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johannahreardon.com
Category:
Inspirational
ISBN-10: 1475261713
Type: Fiction
Copyright: June 16, 2011
ISBN-13: 9781475261714
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Julia has always longed to make her life count. She can hardly believe that she has ended up as an administrative assistant for an insurance agency. But when Jake walks into her insurance office, her life takes a drastic turn. After a very short courtship, Julia agrees to travel to Jake's remote village on a trial basis. Can she handle the kind of life she would have if she married him?
Julia has always longed to make her life count. She can hardly believe that she has ended up as an administrative assistant for an insurance agency. But when Jake walks into her insurance office, her life takes a drastic turn.
Jake, the son of missionary parents, was raised in a remote village in Venezuela called Omwana. Because his mother is ill, his parents have had to come back to the States while Jake carries on their mission. With his parent’s departure, he realizes how lonely he is and how much he needs a companion. Looking for a wife, he runs into Julia.
After a very short courtship, Julia agrees to travel to his village on a trial basis to see if she can handle the kind of life she would have if she married Jake. Just getting to the village is an enormous trial. And once there, she is overwhelmed by her lack of ability to communicate to anyone about anything.
Will she learn to love the villagers, when she can’t really understand them? Will her love for Jake mean that she can give up modern life for good?
Excerpt
Jake folded all five of his shirts into his suitcase. Anyone who had not lived in the remote mountains of Venezuela could not possibly understand his limited wardrobe. He'd purchased more clothing when he attended college in Illinois, but gave it away when he'd returned to Omwana. His small plank floor cottage had no closets and a large amount of clothing would be out of place here.
He'd grown up in Omwana. His parents moved here when he was just three years old, so he had no memory of life before that time. They were translators who had put the Bible in the language of these mountain villagers. It had taken their whole lives to make any progress among these people who had been so immersed in tribal gods and superstitions. Anyone who has the idea of a noble savage needs to spend some time in Omwana, Jake thought wryly.
His mother was in ill health, so his father had reluctantly left the village to take her home to the United States, leaving Jake the only white man for at least a hundred mile radius. At first he hadn't minded so much, but as the months wore on the burden grew. He missed the intelligent conversations they'd had around the dinner table and the stimulating debates he and his mother engaged in, almost always taking the opposite viewpoints.
In many ways, he knew he had it easier than his parents. There was a church now in Omwana because of their hard work, and the traveling pastor, Jersus, was Jake's best friend. Representatives from villages all over the mountain area came to see what had happened in Omwana that had improved the people's health and financial stability.
After his parents had been gone about a year, Jake felt the unmistakable nudge of the Lord to find a wife. He knew he couldn't leave for too long, but he decided to trust God to provide a wife in just a few short months. He began to think about several of the girls he knew in college, especially the ones who were interested in missions. Why not go back and see what might come of it? He could visit his mother as well, which would do them both a lot of good.
As Jake hoisted his bag onto the back of Meeker, his burro, he sighed with dread at the long journey out of the mountains. Until recently Jake and his family would rely on missionary pilots to get them in and out of the jungle in record time, but recent cutbacks had eliminated this possibility. It would take three days to get to the ferry. Young Jose would come with him to bring the burro back, and therefore have the privilege of using Meeker until Jake returned. After two days and nights on the ferry, he'd arrive in San Fernando de Apure where he'd take the bus to Caracas, that is if the road was not out. If all went well, he'd make it to Caracas airport on time six days from now.
Of course the worrisome thought would fly through his mind that he might not find a wife in such a short amount of time, but he'd remember the gentle nudging he felt sure was from the Holy Spirit, and he'd rest in the knowledge that God could do anything.
As things turned out, he was only one day late to Caracas. After a night in the airport, he was pleased to board the plane for his direct flight to Chicago. His anticipation grew as the airplane lifted off and the scenery that was so familiar to him drifted out of view.
Julia stared out the window during her lunch break, wishing for the thousandth time that she were anywhere else but here. Not that her job as an administrative assistant was bad. It wasn't. She worked with nice people, had good benefits and was paid well. Her apartment had all the latest conveniences; she had a beautiful wardrobe, a new car and had managed to pay off all her school loans in just three years out of college. But none of it made her happy.
Ever since she'd been a junior in high school, she'd wanted to do amazing things for the Lord. She'd always dreamed of being a missionary, going to some remote spot and changing the place over the influence of her lifetime. She was the kind of girl who'd been nurtured on fairy tales and could never really accept that something extraordinary wasn't going to happen to her.
When she was sixteen, a missionary came to her church and shared about her adventures in Indonesia. Since that time, Julia had wanted to go. No it was more than that. She knew she had to go, that life would be terribly disappointing if she didn't get to go. But now almost ten years later, that dream had dwindled to a faint wish that came to her at times like now when she was eating her sub sandwich, looking at the cars in the parking lot.
"I'm not sure when it happened," she said out loud.
"Did you want something?" asked the waitress who was passing by.
Julia blushed when she realized she'd spoken her thoughts out loud. "Some more coffee, please," she said just so she wouldn't look foolish.
When did it happen? she thought as she returned to her puzzling. In college I thought I'd marry a missionary and be there by now. She smiled to herself, Of course, that's what happened. No Prince Charming.
It irked her to admit it to herself, but that was exactly the problem. She just couldn't face being a missionary by herself. She wanted a man to go with her. Little did she know that just such a man was landing at O’Hare airport, a mere twenty minutes from where she sat.
Jake's father, Albert, greeted him with a big smile on his face. "I can't believe how good it is to see you, Son. Your mother has missed you terribly."
Jake smiled in return. "I've missed her too—no one to argue with except Maria, and she always wins, so it's no fun."
Albert shook his head, "Maria is definitely full of vinegar. I miss her, and her cooking too. That's one nice thing about village life. No one to cook for us here. I've fallen to making microwave dinners. Pitiful," he said looking truly disgusted with himself.
Jake thought it best to change the subject. He knew his father's heart was in Omwana and that he longed to return. "How is Mom, by the way?"
"Not bad. Everything seems to be in remission now, but the treatments have left her weak. She's lost a lot of weight so don't be surprised. She'll be upset if you treat her differently than usual."
"Thanks for telling me. I can't wait to see her."
The two men stepped onto the curb as they hailed a taxi. "I can't stand to pay the rates these people charge, but there's no other way to get to the airport," Albert said as he opened the door.
"Maybe you should get a car," Jake suggested.
Albert looked at him in surprise. "Drive in this traffic? Nonsense! Besides, your mother and I will be back at the village in no time."
Jake frowned as he studied this man he loved and admired, hoping that he'd be able to accept life here if he couldn't go back.
"So, you're going to look for a wife, huh?"
Jake looked out at the vehicles whizzing by. "Yep. God willing."
"Oh, I bet He's willing. There's a sweet girl who goes to our church I'd like to introduce you to. She's a bit older than you and not exactly beautiful, but a nice, sensible girl. I think you'll like her."
Jake felt a constriction in his chest. Somehow he hadn't thought of the practical side of looking for a wife. He didn't like the idea of his dad picking someone out for him, but as he mulled it over he didn't know what else he was going to do. He couldn't very well advertise in the newspaper. "What's her name?"
"Kristen. She lives with her mother. Dad died years ago so they're used to a lower income. She's not all materialistic like so many other young women. Loves God too."
Jake nodded. He had to admit that whoever married him could not be in the least materialistic. Maybe his dad knew what he was talking about.
"We've invited her over for dinner tomorrow night."
"So soon?"
"No time to waste."
Jake sank lower in his seat. He wanted a wife, but this sounded miserable. He wondered if she knew why she was being invited for dinner.
The thoughts flew from his mind as he greeted his mother. She'd certainly lost a lot of weight and looked as pale as a new moon. He was glad his father had warned him. He could tell she was mustering all her strength to greet him. "Oh Jake," she cried as she threw her arms open to him. She started to get up but fell back on the sofa. He rushed to hug her where she sat.
"It's great to see you, Mom. You're as skinny as those models in the magazines." His eyes twinkled with mischief and he could see his ruse worked.
"Oh you." She waved her arm as if shooing a fly away. "Always a flatterer. I look dreadful and don't try to tell me otherwise." But she smiled and he knew her old spirit was still there. "I'm so excited about why you are here. A bride! How exciting."
"I hear you and Dad are plotting already. That I'm to meet someone tomorrow night."
She looked around him and noticed that Albert was out of hearing range, then whispered, "That's your dad's idea. I don't know myself."
Jake felt alarmed, "You don't like Kristen?"
She waved her arm again, "Oh no. I adore the girl. It's just... oh I don't know. You'll have to be the one with the final word anyway."
"And she will too," he added.
"Of course." Then she smiled in her dreamy way, "But who wouldn't fall in love with you?" She squeezed his cheeks as she did when he was young.
"Evidently a whole lot of women considering how unlucky I was in college."
"Oh those girls," she added as if they were all wrapped up in one package. "They were too young and immature."
He laughed, "That must have been it."
The much anticipated dinner took place as planned. Albert brought a meal home from the supermarket deli and put it all in regular dishes to make it look home cooked. Jake teased him about this ruthless attempt at deception, but Albert ignored him and continued to set the table.
When the doorbell rang a few minutes later, Jake opened it to see a timid looking young woman standing there. She was rather plump and soft looking with drab colored clothing, but she had a pleasant face and she held a cake out in front of her. "You must be Jake," she said barely above a whisper.
"Yes, I am." He tried to hide his disappointment. It wasn't her looks; it was her manner that bothered him. She looked like a mouse scurrying across the floor would frighten her. He couldn't imagine that she'd be able to withstand the rigors of village life. "Please come in."
She made her way in and immediately hugged Jake's mother. "You're looking better today, Elsa. I'm so glad." Her voice was still soft enough that Jake felt he strained to hear it.
Albert announced that dinner was served before Jake could sit down and relax. He helped his mother up, walking her to the table as she leaned heavily on his arm. The dinner conversation was polite but uninspired. Jake spent most of the time talking about village life while Kristen winced and exclaimed over every little detail. She obviously found their primitive way of life abhorrent and couldn't stand to hear about the backward superstitions of the village people. It was clear to all, even Albert, that this would never work.
After she left, Elsa exclaimed, "Well, that was a bomb. I guess we'd better leave match making to the young." She looked at Albert with her eyes narrowed in reproach.
He refused to admit defeat. "We can't expect to hit the nail on the head right away. We've got plenty of time. Maybe I'll give Eileen a call."
"That self-centered little chit. I'll not have her in my family!" Albert looked ready to defend Eileen so Jake jumped in, deciding to take the bull by the horns. "Let's not do anymore dinners," he said with a firmness he felt. "I think I'd rather just live my life and see what God brings my way."
Albert nodded. "Perhaps that would be best."
"It certainly would," exclaimed Elsa, shaking her head in disgust.
Jake told them goodnight and walked into the spare bedroom that also served as his dad's office. He sat down at his desk and put his head in his hands. "You'll have to do this, God. There's no way I can. Help me to not miss your cues." He got up and lay down on the bed, falling asleep with visions of Kristen screaming in horror at all the bugs in the village.
The trouble with living his life was that Jake had absolutely no idea what he should be doing with his time. He ended up running errands for his mother and meeting with pastors hoping for the opportunity to speak in their churches. Neither thing led to meeting many women. But in the third week of his time in Chicago, he went to speak to the insurance agent that dealt with his mother's bills. There was a dispute that she had not been able to understand over the phone, so he volunteered to try to straighten it out.
Julia sucked in her breath when the young man walked through the door. His dark hair, chestnut brown eyes and athletic build were everything she found attractive in a man. You're really losing it, Julia. Now you're falling for the customers. In spite of her rapidly beating heart, she blurted out, "May I help you?"
"Yes, I need to talk to someone about this bill."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No. I was hoping to catch someone in."
"I'm afraid all the agents are busy now. Would you like to wait?"
"Sure, that would be fine."
He sat down in one of the chairs and picked up a magazine. She noticed that it was a Christian magazine that she brought into the office each month. Watching him out of the corner of her eye, she tried to get back to work. Finally, she decided to go for it. "Are you a Christian?"
He looked up surprised, evidently forgetting that she was in the room. "Yes, I am." He stared at her a moment, noticing her upturned nose, bright blue eyes and strawberry blond hair. He began to sweat slightly. "Are you?"
"Yes, I am." She smiled and he smiled back. Something amazing seemed to be happening, but it took Jake by such surprise that he wasn't sure what to say next. Finally, he stammered, "D...do you go to church around here?"
"Yes. I go to Faith Community. I'm very involved with the mission's committee there."
Jake's eyes opened wider, Is this the one, God? he asked as his pulse began to race. "What do you know? I'm a missionary!" he said as if pronouncing the most important fact in the world. He couldn't help noticing Julia's face light up.
"Really? Maybe you could come speak at our church."
Jake was standing now, clenching his fists, trying to contain his excitement. "I'd like that."
"Where are you a missionary to?"
"Venezuela. A remote village in the mountains there."
Julia felt like jumping up and shouting, but she managed some reserve. "No kidding." Then thought to add, "All alone?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Jake hung his head, looking dejected, making Julia want to throw her arms around him and tell him she'd follow him anywhere. However all that came out of her mouth was "Oh!"
He looked up at her and smiled and she smiled back and they both knew...
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