"That was gunfire". The girl whispering to me was just 8 years old. She looked at me, the only adult in the room, expecting me to protect them all. Everything had been peaceful for years, and I forgot that armed conflict was a real risk in this region. I had trained for this, but that was over five years ago. "What should we do?" Another child asked, trembling. Some were crying softly. "Annie", I told myself, "you cannot panic now. Crying is for later. Get these children to safety!" More gunfire erupted. The armed men were headed straight toward our school. I had seconds. Praying silently, I calmed the children, gathered everyone in the safest room, and secured the facility.

One thing was clear: I knew who to call. At SIM's office in Canada, everyone knew their roles. In a matter of minutes, a Crisis Management Team was formed, and I was put in contact with Mary. Because of the preparation that had happened long before that day, trained people and clear protocols were already in place. I knew Mary had been in my shoes a few years ago. She and the others knew what to do. They were determined to keep me and my pupils safe. Within hours, they were already speaking to the embassy, handling paperwork, and giving us clear instructions for the next steps.

One of the most vivid things I remember was feeling the tension in my lungs releasing. "You did well," Mary told me. "You can relax now". I hadn't noticed how short of breath I had been. My tears finally spilled over. When I wasn't sobbing, Mary encouraged me with verses that spoke to my soul. The next few days wouldn't be easy, but she would walk with me through it all. She helped me to keep my eyes on Jesus at a time I could have lost sight of Him. Knowing I wasn't alone in those moments eased a significant part of the trauma.

Of course, once I came back to Canada, I needed counselling for a while before the nightmares and hypervigilance stopped. Even more was required to even consider going back to ministry. A year later, I was preparing to return. Not exactly in the same location, but the school was able to reopen with most of the students returning. Still, I could not have done it without the ongoing counselling or Mary's weekly well-being checks.

When my parents asked why I thought it was wise to return, my answer was simple. God still called me there. And I wasn't going back alone. My colleagues knew how to help me prepare for the risks. They cared about my health, both in mind and spirit, and they kept walking with me after I returned. I had shepherds at home who follow the Good Shepherd. And I had supporters who made that care possible. That gave me the confidence to shepherd others, even in troubled times.