Dangerous Territory
Page 13
Veronica:
Yeah.
Veronica:
They taught me about Protestants in other parts of the country doing some bad things, and they said that some Americans want to influence our country
Amy:
Do you think they told you the truth?
Veronica:
These days, I’m trying to study laws about religion to protect us.
Veronica:
I’m keeping some documents about that.
Amy:
Good. In fact, I just heard from one friend of mine in the capital. He said that you have broken no laws and that it is not possible for them to stop you from going back to university.
Veronica:
About the girls.
Amy:
Yes?
Veronica:
I haven’t met them since then. Sarah is totally absent, only Cecilia understands this problem.
Amy:
You must feel very lonely.
Veronica:
Yes. Sometimes I cry so much and feel desperate. But it’s lucky I still have English Bible.
Veronica:
And I’m afraid the others are tempted by the police.
Veronica:
Even me, I was a coward, when the police called my dad and me to the station, they asked me ‘‘Do you follow religion,’’ again, and i said ‘‘no’’ because my parents told me to.
Veronica:
But now, studying the law, I have proved that it’s my right to follow any religion
Amy:
Even Peter said that he didn’t know Jesus, on the night Jesus died. God still used him to build the church.
Amy:
All of us make mistakes and all of us are influenced by our fear. The Father knows and understands and forgives. We must ask the Father for the other girls that they will remember the truth and follow it again one day
Veronica:
Yeah.
Veronica:
By the way, I should confess one thing.
Amy:
Ok.
Veronica:
I need a long time to build my faith in people.
Veronica:
Until that time, I don’t want to tell anyone about the Bible.
Veronica:
Really I’m hurt.
Amy:
I can understand that.
Veronica:
Philip is so mature and consistent, I can’t be like him.
Amy:
You are facing a strong trial and you have been hurt by your closest friends.
Veronica:
Yes.
Veronica:
Sometimes I try to forgive Sarah, but sometimes, it’s mission impossible
Amy:
I know.
Amy:
This is something that will take time.
Veronica:
If the police call me again, I will continue to let them dream on
Veronica:
Never do they find anything from me
Amy:
and it is ok to be very careful about who you tell about the Bible
Veronica:
yes
Amy:
Do you still love the father?
Veronica:
yes
Veronica:
I love Him and I must confess that I wonder about his plan
Amy:
I must confess that I also wonder about his plan—I ask him many times why he is allowing this to happen to you.
Veronica:
I really had some doubt on his Power
Veronica:
However, i know one thing:
Veronica:
No one can snatch me (John 10:29)
Veronica:
and when he gave me Holy Spirit, he never lets me away from him
Amy:
That is true!
Veronica:
It’s an identity (the lesson we studied together)
Amy:
I remember
Amy:
He will never let you go
Amy:
and even when we doubt his power or don’t understand his plan, he still loves us
. . .
Amy:
can i give your telephone number to my friend in the capital? He has had some experience with these things
Amy:
and he would like to encourage you
Veronica:
Yes
Veronica:
I’m happy
Veronica:
Actually we shouldn’t, cause maybe the police are listening to my telephone calls
Amy:
Ok
Veronica:
I forgot one thing
Veronica:
The police asked me for your tel number and address in America and your email address
Veronica:
They got your email address
Amy:
Ok
Amy:
I don’t think that they can access my email
Veronica:
I don’t know what they will do with the Bibles you gave us
Amy:
Hopefully they will read them and believe them :-)
Veronica:
They will accuse you of telling gospel and it influencing our people
Veronica:
The necessary thing I should do is that I and the girls must assure that we are volunteers—that we asked to learn the Bible, and that it wasn’t your idea.
Veronica:
i think the police want to make Sarah and Cecilia say that they are not volunteers so that they are easy to accuse
Veronica:
Y
ou understand what i mean?
Amy:
Veronica, I think it is important that you speak the truth. But I also think it is important that you don’t worry about protecting me. Just obey the Father, be truthful, speak with love. And I know that sometimes fear is stronger than the truth, but that is only for a short time. In the end, truth will win.
Veronica:
Even one time, they said to me “When you are 18, you seem to be free from your parents but in fact you are still controlled by them. In our country, we say you have freedom about religion, but in fact, you are controlled by us.’’
Veronica:
However, I have enough argument to protest them.
Veronica:
But it’s bad when I’m alone, and they want to accuse me of not loving my country
Veronica:
It’s complicated
Amy:
I know that you love your country!
Amy:
It is possible to love your country and to love the father, no matter what they say to trick you about that
Veronica:
I always wonder why our father hasn’t chosen my people obviously, so that we are not persecuted
Amy:
All over the world, in many countries, even from the beginning, people who love the father have faced persecution
Amy:
even today in many many countries
Veronica:
Will you come back?
Amy:
I will come back in early September, if the Father allows
Veronica:
If you don’t come back, the police will think I informed you of everything
Amy:
I plan to come back. I was afraid that the police would prevent me from coming back
Veronica:
No, I told you the police said ‘‘Pretend nothing happened when she comes back”—maybe they want to have a lot of evidence
Amy:
Well, then I will be there. And we will have to talk about what to do and how to act
Veronica:
Yeah
Veronica:
I love you so much, I thought I lost you and I resented everything, really.
Amy:
You have not lost me. I love you so much and I am always with you. I and my family and my friends think of you every day.
Veronica:
Now, I’m really safe
Veronica:
and i can chat anytime
Amy:
good
Amy:
we must chat again
Veronica:
Sometimes, we are too weak, but his power will be proved through that. The existence of christians are to glorify Him, right?
Amy:
That’s right
Amy:
absolutely
Veronica:
I think I will forgive Sarah, not cause of my sake, not cause of her sake, I just want to honor him
Amy:
That is the best reason to do it
Amy:
i’m afraid i must go to my class now
Amy:
i am so glad i got to talk to you this morning
Veronica:
i can understand
Veronica:
me too
Veronica:
see ya
Amy:
see ya
Veronica:
try your best for the MA
Veronica:
;)
Amy:
thanks ;)
Veronica:
i love your family
Veronica:
bye
Amy:
i love your family too
Amy:
talk to you soon
Conversation with Sarah, July 18.
Sarah:
are u here, AMY?
Amy:
hi
Amy:
how are you?
Sarah:
ok
Sarah:
so so
. . .
Sarah:
will u come back?
Amy:
I don’t know what classes I will teach next year, but I will certainly be there
Sarah:
oh
Sarah:
i am very happy
Sarah:
to meet u
Amy:
i am very happy that i will see you again too
Sarah:
i really miss u so much last time
Amy:
even this summer, i have wished that i could be with you
Sarah:
yes
. . .
Amy:
have you seen Veronica or Cecilia recently?
Sarah:
yes
Sarah:
last week
Sarah:
they are fine
Amy:
that’s good
. . .
Sarah:
do u often learn or talk the bible with ur friend?
Amy:
yes. i often learn the bible and pray with my friends in america. today i will go to church.
Sarah:
oh
Sarah:
bc today is sunday
Amy:
yes
Sarah:
and who u go with?
Amy:
i will go with my friend, my roommate here. her name is melissa
> Amy:
and what about you?
Sarah:
i’m sorry
Sarah:
very long we didn’t read the bible
Sarah:
when that problem happened to us
Amy:
yes
Sarah:
are u sad about us?
Amy:
of course i am sad. i am very sad that you had trouble
Amy:
and i know that you must be afraid now