FIND THE FACE

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Early Sandi woke to a few knocks on her front door. Hastily, she rose out of bed, glancing at the time. Only 6 am.     Wrapping a dressing gown swiftly around her, she peered carefully through small, clear patches of stained glass to see her visitor. The figure was obviously male. Sandi hesitated, not wanting the children to be woken, but not wanting to confront a stranger. Lisa has also come up behind, looking tussled and very pregnant. "It's Mike," she whispered. "Open the door. The flyscreen is locked. I did it last night. Both women opened the door.     Mike said softly, "Sorry it's early, but I'm so tired and the plane has only just landed."     Sandi looked at her friend, questioningly. Lisa nodded, looking nervous.     "Look," Sandi stated firmly, "Lucy had colic last night. I am very tired. I am going back to bed but if I hear raised voices, out you go, Mike. My husband is working, but I wi...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     A Ukrainian pastor knelt before his narrow bed and prayed, interceding for his country. He was old and in pain, but he knew how big God was, how mighty, how often small, weak people had come before massive opponents and won. Gideon, King David.... The elder also praised - for all battles need faith to be won.     He had heard how missiles from Russia had disappeared incredibly in mid-air, how Russian tanks had run out of fuel, soldiers lost and hungry and demoralised. But the battle was not yet won. So the old man sought the face of God and prayed before tumbling into bed and seeking peaceful sleep. And others, too, rose up all over the world in prayer, knowing that light invariably shines in darkness, that Jesus is Lord. For the Cross has the final word.     Later that same night the Glory of God filled that small room of the faithful pastor servant as the Lord Jesus took him home to heaven - this beloved pastor. ...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     A tantalising aroma reached Elfriede as she drew close to her home. Bruce came out and gave her a warm hug. "Your turn to cook tomorrow!" he teased, his eyes sparkling with laughter. "Hi Jill," he greeted his young guest. Seeing his wife's puzzled look, his eyebrows rose. "What?" he queried.     "Didn't you say she looked like Ainslee?" answered his wife. "I didn't really meet Ainslee," he answered, "besides, masks hide faces. That's why bandits have used them for so long. In some rough areas, when you buy tights, they ask for your head size!!" The women looked at him. "Er - that was a joke!" The two women looked at each other and smiled.     After a delicious meal of stew and warm bakery bread, followed by fruit and cream, Jill explained how Ainslee was her twin sister, older by half an hour. They had decided not to tell the school. Shamefaced, Jill explained she wa...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     Elfriede strolled from her office down to the Kinder classroom as the last children were leaving. They smiled up at her. "Hello Mrs. Jones," they chorused. She beamed at them and watched as they walked by with the teacher's aide, Rosa. She smiled too, her curly hair bobbing around her face as she bent to help a little girl who had dropped her bright pink lunchbox.      The principal knocked on the the open Kinder classroom door and entered. It was a cheerful room full of interesting colourful posters. There was a basket of small rocks for the children.     Each student owned a stone with their own name written on it in white or black marker.     The teacher was bent over a child's desk, trying to clean up some spilt water. She looked up as the older woman came in and hastily reached for her discarded mask.     "Ainslee!" gasped Elfriede, fumbling behind her for support. "Why are you here? Wha...

FIND THE FACE   By Tessa Harvey     At 9pm their phone shrilled. Most people no longer had a landline , but the Amasanti's had friends who were older and were not comfortable with mobiles. Ronnie answered, "Who are you?" he queried. They could hear somebody sounding very upset and agitated. "Just a moment. It's Mike," he said, puzzled. "He is really upset."     With trepidation, Lisa got up from the comfortable armchair slowly and lumbered to the phone. "Yes," she waited.     For a while, she just stood there, listening, tears streaming down her face. Then she put the phone down and told them what had happened.     "Mike was wandering round town and walked into some little church. It was for French people. There was a stand at the back with cards of Biblical scenes. He picked one of fishing. Men were hauling in nets from old-looking boats, bent over the side, hauling in the fish. A man, Jesus, was hailing them from the shore. The Fre...

FIND THE FACE  By Tessa Harvey     Lisa returned from an appointment at the hospital clinic. She was quiet, but helped look after George and Sally Ann while Sandi fed and settled baby Lucy.     Later she had a late evening warm drink with Ronnie and Sandi. "At the clinic, the doctor noticed that the baby is much further along than I had thought. Apparently it could be Mike's after all. I had a moment of madness - well, longer than a moment. A couple of days, Mike had been having an affair and I was so upset and angry when I found out I drank too much and went out and well, you know the rest!"     "You mean he was nasty to you for being unfaithful, when he had been doing the same?" Ronnie was incredulous. He swept his dark hair out of his eyes abruptly.  "Ssh!" Sandi soothed him. "Tell him." urged Lisa. "Well, I am going to," the other woman replied, "but all that God stuff at the school has really touched me. Do you mind if we ...