Distant Front by D.I. Telbat

Author:D.I. Telbat
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: inspirational fiction, Christian persecution, China Mission, special forces, underground church, action suspense
Publisher: In Season Publications
Published: 2016-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten, Hudie Valley – One Year Ago

Steve felt he was getting mixed signals from God. Initially, he believed God wanted him to escape Hudie Valley and return to America. Why else would he have learned to walk and begin to run if not to escape the threat of being murdered by men sent by Tond-zu?

But now, there were the warden's children splashing in the irrigation pool. It changed everything, as if maybe God were testing Steve's loyalties. Was freedom more important to himself than preaching the gospel to the valley inhabitants? Was his safety an idol before God's desire to touch the warden's heart through his children?

"Keep your feet moving!" he cheered as Lijia and Zou, the daughter and son of Fongdu Jen tread water. "Like a bicycle. Peddle!"

"Peddle!" Wu-Li ordered more strictly from the shoreline, his toy soldier in his fist. "Peddle!"

"Okay, okay, take a break." Steve waved the children to the bank. "Come on. Rest."

He watched proudly as they doggie-paddled to shallow water, then splashed ashore to collapse. Nearby, the other children of the valley worked in the fields next to their mothers. Occasionally, they looked up wistfully toward the pool, and Steve waved at them. They, too, wanted to play rather than work, of course.

The night before, Steve had overheard the basket-weavers talk of the change in the valley. As he'd delivered eggs to Wu-Li's mother, he'd lingered in the doorway to hear more. Indeed, the farmers were talking about his new relationship with the warden and his children. If the warden's heart could be softened toward Bao'r, the Handbasket, couldn't it also be softened toward their captive brothers, husbands, and sisters in the prison?

Steve had left without comment, but the thought remained with him. The value of this opportunity with the warden was far greater than escaping the valley for his own safety. Yes, he was in danger of Tond-zu having him killed. Yes, the discomfort of captivity was restricting. Yes, Lisa had been killed, and no one from COIL knew where he was. But he'd prayed long ago for the God of Joseph to help him, and now he had the warden's favor! Would he now demand his freedom by escaping, when he could enter the door God had opened wide?

The rice farmers were alert to the fact that he could affect the situation for their favor as well. He couldn't do that for them if he ran away, leaving behind people who needed his care, his skills, and his favor translated to them.

"Two lessons, and you're already treading water." Steve tucked a piece of grass in his mouth. "It's good, but life is more than swimming and exercise."

"We do our school work each morning," Lijia said, "now that we live in the fortress. Zou, pay attention to Bao'r!"

She was a year older than Zou, who tolerated her mothering bossiness in silence. Quietly, he released a frog and wiped off his hands.

"School work is good, but life is more than knowledge as well." Steve touched his chest.

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