Guernsey, England
“You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.”
II Chronicles 6:15 NKJV
Today we toured the German occupation of the British island of Guernsey. The population was 45,000 at the time, today it is 65,000. The occupation lasted from 1940-1945. When they first discovered the Germans were coming they moved all the children under 10 and half of the people to London, Wales and Scotland but many stayed. Many were tomato farmers. Intensely our tour guide explained that his mother was on the island during that time and remembers the Germans coming to take their tomatoes and potatoes to store in town. As a child she recounted following the truck carrying produce from their farm and witnessing the Germans kick some off for her as the truck barreled down the narrow, winding mountain roads. We heard stories of locals digging holes in the ground at the airport in order to thwart the attempts of German planes to take off. When asked about it they blamed it on the rabbits! We visited a cold, dank, and dark underground German hospital. As you might imagine most patients did not improve there and had to be moved to other locations. The island was liberated from German occupation on May 9, 1945. They are still discovering mines along parts of the beaches today. Each year they continue to celebrate their liberation with great jubilation.
“You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.”
The scripture the Lord gave me this morning perfectly fit this story. They trusted God, prayed and waited. Then suddenly oh the joy at seeing His hand move! Such rejoicing took place that it is even continuing to this day!
Next year will mark the 80th year of celebration of the Lord’s great deliverance. Citizens are preparing even now for a spectacular island wide extravaganza!
