Angels Carry M-16s!

We had security from Cagayan de Oro through Iligan City and across the water to Ozamiz. But that was it. No more beyond Ozamiz. The next time I saw an M-16 was at the Dipolog airport. 

I first encountered having armed guards on a mission trip four years ago when we conducted a medical mission in Bunawan, near Davao City. It was a strange site to have medical personnel and all those people coming for care in a Christian context and seeing guards all around. The local believers - especially those who work in civic employment understand the nature of community and surrounding regions and felt it was important that we have physical protection in these exposed areas.

In Iligan City we had armed guards in our jeepneys and buses. They were always present. And they listened in during our services, ministry to kids, basketball evangelism, everything. It was sad to see them leave when we crossed the straights to Ozamiz where we picked up a new crew for our visit there and in Oroquieta. 

But we were always aware that the Lord was watching over us as well. It made me think about angels and their role and their choice of weapons to weld in the heavenlies. Do they really use swords or is that biblical imagery that resonated with the biblical writers. Were they actually seeing something more powerful than a sword? Were the angels welding light sabres? Or could we see angels today carrying the latest in weaponry such as the new lighter weight military rifles? Our guards had M-16s. But do angels weld super duper weapons to keep the enemy at bay? If our enemies - in the flesh - observed our actions and notices "extra" support teams - who were really angels manifested - would swords scare them off or superior firepower!  

Whatever the weapon of choice for angels unawares, we were glad to be supported by these really nice armed guards. We don't trust in natural protection but we do exercise wisdom. 

We paused for one last photograph before flying back to Manila. An example of one of our guardian angels possibly?