Seeking Refuge

by Alana Terry

  “Yo, dudes, I’m Matthew Cho.” His wide smile beamed. “I’m eighteen. I grew up in Greensboro. And, uh, let’s see—I’ve gone spear fishing off the coast of South Korea where I caught a shark.”

  South Korean? She was sure he was Chinese, but that didn’t matter. Up close, Matthew was the best good looking guy her age she had ever seen, with spiky hair, flashing eyes and strong hands moving confidently as he talked. She was startled by how attractive he was. And after witnessing his agile and wiry frame do those handstands earlier, she was sure he could spear a shark. But she was ready to write him off for this boasting.

  More than a few from the crowd exclaimed, “Ooh!” She didn’t.

  “I’m Hyun. I’m still not telling my age, Mrs. C, but nice try.” She giggled as everyone, including Hadassah, laughed. “I grew up both in Virginia and in Shanghai. I qualified to compete in the Olympics but chose to work for the government instead.”

  “What event?” someone called out.

  “I’m in the first group, so I only have to tell one thing.”

  When it was time for the second group, Hadassah was swept up into the camaraderie in the room. “I was called Tsigele by a boy the other day. For those of you who don’t know, that’s Yiddish for ‘little goat.’ Oh, and I only like flat, lukewarm soda.”

  “Eww!” someone from the crowd shouted out, accompanied by loud laughter. Feeling jittery in the spotlight, Hadassah shuffled her feet and laughed nervously.

  “I’m Tameka and I’m twenty-three. I grew up in Pasadena, Cali, I like cold and carbonated soda,” she giggled and winked at Hadassah, “and I don’t like bananas in the morning—but I do like them in desserts.”

  “My name’s Dave, I’m twenty-eight. I’m from Minneapolis. I love jumping out of airplanes, I like the desert in the dead of night when it’s real quiet but you hear the rustling of the animals in the sand, and once I wrestled an alligator in the swamplands of Georgia.”

  There was a resounding “Ooh!” throughout the room at that one.

  “Hi, I’m Christina, and I’m twenty-nine. I grew up all over North Carolina, mostly in Greensboro. I love working out, I like hiking, I really like fine foods but I eat straight from a can when I need to, and, let’s see, I certainly can’t beat Dave’s story, but I did eat a scorpion when I was in China.”

  Another “Ooh!” This time Hadassah joined in.

  “I’m Lisa, and I’m twenty. I’m from Austin, Texas. I used to design Facebook games, I’m trying to design a computer screen that emits Vitamin D, I love almonds and pistachios while I work, and I work best during the hours of 1-3am.” Lisa rattled this off so fast Hadassah would have missed it if she hadn’t heard half of it earlier.

  “I’m Amelia and I’m twenty-four. I’m from Georgia, except I never wrestled an alligator. But I will be the main chef when we get to the Lighthouse, so I suggest being kind to me because I choose who peels the potatoes.” She laughed. “Actually, I’m joking, I don’t get to choose, but I do love to cook, and I love variety and challenge, so I hope y’all have adventurous taste buds. But don’t worry, it’s all edible, all delicious, and rarely deep-fried. So, Christina, you and me will be best friends.”

  Mr. Cooper announced that pizzas were on the way. But they all had to wash up and meet in the common room about schedules first.

  “Tomorrow being Sunday, you can either rest here, for those who have had long travels, or you can pile into the van with us and go to church. We’re leaving for the Lighthouse next Saturday morning.

  “Between Monday and Saturday, you’ll head out in teams of two and serve the staff, students and volunteers at NoCaHoP. You’ll also work with some of the mercy ministries. Each team will get a list of duties first thing every morning until we leave. And yes, you are allowed to gripe, but only to me, to my wife, or to God. If I hear you griping among yourselves everyone will get an extra list for the following day. Rough, I know, but I encourage you to be praying for one another instead of griping or worrying about who might gripe.

  “Stick around after the teaching since we’ll be going over the rules of R.S.O.”

  “Pizzas are here, y’all,” Mrs. Cooper said.

  During dinner everyone speculated on who this teacher would be, but Mr. Cooper gave no hints or clues.

  While Hadassah helped with clean-up, Tameka stopped and looked out at the common room. “Our guest speaker’s here. Oh my! It’s John Mark Gregory. They brought in John Mark Gregory.”

  Hadassah craned her neck to catch a glimpse of him. “I’ve read one of his books, but I never heard him preach before. Have you?”

  “Only in large conferences. Come on, girl, they’re gathering in the common room now.”

  Pastor Gregory tottered with his cane as he walked to the front of the common room. But when he looked each one of them in the eye Hadassah no longer thought of him as a teetering old man.

  “Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, beloved of the Lord,” began John Mark Gregory, “I count it a privilege to bring this word to you as you launch into training. I am stunned as I stand before you, observing how the Holy Spirit is faithful to His promise. He’s bringing the Bride to maturity before Jesus returns. Not since the days of the apostles has His Church been filled with such character, resolve and willingness to serve and be unknown. But you are known: in heaven, in the Lamb’s Book of Life, in the heart of the Father.

  “Yet I tell you, and urge you in Christ, this is the beginning of maturity and not the fullness. Yes, we have seen so many of the signs fulfilled in our lifetime. Beloved of Christ, the Gospel is being preached to every tribe, every tongue, every people, every nation right now!” His eyes glistened with tears. “He is coming soon. It may be in the next few years, maybe in the next thirty or forty.” His elderly body shook with a joy which made him look twenty years younger.

  “I want to speak to you this evening about your blessedness. You have each experienced the Kingdom of God, and been filled with the Holy Spirit.

  “You are blessed because you are meek—every one of you. The word meek has received some bad press in the last century or so. Meekness is not weakness, even though we are weak. Meekness is not mousy. Of all the ways Jesus chose to describe Himself in the Gospels, He chose two words: ‘meek’ and ‘lowly’. He created the universe—He is as strong as they come, but while He walked this earth He chose to empty Himself and put His strength under the Holy Spirit’s strength so he would glorify the Father and the Spirit in everything. He was not timid. And neither are you. Inasmuch as you voluntarily submit your strength to His strength, you are blessed, you are meek, and you will inherit the earth.

  “But you and I are weak, friends. God still chooses the weak things of this world to shame the strong. You are an elite group of young adults, but you realize your weaknesses: you are the elite of the weak. You are blessed because you realize that any strength you have is His.

  “Blessed are you peacemakers. Spies are sometimes thought to be peacemakers, but you are of a different spirit than the spies of this world. Our war isn’t with flesh and blood, but with powers and principalities. Releasing captives is an act of peace, and it wages war against these powers and principalities; these will strike at you through people. Your enemy will tell you that you are not a peacemaker. Releasing captives is the work of a peacemaker, so listen to me when I tell you that you are sons and daughters of God. You are blessed. Listen for the Lord’s voice when He calls you sons and daughters. Listen and believe it now, before the time of testing comes upon you.

  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. And I promise you, as many of you know well, those who do righteous works in the name of Jesus will be persecuted. In this age, all works of righteousness face persecution.

  “But Jesus goes on: people will curse you, insult you, tell lies about you and say all manner of evil things about you because of your testimony of Jesus. People you rescue may do this, so their gratitude cannot
be your reward. But we can rejoice and be glad because our reward in Heaven will be great.

  “Let’s stand and thank the Lord for the blessedness He gives us.”

  Tameka came forward and played a song on the piano while everyone prayed. As soon as she began to sing, Hadassah reckoned she had the sweetest and most captivating trill of a voice. Like a song sparrow at dawn. Like a wood thrush on a pristine evening. Like a nightingale through a dark night of the soul.

  As she sat meditating and asking the Lord to reveal Himself, Hadassah became aware of a fire within her heart. Within her whole body. This neither alarmed nor frightened her, but she felt as if she was the only person in the room and God had His spotlight—and His fire—on her. She didn’t realize her body rocked back and forth, and neither did she realize she was praying aloud. In Hebrew. Then in French. Then in Spanish. Then a language came from her mouth she didn’t know. But she continued to pray, relishing the bonfire in her heart. His Shekinah glory.

  Chapter 15: Hyun

  HYUN COLLECTED HER books and papers, her mind still processing what Pastor Gregory had said concerning her blessedness. She would have refuted every claim, except it was Jesus who said it first. And she made it a point to agree with Jesus. Especially after her last year with the CIA.

  Aaron Cooper laid a firm hand on her shoulder. “You doin’ alright, girl?”

  She flashed her spy glare, the one she had perfected years ago on assignment in Taiwan. “I’m just fine. It doesn’t bother me to be the oldest one here, if that’s what you’re asking; it’s invigorating to be around this crowd.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I don’t want to talk about my mom right now.”

  “Will you soon? I’m putting together a meeting this week. Everyone here who’s had a relative go missing.”

  “I’ll talk then. But not now.”

  “I understand.” He lowered his voice further. “Tell me what you think of Priscilla.”

  “You’re the one who recruited her.”

  “I know, but aside from Larry Murray, you’re the best judge of character I know.”

  She sighed and rolled her eyes. “You gleaned this from working with me for only five months?”

  “Five months in the Middle East can reveal a great deal about someone.”

  “Since you ask, she’s got a lot of anger issues, but it looks like she’s dealing with them head-on instead of ignoring her problems. You’d be hard pressed to find someone so scarred and angry who has her level of loyalty and truth of character.”

  “I take it she told you about her childhood.”

  Hyun shook her head. “No. I can see from looking at her. You’ll need to give her lots of TLC, but she may be one of the best operatives at R.S.O. when all is said and done.”

  “See, girl? You rock when it comes to character judgment. No wonder the CIA didn’t want to let you go.”

  Hyun cringed. “They were a little more eager than you might think.”

  “What about our youngest recruit?” Aaron nudged her as he glanced at Hadassah.

  “That’s Pastor Asher’s daughter, isn’t it?”

  “Hadassah.”

  “Does she know about her dad yet?”

  “She does. She’ll need a bit of TLC too. Her mom’s leaving from here to try and find everyone.”

  Hyun shut her eyes and steeled her emotions.

  Aaron’s stare was upon her when she opened her eyes. “You want to go with her mom?”

  “I called the State Department all day yesterday and got the run-around. No one wants to touch disappearances in the Middle East for some reason. It takes a lot for me to get angry, but I might snap soon.”

  “You didn’t answer me.”

  “Pastor Gibbons sent me a text already. I’ll be meeting with Mrs. Michelman tomorrow during our free day. As of right now, those are my only plans, aside from working with you and R.S.O.”

  “But you never told me what you think of Hadassah.”

  She chuckled softly. “You know how to find them is all I can say.”

  “Whatcha mean by that?”

  Hyun gave a half smile. “I mean, well done on the recruiting end. She’s a spy if I ever saw one. Give her a few months and she’ll be schooling the lot of us. And I can’t wait ’til she meets Larry Murray. She’ll be your other best operative.”

  “He’s got all their files, so I’m sure he knows what to expect. Are you okay to train alongside them?”

  “What’s my other option, teaching? No thanks.”

  “I was hoping you and Christina would mentor the younger girls.”

  “I could. One step at a time, Aaron.”

  She glanced over at Hadassah while Aaron turned to talk to Dave. The girl was lost in prayer in the midst of a swirl of activity. Hyun sat down again, placed her Bible and notebook on an empty chair and began to pray. Of everything Aaron had offered when he told her about R.S.O., he should have said she’d have a focused prayer life again. It would have been his best selling point. A smile swept across her face as she began to perceive God’s presence. Tameka’s song echoed in her heart and she lifted it up silently in praise to her King.

  She glanced at her watch. Only five minutes had gone by. She loved when five minutes felt like an hour, as if she had been briefly invited into God’s reality of time. With a few whispers of “I love you,” and “Thank you,” to the Lord, she began gathering her Bible and notebook again.

  “I’m very curious about you, Hyun.” Hadassah stood beside her with right hand outstretched. “I’m Hadassah, by the way. I’m having trouble remembering everyone’s name.”

  Hyun shook her hand and smiled candidly. “You remembered mine.”

  “I also remember what you said about the Olympics, and I was wondering what event you qualified for.”

  “We never did have another questions game, did we? I qualified for gymnastics, the parallel bars.”

  “Nice. Did you love it?”

  She shrugged. Maybe in the beginning, but that was so long ago. “I remember performing on the bars before the judges and trying to figure out what use I was to the Lord. They told me I qualified, and I wanted to go home and cry—I knew in my heart the other girl was supposed to go instead of me. I withdrew my name the following morning, then finished my bachelor’s and headed off to Langley to work for the CIA.”

  “Did you know Mr. Cooper while you were with the CIA?”

  “I did. He’s the reason I retired from the agency and moved to North Carolina. He told me what he was doing and I said count me in. I loved the work I did at the agency, but they kept asking agents to compromise their faith for the sake of country. The reason I love this country so much is because I can pursue Christ here without compromise.” She chuckled to herself. “I never told these things to anyone beside the Coopers and Pastor Gibbons. You have a real disarming way about you, Hadassah.”

  “Thanks. I feel like I’m so much younger than everyone else. Do you think I’ll fit in?”

  “I hardly know you, but I know if Mr. Cooper recruited you then I am honored to be on your team. You have confidence without arrogance. It’s a rare find.”

  Hadassah blushed and looked down. “I guess New York didn’t rub off on me too badly. Mr. Cooper’s gathering everyone again. Have you heard these guidelines already?”

  “I have, but it’ll be good to hear them again. These guidelines are a major reason I signed up.”

  Hyun smiled when Hadassah took the seat right next to her.

  Aaron raised his hands for everyone to quiet down. “Many of you have heard our purpose and guidelines, but I want to repeat them for the new recruits. None of you will ever have a normal public life again. And not one of you will have fame here on earth, at least I really hope not.”

  Hyun laughed out loud, even though no one else did.

  Aaron smiled and nodded his head at her before continuing. “We have a mission at R.S.O. born out of many hours of watching and praying, and our work w
ill be unlike most anything on the grid of the church, or most of history. You still have five more days to run for the door, but here is what will be required of you if you stay.

  “At R.S.O., we are not to defile ourselves with sexual immorality. If you did in the past and you repented before the Lord, then you have a clean slate because of the cross. But at R.S.O. we can’t allow that mistake. We need to be set apart as holy if we’re to do His work. Especially this work. I know there are guys and ladies together here, but honor one another, honor the Lord and honor yourselves.

  “Second, each person needs to follow the Lamb. Yes, we have to work as a team, but we cannot rely on our teammates’ relationships with the Lord to boost us while we’re in the field, we need to have our own. Each one of us needs oil for our own lamps. We need to stand before Him individually and as a team and follow Him in and through all the places He goes. This will be the biggest way you build up trust with one another. And believe me, we need to trust one another.

  “The last guideline will run contrary to everything you may think our program would entail. There is to be no lie on our lips; we’re to be blameless. I’m not going to let anyone slide on this one: we won’t tolerate lying. We will discuss and act out various scenarios during training at the Lighthouse. Some of us may have been trained to tell lies and deceive others. It’s time to bring heart and mind before the Lord. He alone can eliminate our inclination to lie.

  “Some of you may recognize these regulations from the book of Revelation and yes, these are the descriptions of the 144,000. Am I saying you’ll be one of those 144,000? I don’t know if that’s a literal number, but I will tell you this: these are the standards of the Lamb, our Lord of Glory, so they are the standards for R.S.O. That’s all for tonight. I hope you have a restful sleep.”

  As she trudged upstairs and readied her bed, Hyun noticed Hadassah several times. The girl’s terse movements confirmed to her that Aaron’s guidelines had dredged up more questions than answers. Even though she was exhausted from worry and wrestling with past issues stirred up by the guidelines, Hyun stepped over sleeping bags and around cots to talk to Hadassah.