Ann Hughes > Recent Status Updates

...... a gorgeous bouquet of beautiful Chrysanthemums standing in a pail of water at our front door.... It had not been an easy thing to build a bridge if love and concern to this couple. The husband had always been so abrupt, so distant, so self-assured. But little by little, prompted by God's Gracious Spirit, we persevered... One day soon, I am sure, the doors to both their hearts will be opened wide to Christ.

The word 'comforter'.... was strictly a military meaning, "a comrade in arms---an ally in battle"; "a fellow warrior in war"; "the alongside one in hand-to-hand combat." ... So when Christ spoke of His Holy Spirit as the "Comforter", He spoke of Him as the One who stood with us in conflict....

She does remember Julien saying, "Paris-- like the city!" And from Maman the familiar reply, "No, without the s. It means 'fairy' in Farsi."

Abdullah sighs. "Dr. Bashiri, if I ever want to put a curse on someone I say, 'May God give you a restaurant.'

....I am governed by God. I am under His authority, subject to His commands, calmly obeying His word in devoted love and loyalty.

His Word speaks hope, cheer and peace to my soul. It is the word of a Friend.

It would be her secret, one she would share with the mountains only.

I did not share their joy or feel very kindly toward any of them....

I listened with as much patience as I could muster.

At midnight, watching from my compartment, I saw a white house on a hill.

But there was no forgetting. Pari hovered, unbidden, at the edge of Abdullah's vision everywhere he went. She was like the dust that clung to his shirt.....

Take this, she said, and motioned to her bags of nuts. I'm a raw-foodist-nondairy vegetarian.

My usual question, unanswered by these-- by most-- travel books, is, How did you get there?

But Maidan Sabz was a desolate place, and it didn't resemble in the slightest the image that its name, Field of Green, would have you picture.

The war would end. Uncle Henrik had said that, and it was true. The war ended almost two long years later. Annemarie was twelve. Church bells rang all over Copenhagen, early that May evening. The Danish flag was raised everywhere. People stood in the streets and wept as they sang the national anthem of Denmark.

He interrupted her, smiling. "That's all that brave means--not thinking about the dangers. Just thinking about what you must do...."

It was harder for the ones who were waiting, Annemarie knew. Less danger, perhaps, but more fear.

Annemarie didn't have an answer for her. She patted Ellen's hand and they sat together silently.

The train ride north along the Danish coast was very beautiful. Again and again they could see the sea from the windows.

"Ellen," she whispered urgently, "take your necklace off!"

"Once I had three daughters. Tonight I am proud to have three daughters again."