In The Arena – Isobel Kuhn

Another foreboding fact was that did not have consular authority to return, so how could consular protection be asked? But there is always One with us who is greater than the governments of this world. Again desperately in my heart cried, “Lord, Thy promise! 7 will keep .’ ” I had not time to finish the verse before a hand plucked my sleeve from behind and a Chinese voice whispered hoarsely, *’Get into my cab, quick—both ofyou !”

We whirled around and sprang into the cab of the second truck. The driver shot into place behind the wheel, raced his motor, and offwe sped, leaving my driver still swearing and trembling with rage. We were now in a much older truck, one that had broken down several times during the trip, but as we sped along into a good lead over the other trucks, our new driver turned to me and said quietly, *’Lady, never do that again!

Next time you travel the Burma Road, you travel yellow fish.” All day long we kept in the lead and out of sight of the other trucks. And all day I prayed that this old truck would not break down again. And it did not. Another Chinese woman was with us, so that Eva had to sit on my knee or partially so. But our driver was very courteous and drove us right up to the Harrisons* door.

Luckily our baggage had been placed on his truck. We were safe. *7 will keep thee,** He had kept. He had never promised that we would not have trials. Dave Harrison gave us a resounding welcome and soon Eva was back in her old place making us tasty meals. A letter from Mary Zimmerman was waiting for me. This dear friend had formed the habit of writing us long, newsy letters, quoting from letters which spoke of our circulars, so that a letter from her was Uke a round-robin from everybody.

I had so missed them: it was wonderful to be in touch again. Rain and more toothache and another visit to the dentist arc recorded in my diary. Before our flight to Szechwan province, Kathryn had been teaching a Bible class attended by some university students. Dave Extinguished Candle-flames had taught this class during our absence, but he wanted to make another trip to some needy country churches.

Cover Photo by Macquitty International Collection Published by the Overseas Missionary Fellowship Belmont, The Vine, SEVENOAKS, Kent, TNi3 3TZ Printed and bound at Hiap Seng Press Pte Ltd, Singapore. EXPLAINING OUR TITLE 1940: We were missionaries on the China-Burma border, and had just received word that, owing to new dangers from the Japanese war, our mission was not allowing school-children, whose parents Hved far away, to go home for the holidays.

This meant that our Kathryn, who was in the China Inland Mission school at Chefoo, would not be able to reach us. As it was more than a year since she had seen her parents, it was decided that I try to reach her. This meant travel on the Burma Road.

And at one place it meant that I had to thumb a ride with a Chinese truck. I would, of course, pay for my passage, but this was the only way of procuring a vehicle at that time and place. So that raw November day saw me standing in the middle of the road, holding up my thumb to a Chinese driver, who was careening merrily along toward me.

I have always felt that womanly women did not do such things, and only desperate necessity would ever have made me wiUing. But a mother who wants to reach her child will go through much, so there I was, holding up my thumb to this Chinese young fellow, who drew his truck to a standstill and grinned at me. We bargained for a seat, and he doubtless never dreamed that this drab, middle-aged, white woman was cringing with humihation inside.

But I was. Reasonable or not, I have never forgotten that flush of shame. Once quietly installed in the truck, I talked in my heart to Him who has always been my refuge. “Lord, why do I have to be put in such situations as this?” And immediately the words came: For I think that God hath set forth us . . . last . . .for wc are made a spectacle unto the world (I Cor.

4:9). A spectacle—thsit was just how I had felt. But it would never have been necessary, if I had not become a missionary to a primi- tive people in those back-of-beyond places. So it was, indirectly, for Christ’s sake, and the thought comforted me. As I had to spend many hours just seated in the truck as the trip continued, I had plenty of time to pc^idcr.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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• Title: –
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• Pages: 197
• Language: English (en)

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