Colombia
"There once was a man" by Dora Tenenoff.
"The poem that follows is written by Dora Tenenoff, aged 15. Dora is the daughter of one of three American missionaries taken hostage by FARC guerrilas in 1993 on the Panama/Colombia border whilst working for the New Tribes Mission. Please remember Rick Tenenoff, David Mankins, Mark Rich and their families in your prayers".
There Once Was a Man
by Dora Tenenoff daughter of NTM hostage Rick Tenenoff
There once was a man, A man I once knew Who told me stories every night, laughed at my jokes, and held me tight.
He told me, "Don't quit!
Always fight the good fight!"
He said, "Love the Lord with all your heart, and serve Him with all your might!"
He begged me, "Do right."
There once was a man, a man I once knew, Who taught me how to tie my shoe, and gently smiled at every picture I drew.
He told me, "When you start something, don't stop until the job is through."
He said, "I love you."
There once was a man, a man I once knew.
I saw him in my dream, and it made me scream.
I called out, "Daddy!" but he told me nothing.
He had nothing to say.
For what can you say, When you are far, so very far away?
"Daddy?" I said, then a voice echoed in my head.
I lay quiet and still in my bed.
Again the voice, "Your daddy made a choice, a choice to serve Me with all his might, To not give up, to fight the good fight! He is doing a job for me and is not yet through, So remember, I love you!" There now is a man, a man I now know.
He lived and he died to save men from their sin.
He made it possible for us to be born again.
I know because my daddy told me so.
And even though he's no longer here, my God will always be near To fill in the gaps and show me which way to go.
I miss my dad so much, but God has a plan.
So for now I'll just wait and watch the work of His hand.
There was a man, a man I once knew.
He's now just a memory slowly fading away.
"Dead or alive?" you ask.
"I don't know," I say.
So I beg you, Please Pray!!Pray that my daddy knows that every night I whisper, "Daddy, I love you!"
There is now a man, a man I now know.
Every day He becomes more real to me.
Every day in Him, I grow.
Every day I pray that my love for Him will show.
I've made a choice to serve Him with all my might.
To not give up, to fight the good fight.
Here on earth, I may not see my dad again, but that's alright.
'Cause when my life is through, I'll finally hear them both say,"My child, I love you!!"
by Dora Tenenoff (15)
