by C. Hope Flinchbaugh based on real events

Jin shivered as she walked in the bitter night wind. If she and her parents were caught trying to escape North Korea, they would be taken to prison—or killed. Jin leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. “My stomach hurts.”

“I know,” Mother answered. “We're all hungry.”

Jin's skin was dark and rigid—a sign that she'd been hungry for too long. Father said they must go to China or they would starve. Jin shuddered as they started up a hill.

“Look!” Father exclaimed from the top. “The Tumen River! Just like Uncle Bae said.”

Jin glimpsed the valley below. Across the small icy river lay China.

“I don't see a rice market,” she said.

“Ah, but look,” Father answered. “Just across the river—a rice paddy. The market can't be far.”

“When can we go?” Jin asked, an edge of excitement in her voice. “Do you think they have any rice left?”

“Yes, I do,” Father answered. “But right now we have to be careful. See the guard house?”

Jin nodded and shuddered in fear.

“We must wait and hope the guards fall asleep. If they see us, they will shoot us. Once it is safe, we will cross.”

“Will we have to swim?” Jin asked.

“No, the river is frozen,” Father said. “We will walk across on the ice. Now let's try to sleep.”

Father and Mother put Jin between them for warmth. They did not have coats, so they huddled together in the wintry night.

Jin woke to Father's nudge. “Jin, it's time to go.”

The half moon reflected off the icy river. Jin held Mother's hand as they followed Father across the ice. The guards did not spot them! The family rested for a moment on the other side.

“When I say so, run for the rice paddy,” Father said.

Jin waited.

“Run!”

The fear of being caught gave her a burst of energy. Jin ran behind her father, then lay flat behind the short stubs of icy rice stalks. The stalks looked like frozen knives poking out of the ground.

“Must we go this way?” Mother asked. There was fear in her voice. “It is dark, and Jin may fall. These stalks are like spears.”

“There's no other way,” Father said.

Jin's father led the way. Jin started to follow, but her mother grabbed her arm. “Walk behind me,” she said. “And be careful.”

The moon disappeared behind the clouds, making it almost impossible to see.

“Ow!” Mother said falling down.

“Mother!” Jin ran to her mother.

“Stay behind me,” Mother said, standing. “I don't want you to get hurt.”

Jin watched her mother steadily move forward.

“Oh!” Mother cried, stumbling.

“Mother, we must stop, you're bleeding!” Jin said.

Father was far ahead now.

Jin helped up her mother. Her hand was warm with blood.

“We must walk somewhere else!” Jin exclaimed.

“Father said we're to look for a building with a red cross on it,” Mother said, her voice strained. “There is rice inside.”

“A market?” Jin asked.

“No, a hospital, I think,” Mother said. “Hold onto my sweater and follow me.”

Jin followed her mother for some time.

“Look!”

Jin's heart leaped. A building with a light!

“Look, Mother! A red cross!”

Jin felt her mother tremble.

Father peered into the window. A tall Chinese man opened the door.

“You have rice?” Father asked.

“I do not speak much Korean,” the man said. “Come in.”

Jin walked into the room. The house was gloriously warm.

Using hand motions, the Chinese man and his wife instructed them to take showers and change into new clothes they gave them. Mother cleaned her wounds. When they came back into the main room, Jin could not believe her eyes.

“Father! A whole bowl of rice!”

Jin had never seen a whole bowl of rice in her life. She charged to the table and dipped her hand into the warm rice and stuffed her mouth. Her mouth exploded with the wonderful flavor.

“Wait,” their host said. He folded his hands, bowed his head and said something in Chinese. Then he invited them to sit. The man handed Jin a bowl of beef soup.

“Thank you,” she said, her hands shaking with excitement.

The man nodded.

Jin looked at her mother. Mother cried tears of joy. Soon Jin's stomach was full. She'd never eaten all she wanted before.

“Father, look! There's food left over-enough for tomorrow. Am I dreaming?”

Father smiled. “No, this is real.” Father took mother's hand. “We're finally home.”

The True Story

The building with the red cross was the home of a Chinese Christian. The day after Jin and her parents arrived, a Korean came to the house and told them about Jesus. Jin's family accepted Christ as Savior. Jin's father wanted to share the Good News of Jesus with his family, so he went back to North Korea where he was thrown in prison. Jin and her mother live in South Korea and hope Jin's father will someday be freed from prison and find them.

	Q: What do pigs write letters with? A: Pig-pens. Alejandro P., 12, California Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe