A few days after their deaths, Susanna and Shemsa publicly forgave their husband's killers. It was an act that stunned the community and drew national attention.

Shemsa said, “We forgive them because Jesus forgave us.”

“And He said we should love our enemies,” Susanna said.

Susanna says her husband found comfort in the words of the prophet Isaiah. His last journal entry quoted Isaiah 61:1-3. Those words bring comfort and hope to the family he left behind, and a resolve to stay and finish the work.

Susanna then read the Scriptures,”The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach Good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives.They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

Oaks of Righteousness