When You Were Absent

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country? If so, which? Three of our family were in a British boarding school in Shantung, North China. A newborn babe and two others were in Hong Kong- a house divided. Was there yet time to gather them together and flee before the seas were closed to British shipping? For myself, I knew I was to be an "expendable" and there was no choice. Out of the agonies of thought there was a voice mockingly saying, "Where is your Faith?" Do you believe that God is able to save? Are you prepared to bet your assurance of Faith against the possible mutilation, death, and rape of your family? Are you?" What of the example to the children? Is it right for them to run and not defend their home? Is it right that there should be Fear when we have committed our lives into His hands?" Would our sudden departure on the last evacuation ship ever be justified? Would it not undo the patient training of these children? At morning and evening worship there had been the reiteration of Faith, Faith, Faith. What would their schoolmates think of a sudden panic? Days passed, and there had been no definite direction from God to leave. I returned one day late in November from my shipping company with the news that all sailings north of Hong Kong had been canceled. That meant the last chance for the children to come to Hong Kong had gone. Three of the Cooks were now very definitely committed to the Lord. Our decision on the last sailing had been helped by their inability to sail on account of their having been quarantined for chickenpox. The Christmas hamper, packed with tears and hopes, was returned to us from the shippers - "no further sailings to Chefoo." Ocean going vessels were hastily withdrawn from the China seas to West of Singapore, and just a few coasters were left to usher in the end. When I arrived back from Canton on the third of December, Hong Kong was anticipating the worst. The confusion and utter lack of preparation was no longer concealed. On the morning of December the fourth I consulted the Shipping Company, but they had no policy and vaguely sheltered behind the Commodore's office. The

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