by Manfred Koehler

The castle gates clang behind you. As a messenger for Faithville, you have delivered the information entrusted to you. You now hold the king’s reply. Carefully folding the message, you tuck it inside your shoulder satchel with your food, bedding and a small Bible.

A three-day journey and you will be home again, your task for the king complete.

But you also serve a higher King. His name is Jesus. Remembering your great calling, you pray: "Lord Most High, grant someone to accompany me homeward. With Your guidance, I’ll gladly speak to him about You."

As you walk through the city, a ragged, breathless boy startles you. One eye is bruised. His forehead bleeds. A dirty bedroll hangs over his shoulder.

"Scads, I’m hungry," he growls.

If you offer him assistance, go to 6. If you ignore him, go to 18.

1. You bow your head, thanking God for the food and Rian’s company. When you open your eyes, Rian’s staring at you.

"What was that?"

"A prayer to my heavenly Father," you say simply.

Rian stops eating. He asks question after question. You set aside your food and pull out your Bible. You speak of sin and hell, then of the Savior, His death and resurrection. Rian’s questions keep coming.

"So is my stealing sinful, even though I’m an orphan?" he asks. Rian looks desperate. Do you tell him the truth (go to 10)? Or do you try to make excuses for him (go to 5)?

2. Rian listens to your excuse, shaking his head when you finish. "Lying to protect a Book that tells you not to lie?" Rian rolls his eyes, then rolls out his bed and goes to sleep.

You do the same, feeling foolish. Go to 12.

3. "There you are, Friend," you call as you rush between the bullies and the boy. You put your arm around him and quickly usher him away, thankful for a second chance to do the right thing. Go to 6.

4. Your journey the next day is full of Rian’s questions. You do your best to answer—freely admitting when you’re unsure. As evening draws near, you stop to camp.

Rian scurries around, anxious to build a fire. You search for clean water and find a small stream. Returning, you spot three bandits hovering near the newly lit fire. You quietly drop your satchel behind a tree.

As you enter the camp, Rian is silent. The three ruffians mutter among themselves. The biggest one carries a long knife, glinting in the firelight.

"Got any food?" the big bandit asks. He seems more hungry than dangerous.

The few morsels you have will do little to satisfy these three thugs. Worse still, they may steal the entire satchel. Do you admit you have food, but not much (go to 17)? Or do you say your satchel dropped in the stream (go to 14)?

5. "Stealing’s not as bad as murdering," you mumble.

"Well, I’ve never killed anyone," Rian says. He goes on to tell a long story about his meanest master. You listen dully, aware that the opportunity to speak of Jesus is lost.

The night long spent, the two of you finally crawl into bed. Go to 12.

6. You take the boy to a nearby stream, wash his wounds and offer him food. Finding out you’re from Faithville, he chuckles. "That’s right on my way," he says. "My name is Rian. Can I join you?"

Grateful for a quick response to your prayer, you accept Rian’s company. Go to 9.

7. You and Rian reach Faithville by noon the next day. You deliver the king’s reply to the town elders. Rian follows, eyeing everything—especially a stall of melons in the town market.

With your job complete, you must decide: Do you invite Rian to meet your parents (go to 11) or do you bid him goodbye (go to 19)?

8. That evening you make camp. Rian does little but roll out his bed. You build a fire alone, without complaint. Then you pull bread and beef jerky from your satchel, offering some to Rian. Grabbing it from your hand, he chews hungrily.

Accustomed to thanking God before each meal, you ask yourself: Should I pray like always (go to 1)? If you skip praying, so you don’t make Rian uncomfortable, go to 15.

9. Rian speaks freely about his life. An orphan since age 6, he now wanders the countryside. He’s worked for two masters, but both treated him poorly.

"Have you ever been hugged?" Rian suddenly asks. Clearly, he never has.

Smiling sadly, you nod. "Lots of times."

"It’s easier to beg and steal than to work," Rian blurts, quickly changing the subject.

Surprised by his casual attitude toward wrong, you wonder: Should I scold him, showing him in God’s Word how sinful it is to steal (go to 16), or do I ask him about the cuts and bruises on his face (go to 13)?

10. "Stealing is always wrong, orphan or not," you tell him. "And God punishes it." Your words are hard, but your voice is kind. "The more you understand the consequences of doing wrong, the more hungrily you will seek the Savior."

Rian mutters something about always being hungry.

"God can satisfy the hunger of your heart," you softly reply.

Rian sits silently, thinking.

You quietly roll out your bed. Your last thought before falling asleep is a prayer, thanking God for the privilege of being His ambassador. Go to 4.

11. Your parents are delighted to see you both. You sit down to lunch. Rian eats and eats, asking questions the whole time. He accepts your invitation to stay the night. You’re grateful to God for a new friend, one who’s close to trusting your best friend, Jesus.

After a big breakfast the next morning, Rian gets fidgety. He insists on leaving.

"But I’ll be back," he assures you, tapping your Bible.

You smile and give Rian his first hug. [ ]

12. The next morning you find your Bible near the fire, your satchel empty. Rian is gone. You finish the journey hungry and alone. Next time you’ll ask God for more boldness. [ ]

13. Rian laughs, telling a long tale of four shopkeepers who almost caught him. His only regret is losing the bag of potatoes he had stolen.

"But one of them sure knew how to throw a rock," Rian adds, pointing to his head.

You listen quietly, praying for an opportunity to speak of Jesus’ forgiveness. Go to 8.

14. "You what?" the big one asks. You repeat your answer, feeling strange as you speak. He lowers the knife. "Come on, guys. These featherheads are poorer than we are."

Pulling the satchel from behind the tree, you take out the rest of the food. Giving half to Rian, you sit by the fire.

He laughs. "Exactly what I would’ve done," he says, biting into his jerky. Then he peers into your eyes. "But wasn’t that lying?"

Do you tell him you were wrong (go to 20)? Or do you say you were afraid they’d steal your Bible (go to 2)?

15. Rian finishes wolfing down his food. Then he lies down with a grunt. You roll out your bed, unsure what to say. Go to 12.

16. Rian’s head droops as you scold him. His eyes glaze over when you pull out your Bible. He remains quiet the rest of the day, saying little as the two of you make camp. In the morning, Rian is gone.

You wonder if Jesus would’ve been so sharp with him. You suspect not. [ ]

17. You smile in spite of your fear. You invite the three thugs to sit by the fire. Returning with all the food, you give some to Rian and the bandits but keep none for yourself.

Then you pull out your Bible. "I’ve also got some food for the soul, if you’re interested."

Rian chuckles nervously. The big thug merely nods between bites.

Praying for courage, you talk about the two thieves crucified with Jesus. One trusted, the other rejected. One went to heaven, the other to hell.

Your listeners’ eyes are wide, their mouths silent. The ruffian leader gets up. "Thanks for the food," he says.

He drifts into the night. His two friends follow him, their heads shaking.

"Scads, do you have guts," Rian says, gazing in awe.

Before you fall asleep, you make it clear that the One with all the courage is Jesus. Go to 7.

18. The boy runs on, muttering something about needing a friend. His words bother you, but you continue walking through town. At the edge of the city, you hear shouts and turn to see the same injured boy cornered by two bigger kids. Do you come to the boy’s aid (go to 3) or continue on your journey (go to 21)?

19. You never see Rian again. But the next day you hear that a stranger stole a mule and five melons. You listen sadly, knowing that a little more hospitality may have been what that orphan needed most. [ ]

20. Admitting to Rian you were totally wrong, you pray out loud: "Heavenly Father, I was wrong. I lied. Cleanse me. Help me walk closely with You again."

Soon Rian’s asking more questions about Jesus. An hour later, you fall asleep, humbled that God is quick to forgive. Go to 7.

21. That kid is trouble, you think as you turn and head out of town. Arriving home three days later, you wonder what happened to your prayer for a traveling companion. [ ]

	Q: Why did the dog lay on its back with its feet sticking in the air? A: It was trying to trip birds. Amy S., 11, Illinois Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe