenges did you face in implementing ADRA projects during the recent conflict in Liberia?
We were hit with many difficulties. It took time for peacekeeping forces to be deployed throughout Liberia. We had many projects outside the area controlled by peacekeeping forces, so we encountered problems with rebel groups. We were stopped at checkpoints by fighting forces. Sometimes they would search our vehicles. If the staff had anything valuable, it would be taken.

One time some individuals attacked some of our staff. They wanted more food than we were able to give. One of our staff was injured. We got back in our car and returned to the office until the situation calmed down.

What was life like when Monrovia was under attack?
It was a difficult experience. I was about 10 kilometers (six miles) away from the ADRA office, which is also where my house is. I couldn't communicate to our office or other ADRA workers because of the heavy shelling. It was the point where some of the heaviest fighting took place. For about two weeks there was no contact between other ADRA employees and myself. When I finally made it to the office after walking for about three hours I was able to communicate with some of the staff, but not all. We were all spread out, depending on where we were when the fighting started. It took a while to get in contact with all our workers.

There were many difficulties we all faced on a personal level. We had food shortages even in our individual homes. In the markets there was no food or the prices were high, sometimes marked up to 500 percent. We couldn't afford it.

What about living through such heavy shelling?
It was really bad. Many of us dropped a lot of weight. I came down from 150 pounds to about 120 pounds in two weeks because of food shortages and stress. We had to stretch our food to last many days. Many people in the community ran out of food, and some died from starvation. Many people were displaced and crowded into buildings that had no roofing. It was the rainy season in Monrovia. They were basically sleeping outdoors in the IDP camps. Rooms that were maybe 15 feet by 15 feet had 30 people sleeping on the floor. There were no beds, no mats, no clothes. It was a very serious situation.

HAITI
During the coup d'état in early 2004 in Haiti, ADRA initially airlifted 125,000 pounds of food. Fritz Bissereth, country director for ADRA/Haiti, implemented the delivery of emergency food aid to those in need under difficult circumstances.

Talk about ADRA's response during the recent coup d'état in Haiti.
Only eight days after former President Aristide left power, one of the first planes to land in the country was filled with emergency food supplies for distribution by ADRA. The plane landed at dawn on Sunday morning, March 7.

The streets were under total control of the rebels. Under these exceptional circumstances, eight ADRA trucks were loaded at the foot of the airplane. The trucks were then escorted by American armed forces and private armed security guards directly to ADRA's warehouse 25 miles away. Two trips were necessary to unload all the food. To secure the food we increased the security of our building and staff with armed guards.

While the country was paralyzed by ongoing conflict, ADRA staff worked 14-hour days. We had to operate quickly, first to give help to people in urgent need, but also to protect our staff from the increased risk of storing such valued goods at our warehouse.

We distributed food to six villages that were destroyed by the conflict, as well as displaced persons in the capital city, Port-au-Prince. They received this food as manna coming from heaven!

On several occasions ADRA's trucks were attacked by rebels, because American soldiers were not spread throughout the country yet. We had to distribute food without armed protection.

In another instance, our vehicle was fired upon at a roadblock when rebels demanded a bribe. We miraculously escaped unharmed. We were all ready to lose our lives if necessary, and we experienced God's protection on several occasions. These events reinforced our conviction to serve others.

IRAQ
Although ADRA had been working in northern Iraq since the early 1990s, no official office was established. In spring 2003, ADRA sent Dr. Sharon Pittman, now country director for ADRA/Guinea, to Iraq to preposition the agency for emergency relief and lay the groundwork for an official country office.

What were your initial impressions upon arriving in Iraq?
One of the things that pleasantly surprised me was the reception I received from the Iraqis. They had been isolated from the church and outsiders for a number of years because of the embargoes and the Saddam regime. Their enthusiasm, excitement, sense of hope, and sense of appreciation of Americans and the coalition were very energizing.

What challenges did you experience during your time in Iraq?
Obviously safety issues; being separated from your family while in risky situations is a personal challenge. There were logistical challenges such as getting money or communication. We use the Internet and e-mail to communicate, and access to this was extremely sporadic or not available. If it was available, you had to clear the "green zone" to get at it.

Did you feel personally at risk?
I was in a taxicab one day. We were headed into the "green zone" to access the Internet and right in front of me a shooting took place, in which coalition forces killed three people they perceived were trying to run the security checkpoint. There was an immediate riot, and I was in the middle of it, trying to stay invisible. In another incident the vehicle I was in was shot at, but fortunately it was bulletproof.

I was in the UN building in Iraq exactly 24 hours prior to the bombing at that office. I lost three dear friends who had helped ADRA tremendously. In these situations you just say, "I am 100 percent under the care of the Almighty of the universe. I have no guarantees; but no one has guarantees."

Why did you decide to go into a risky situation like the one in Iraq?
ADRA must focus on the relational side of what we do. We can either position ourselves to throw commodities at people and leave, or go in and build long-term relationships. The latter can do more for the people, and ourselves, in helping them see the love of Jesus. I don't have to lose much sleep making the decision to share the love of Jesus with hurting people, even if it puts me at personal risk. Jesus did that, and it is really easy to share His love when you are energized and motivated the way ADRA employees are.

The church of the twenty-first century will be revitalized and reenergized for the end-time struggle when we see the face of Jesus in the least of these. It is 100 percent spiritual for me that we would be highly motivated to look for the face of Jesus and share His love with those most needy. I become spiritually stronger each time I go into a crisis situation. I become more dependent on Jesus for everything. You can't separate that passion. It is engendered when you and the Lord partner to be an extension of His love. It motivates you to get out of the ivory towers and big fancy cities and go out to real people who have real needs.