Book Review - "Saved By Her Enemy" by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak

“I am doing this because life is too short to live apart from God.” 

Those words, spoken by Rafraf Barrak in the book Saved by Her Enemy by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrack are at the heart of what her story is about. 

Raised in a traditional Muslim family, Rafraf Barrak never quite “fit in” with the expectations of her.  In many ways, she was rebellious in the manner in which she wished to dress, the education that she sought and the life she wished to live for herself.  She was raised with the conception that Americans were the enemy.  She was also raised with the notion that her life depended on obedience to her patriarchal family, society and government. 

Though not raised in a “religious” home, Rafraf nonetheless had studied the Koran inside and out.  To her understanding, the ability to get into heaven was based on obedience versus rebellion.  In her mind, her rebellion and mistakes had cost her the opportunity to ever get into heaven.

Rafraf was a dedicated student.  She enjoyed learning English and finished her Bachelor’s degree at Baghdad University.  When American forces took over Baghdad, Rafraf was able to get a job as a translator with NBC News.  This was at great risk to her personal safety and the safety of her family as insurgents began to target those helping Americans. 

It was here that Rafraf met correspondent Don Teague.  An unlikely friendship blossomed between them - despite gender, religion, generational, cultural and socio-economic differences.  Don discovered many of Rafraf’s struggles as well as her dreams for her future.  Many of those struggles and dreams were not so different than ours, but others were simply unimaginable by our standards.  In a particularly insightful passage, it was revealed that Rafraf had never been outside of Baghdad at that point in her life.  She had never done things that we typically take for granted such as swimming, riding on an airplane, driving a car, riding a bike, riding on an escalator, or going to restaurant with a drive thru window. 

As the environment in Iraq worsened, so did the personal risk to Rafraf.  Don Teague was convicted that God was leading him to bring her back to the United States, though in that climate, it seemed that Rafraf would never be permitted to go.  Through a series of miraculous events that can only be attributed to the power of God, Rafraf was finally allowed to come to the United States. Don and his wife Kiki took her into their home to become a member of their family and watch as God unfolded the miraculous ways in which He would become a very real presence in Rafraf’s life. 

This is a very multilayered story.  It is a story of war and the dichotomy of two different cultures converging in remarkable ways.  This is the story of the absolute trust and obedience of one man to God’s plan.  This is the story of those who acted as the hands and feet of Christ with their love, kindness, acceptance and compassion of Rafraf.

Most of all though, this is a story of a young girl who God desired for His own.  Rafraf’s life shows us the very real ways in which God can and does intercede to show us we are loved and cherished in His eyes.